Displaying items by tag: Jocelyn Zamudio

Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, Chicago's only professional theater that seeks to advance women through the power of storytelling, announces the cast for the world premiere of Do Something Pretty by Melissa Ross (The Luckiest, Thinner Than Water, Nice Girl,  A Life Extra Ordinary), directed by Rivendell favorite, Jessica Fisch (The Firebirds Take the Field, I Wanna F**king Tear You Apart). Do Something Pretty runs May 2 – June 7, 2026, as part of Rivendell's 30^th Anniversary Season of new plays. 

The 30^th Anniversary Season takes place at Rivendell's home, 5779 N. Ridge Avenue in Chicago. Tickets are priced at $28 for previews and $38 for regular performances. Angel and Sponsor tickets are priced $58 and $88 and include a donation. Discounts are available for seniors, students, and military. Tickets go on sale March 23 at rivendelltheatre.org/dosomethingpretty and (773) 334-7728.

Summer of 1992. The United States is in a recession. Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton is about to run for president. Kurt is married to Courtney. Yo MTV Raps is on the TV.  And Zach Morris is the only kid with a cell phone.

On a hot August night in a small Massachusetts town the last few weeks before school starts. Three teens try to navigate their way through the murky path to adulthood. Phoebe wants to grow up. Jason wants Evie. And Evie just wants to get as far away from everyone as she possibly can.

Artistic Director Tara Mallen comments, "A few years ago, I was inducted into to the world of Melissa Ross when I was cast in one of her (stunning) plays The Luckiest at Raven Theatre. What struck me most was these complicated, messy, outrageously human women that Melissa centers in all her plays are all portrayed as subjects rather than objects. In 2026, it shouldn't be the case that this is a rarity—but I promise you that it is. So, when Melissa reached out asking if Rivendell might be interested in her brand-new play depicting two sisters—one on the brink of teendom and the other on the edge of adulthood—I jumped at the chance. I am so delighted to welcome Chicago audiences to hearken back to 1992 and bring Do Something Pretty to our stage at Rivendell."

This world premiere production of Do Something Pretty marks ensemble member Katherine Mallen Kupferer's (Phoebe) Rivendell debut. ​The cast also features Jasper Johnson (Matt), Reilly Oh (Jason) and Jocelyn Zamudio (Evie).

The creative team includes Daira Rodriguez (Assistant Director), Lindsay Mummert (Scenic Design), Saawan Tiwari (Costume Design), Sierra Walker (Lighting Design), Eric Backus (Sound Design), and RTE Ensemble Members Sarah Slight (Dramaturg), and Caroline Michele Uy (Associate Dramaturg). The Production Stage Manager is Rita Vreeland and the Artistic Producer is RTE Member Pat Fries (Artistic Producer).

Rivendell is offering a special mid-season RivPass good for the remainder of its 30th Anniversary Season. The $65 subscription includes a ticket to the 2^nd and 3^rd mainstage shows.  Purchase this offer atrivendelltheatre.org/tickets or by emailing General Manager Trisha Hooper at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The Do Something Pretty lead production sponsors are Maureen and Anna Miller. Rivendell's 30th Anniversary Season is sponsored by Sharon I. Furiya.

FACTS / Do Something Pretty

Do Something Pretty

A world premiere by Melissa Ross

Directed by Jessica Fisch

May 2 – June 7, 2026

Cast: RTE member Katherine Mallen Kupferer (Phoebe) with Jasper Johnson (Matt), Reilly Oh (Jason) and Jocelyn Zamudio (Evie).

Creative Team: Daira Rodriguez (Assistant Director), Lindsay Mummert (Scenic Design), Saawan Tiwari (Costume Design), Sierra Walker (Lighting Design), Eric Backus (Sound Design), and RTE Ensemble Members Sarah Slight (Co-Dramaturg), and Caroline Michele Uy (Co-Dramaturg). The Production Stage Manager is Rita Vreeland and the Artistic Producer is RTE Member Pat Fries.

Dates:

Previews: May 2-8, 2026

Saturday, May 2 at 8pm

Sunday, May 3 at 3 pm

Tuesday, May 5 at 8pm

Wednesday, May 6 at 8pm

Thursday, May 7 at 8pm

Friday, May 8, at 8pm

Gala Opening: Sunday, May 10 at 6pm

Press Opening: Monday, May 11 at 7pm

Regular Run: May 15 – June 7, 2026

Thursday-Saturday at 8pm; Saturday at 4pm

Added Performances: Sundays, May 24 and May 31 at 3pm

Open Caption: Thurs May 21 at 8pm; Saturday May 30 at 4pm

Town Halls: Friday May 8, Young Industry Professionals; Saturday May 23 after 4pm performance

“Sanctuary City,” Steppenwolf’s latest production by Pulitzer-winning playwright Martyna Majok ("Cost of Living") takes us somewhere audiences likely haven’t been before—deep into the emotional experiences of undocumented American immigrants.

“Sanctuary City” may seem confusing at first. A series of quick cut, apparently repetitive scenes take place on a bare stage with a boy, B (Grant Kennedy Lewis) offering shelter in his mother’s apartment to a girl, G (Jocelyn Zamudio), who climbs in a window and ultimately into his bed, but just for warmth. We eventually learn that these young innocents have been school chums since third grade, when they arrived as minors with their mothers. Neither mothers nor B and G have permanent resident status.

Through these brief glimpses Majok establishes the depth of a growing bond between the two and soon enough the play comes into its own, with B and G now 17. After his mother abandons him to return to her homeland, somehow B ekes out a living and finishes senior year, while G’s path takes a turn for the better - her mother is naturalized, and citizenship is conferred on her as well. Yet G spends most of her time at B’s place, for she is a refugee as well from her immigrant mother’s abusive boyfriends.

As the two mature, Majok explores the stresses in daily life imparted by living in the netherworld of undocumented citizens. But that is only a backdrop to the challenges meted out by life in general, which goes on for both into young adulthood. When Henry {Brandon Rivera) enters the action as B's love interest, Majok gives us an intense exploration of a love triangle. Through twists and turns, Henry and G spar in gripping fashion over who has the greater claim on B.

This is playwriting of the highest order, and the performances by Zamudio and Rivera are deft and sensitive. But we experience B's pain through the remarkable performance by Lewis. One scene early on, where G surprises 17-year-old B with a cake for his seventeenth birthday, brought me to tears. Understated, mostly silent, with imagined props illuminated only by a cigarette lighter, it's his first one alone. No joy, just tears.

Again and again B feels the pangs of abandonment by his mother, his marginalized status in a gay relationship, his career dreams dashed as he is chained to menial work, and the uncertainty of where his relationship with G will go. 

Majok has accomplished something more in “Sanctuary City.” These are fully dimensioned characters, and their lives are interesting, quite aside from the issues around residency status. While many of us have sympathy for the plight of undocumented residents in the U.S., Majok humanizes them, bringing us to identify with their life struggles. And in so doing, she really shows why we would care for these individuals—and we gain the realization that each and every undocumented citizen also has a story that is compelling and worthy of our concern.

In “Sanctuary City,” we have three star actors, and a fourth - Majok’s script, brought amazingly to life by Steph Paul in Steppenwolf’s wonderful in-the-round Ensemble Theater. The scenic design by Yeoji Kim goes from minimalist to fully furnished as sets rise and lower in the second half.

“Sanctuary City” comes highly recommended. It runs through November 18 at Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St. in Chicago.