Director and Writer Dmitiry Yakubov
Dmitry Yakubov is a seasoned director, writer and videographer. He holds an MFA in Theater Directing, and has released several performances with stars of the European stage. After moving from St. Petersburg to Chicago in 2002, he continued to write plays and stage performances. Among them, the most famous is The Little Prince based on the book by Saint-Exupery (2016). He published the magazine Information Window as well as several books on culture and history; and worked as a graphic designer and videographer. In 2021, he co-produced the documentary Anderson’s Mission which drew acclaim at film festivals in Moscow and New York. He is also author and editor of a collection of essays Enlightened Century about mysticism, history and art; and is currently working on his doctorate degree. He has lived in Wheeling, IL since 2006.
Elena Goptseva, Music Director
In 2003 Elena Goptseva moved to Chicago Area where she continued her teaching and performing career as well as studying. In 2008 she founded her own studio and continued studying with various classical pianists. She has studied privately with Y. Lipmanovich (a student of Rosina Levin) and is currently studying with P. Checinski, a concert pianist who has studied with Claudio Arrau. Elena Goptseva is an active member of Music Teachers National Association, Illinois State Music Teachers Association, North Shore Music Teachers Association, Northwest Suburban Music Teachers Association and Chicago Area Music Teachers Association. She currently serves as a chair of a Gold Medal Recital for Sonata/Sonatina Festival at NWSMTA. Her students have been award winners at local piano festivals and competitions and active performers at various local recitals and events. Learn more about Elena Goptseva at www.gemusiclessons.com
Jessica Cygan
This is Jessica’s 5th musical production. She is an 8th grader at Plum Grove Junior High. She loves to act, sing, and dance. She’s received top rewards from various voice and dance competitions. She is very proud to be part of this production and appreciates the opportunity to learn and grow. She looks forward to being in the show and hopes you enjoy watching it as well!
Caleb Scherr
Caleb fell in love with the theatre at age 6 when he joined his school’s drama club. He got his start playing Pigpen in “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” Since then he has taken multiple roles like Buster Moon in “Sing,” Bruno in “Encanto,” and a city kid in “Back to That Same Old Place” with City Kid Theatre. When he’s on stage Caleb feels happy and excited. Caleb is spirited, fun and smart. He excels in math and reading and enjoys playing lacrosse and violin.
Zayden Clyne-Lunda
It has always been a dream to act seeing children on TV. I wish I could be like them. Then when I found this theatre I was like yes maybe finally I can have an acting career. I say I am pretty good at acting. I practice a lot at my school and at home.
Rose Enayat
Rose is a forth grade student who enjoys to dance, do gymnastics, play piano and sing. She has been doing those since she was 3 years old and has a passion to perform.
Sandra Malashchuk
Actress, singer, writer, artist, musician, performer Sandra always knew that she was an “Art” person. As a child, she was forced to take piano lessons, but she soon fell in love with it. She spent five years in music school mastering piano and successfully graduated with honors. Sandra is charismatic and talented in many ways. She has been passionate about dancing, singing, and performing since she was three years old. At a young age, she managed to perform nationwide with the dance studio. Sandra’s talent was acknowledged, and she was asked to perform in other countries such as Bulgaria and Georgia. Her solo singing performance took first place in the international competition in Bulgaria. She studies script writing at Adlai E. Stevenson High School. Sandra is the type of person that is full of interesting ideas and constantly works on improving herself. Currently, she is a swimming teacher who makes her lessons fun and memorable. She believes that in life and the theater, every role is essential. She is looking forward to the Theater performance.
Amy Beth Hart
Amy is very excited to be a part of “Splinter” and working with such a great director and cast! She has lived in the Chicago area for five years, working as an Actress and Account Manager in the Cheer and Dance industry. Previously, she lived in Massachusetts, where she performed with many theater groups in the western MA and Hartford, CT areas. She received her B.A. in Dance Pedagogy from Butler University in Indianapolis, where she also danced with the Butler Ballet Dance Company. While in Indy, she also performed with the American Cabaret Theater and Beef & Boards Dinner Theater. Some of her favorite roles include Millie in “The Visitor from Philadelphia” with Chicago Actors Studio Theater, Nellie in “South Pacific”, Louise in “Gypsy”, Cassie in “A Chorus Line”, Pippi in “The Great American Trailer Park Musical, Fraulein Kost in “Cabaret”, Lizzie in “Baby”, and Little Becky Two-Shoes in “Urinetown: The Musical”. She has worked on various independent films in the Chicago area and recently had a role in the TV series “St. Gabriel”, which is currently showing on Tubi TV. She would like to thank her husband and two boys for always supporting her in her artistic endeavors, Edward Dennis Fogell for his guidance and coaching over the years, and Dmitry for entrusting her with the role of this complex character in such a beautiful and heart-warming play.
George Dougherty
George Dougherty is a student of acting and improv. He has appeared in a number of productions, most recently as Alonzo in the Tempest with The Goodly Creatures Theatre Company. He has also performed on stages at The Second City and IO theaters in Chicago and the Edinburgh Fringe in Scotland. He is excited to be working with Dmitriy and the talented team he has created and hopes that everyone enjoys the show.
K.C. Khan
Born and raised on Chicago’s South side, K.C. Khan is one of the city’s many aspiring young actors looking to find his way through the stage. As a child K.C. tap danced out of the now closed ‘Mayfair Academy’ and Beverly’s ‘Dance Gallery’ along with his sister, aunt and cousins in recitals on stage. His mother was the instructor which gave him a unique insight into the creative process. Since his all-boys high school lacked a theater department, K.C. leaned toward sports and didn’t attend formal drama classes until after his service in the US military. Now K.C. has enjoyed performing various small roles as well as leading roles like Othello and Frankenstein’s monster. As a recent graduate of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, he plans on furthering his education in hopes of achieving a wider knowledge and appreciation for the acting craft.