​“Daring to take risks as spontaneously as the musicians he admires, Achenbach is both observer and participant in their play, painting in public view while they perform. He simultaneously documents, abstracts, idealizes and subjectifies what he sees, hears and feels, resulting in works as joyously polyphonic as this music with its long Chicago legacy and rich contemporary presence.” Howard Mandel

Charin Alvarez’ theatre credits include: La Ruta, Ordinary Yearning, Fermi (Steppenwolf);  Mojada, Oedipus El Rey, Anna in the Tropics (Victory Gardens); the Scene (Writer’s theatre); 2666, Pedro Paramo, El Nogalar, Dollhouse & Electricidad (Goodman); In the time of the Butterflies, Our Lady of the Underpass, I put the fear of Mexico in ‘em (Teatro Vista); Water by the Spoonful (Court Theatre); Work of Art (Chicago Dramatist); The Clean House (Remy Bumppo); What We Once Felt (About Face)

Sim is a young African American designer originally from Baltimore, MD. He has been designing theater/stages since the age of 13. He is currently a freelance teaching artist, lighting, projection and set designer in Chicago, IL. As a designer and assistant designer, his credits include: HELA, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Native Son, Cat In The Hat, Eurydice, CRAZY, Christina the Girl King, Legally Blonde, After Mrs. Julie, and Eye for an Eye.

Laura Crotte, hailing from Mexico is performer, theatre actor, vocalist and educator. She has been featured at Goodman, Steppenwolf, 16th Street, Teatrovista, Chicago Children’s, Victory Gardens, Chicago Dramatists, Silk Road Rising, and Aguijón. As vocalist she has performed at CSO, House of Blues and Hot House.  Binational cultural exchange promoter, Arts-Culture-Education consultant, Early Learning trainer and OTSFM faculty. She has performed in Canada, Cuba, Peru, Argentina, and Mexico.

David is delighted to continue collaborating with Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre after lighting and stage managing last year’s fall performance series, My Past / Our Present.David has designed with such companies as Eisenhower Dance Detroit, Visceral Dance Chicago, Joel Hall Dancers, Thodos Dance Chicago, RE|dance group, Chicago Repertory Ballet, and Marlene Skog & Dancers, among others. David has also designed with a number of Chicago’s storefront theaters. daviddesignsthings.com

Julian  is an Equity Jeff Nominated* actor currently in The Recommendation at Windy City Playhouse. He’s a company member at Artistic Home Theatre. He’s also worked at Chicago Shakespeare Theater in Love’s Labour’s Lost, Since I Suppose (Measure for Measure), and The Heir Apparent, Raven Theater, Chicago Dramatists, Red Tape Theater, and on screen with guest stars on Chicago PD, Chicago Med, and starring in the Amazon indie feature King Rat. He’s represented by Paonessa Talent. 

Cecilie Keenan freelance director, producer and writer active in the Chicago Theater Community for over 20 years.  She has worked in many capacities for Teatro Vista, Bailiwick Repertory, Northlight, Apple Tree and others. Cecilie has collaborated both administratively and creatively with Joe Cerqua & Wilfredo Rivera for over 25 years!

Gerry Lang, Chowanoke Nation of North Carolina, is based in Chicago, is a visual story teller, artist/educator. His studio work is devoted to Quantum Memory images, of his People, and terracotta and porcelain Dream and Prayer Bowls. It’s all centered around identity and remembering his Native heritage. These works evoke the inner and outer reality of landscape, deep space, and the infinite terrain of Dream Time. His murals can be seen around Chicago. Gerry currently teaches at Triton College.

Shawn Lent moves this world as both a program manager and a social practice dance artist, with experience from a field in Bosnia to a children’s cancer hospital in revolutionary Egypt. Shawn currently serves as Program Director for Chicago Dancemakers Forum and project lead for Dance Peace. Previously, Shawn was the EducationUSA Advising Coordinator at AMIDEAST Cairo. She is honored to have been a US Fulbright Scholar, UNAOC International Fellow, and Commencement Speaker for Millikin University.

Jordan is honored to return for a second season with CRDT. Her long and varied career include designs for theatre, opera, television, film, commercials and cruise ships. Recent credits are the Comedy Dive Show Big Daddy’s Hideaway Heist, We Will Rock You, and Mama Mia. Chicago dance highlights: Havana Blue, Renatus, Habaneras, and 5 Easy Lessons all for the River North Dance Company, and The Man That Got Away, performed at River North, the Joffrey Ballet, and the Giordano Dance Company.

Myesha-Tiara is pleased to be working with Cerqua Rivera for the first time. Other voiceover work includes Kingsford Charcoal and Comcast. In Chicago she has been seen in For Colored Girls… as Lady In Brown and Lady In Blue u/s (Court Theatre/ Jeff Recommended); Swamp Baby as Swamp Baby/Iriana (MPAACT). Her upcoming projects are The Foster School Project (Mudlark Theater) and Mother of the Dark Water (MPAACT). Myesha-Tiara is a graduate of NSU with a B.S. in Theatre with a concentration in Performance and Directing. She is represented by NV Talent. (myesha-tiara.com, IG: myeshatiara)