Mudlark administrative STAFF
Get to know the Mudlark Theater Administrative Staff
Allison Cochrane she/her (Education Director) is thrilled to live the dream by combining her love for comedy, education & theater-making with Mudlark! Allison's creativity & comedic flair shine through as she designs & implements engaging educational programs that empower young minds to explore their imaginations & express themselves freely. Her approach to education is hands-on, interactive, & always infused with humor, making learning an adventure that students eagerly anticipate. As Summer Camp Director, Allison crafts unforgettable experiences beyond traditional theater camps. Her dedication to creating a supportive space where every child feels valued & inspired to take creative risks sets her programs apart. Allison regularly performs all around Chicago at The Annoyance Theater, Second City Chicago, iO (Improv Olympics), The Bughouse, Logan Square Improv, & The Color Club. Originally from Raleigh, North Carolina, she is a southern gal turned city girl. Education- Columbia College Chicago BA in Theater with a concentration in Comedy Writing & Performance.
Emiley Kiser she/her (Development Manager) is an actor, director and theater educator working in Chicago since 2019. She spent several years working in New York City and the regional theater scene before moving to Chicago to be part of the inaugural graduate acting cohort at Northwestern University. She's been teaching with Mudlark since 2022 and can be seen around the city as an actor and improviser at different theater companies. Her recent acting credits include Trying (Peninsula Players) and Dance Nation (Northwestern University). She is a proud member of Actors Equity and delighted to be a part of the Mudlark crew. Learn more on emileykiseractor.com!
Brad Gunter he/him (Finance & Operations Director) attended Ball State University (BA in Theatre/German) and Middlebury College (MA in German) and studied in Germany at Mainz and Berlin. He has over a decade of experience in Chicago-area theatre as an administrator. Currently, he serves as the Managing Director of TUTA Theatre and is also a Company Member. He is a director of the storefront theatre and voice-over recordings and an occasional translator of plays. He lives in Chicago with his wife and two young sons.
Sarah Kinn she/her (Marketing & Box Office Manager) is a theater-maker, teaching artist, and content creator whose love for youth theater and all things creative have brought her to the perfect place. Originally from Milwaukee, WI, Sarah’s performing & arts education career began with First Stage. She has since worked on projects with Chicago Children’s Theater, Improv Playhouse, Once Upon Our Time Capsule, and Pride Arts. She is excited to share all of the magic that Mudlark has to offer with the Evanston community and beyond. Sarah received a BA in Theater (Acting concentration) and Marketing from Columbia College Chicago.
Christina Lepri-Stringer she/her (Executive Director) is a teaching artist, playwright, and arts administrator with over a decade of experience in theatre and arts education. She most recently served as the Director of Education and Community Engagement at Northlight Theatre. Prior to that, Christina worked with Mudlark first as Education Director and then as Managing Director for seven years. She has previously taught with American Theatre Company, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Chicago Humanities Festival, and Boston Children's Theatre. As a playwright and director at Mudlark, she has created over 10 full-length plays, including Lot 47, The Tale of Mariad Tylwyth, 3:35 pm, Scared, Pinocchio, The Enchanted Castle, The Nutcracker, Little Women, and Poe, among others.
Mudlark Teaching Artists Cohort
Mudlark Theater’s Teaching Artist Cohort is a vibrant community of Chicagoland area teaching artists, deeply invested in co-learning and making art with young artists through our classes, camps, and residencies. Mudlark endeavors to build a community that our Teaching Artists can consider a safe and affirming artistic home.
