BIOGRAPHY

Sophie (she/they) is a Chicago based Theatrical artist from Houston, Texas. She received her B.A. in Theatre with a Directing Concentration from Columbia College Chicago in May of 2024. During their collegiate years, they focused their studies on the intersection between human expression and social psychology- exploring the ways in which Theatre must be a metaphysical experience. In the Theatre Department, she contributed to  multiple productions- and had an original play, Encephalon, produced by the college. Her final directing project, a production of The Nether by Jennifer Haley, was awarded a scholarship. Along with her directorial work- she studied an array of philosophical schools of thought, feminist ideology, queer sociology, and participated in a variety of performance/visual art courses.

Post-grad, Sophie has focused her creative efforts toward devising and new play development. She has collaborated with theaters around the city- with some recent directorial credits at Chicago Dramatists, The Second City, and Rhinofest. They are a co-founder and the Artistic Director for Slug Face Productions; A production group devoted to the comedic, absurd, and totally obscene.

C.V.

Upcoming

ESPRIT A self-produced Devised Collection

2026

Director / March! Sketch Show / Yas, And! Comedy / Second City

2025

Director / The 19th Annual Punxsutawney Phil Memorial Beauty Pageant to Save The Children (Ensemble Devised) / Second City

Stage Manager / Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare / Fox and Spade Theatre Ensemble

Director / Mandatory Duo Show by Christopher Hill and Natalie Fresinger / Rhinofest

Peformer and Producer / Masterwork by Madeleine Libman / Chicago Dramatists

Director / Abeona by Gwen Docter / Fox and Spade Theatre Ensemble and Chicago Dramatists

2024

Performer / Pangaea by Carson Becker / 6th Festand Stillpoint Theatre Collective

Stage Manager / The 18th Annual Punxsutawney Phil Memorial Beauty Pageant to Save The Children (Ensemble Devised)dir. by Andrew Rodriguez / Clash on Clark

Director / The Nether by Jennifer Haley / Columbia College Chicago

2023

Writer / Encephalon dir. by Michael Aaron Pogue / Columbia College Chicago

Ast. Director / The Giver by Lois Lowry, Adapted by Eric Coble / Columbia College Chicago

Performer / Oh Hell by Madeleine Libman / Columbia College Chicago

Director and Writer / No Exit by Jean Paul Sartre, Adapted by Sophie Wheeless / Columbia College Chicago

2022

Director / The Chance of a Lifetime by Jhonn Rusic / Columbia College Chicago

Performer / Horse Girls by Jenny Rachel Weiner / Columbia College Chicago

Stage Manager / Comedy Cabaret (Ensemble Devised) / Columbia College Chicago

2021

Ast. Stage Manager / Phaedra’s Love by Sarah Kane / Columbia College Chicago

2020

Ast. Director / Forgiving Typhoid Mary by Mark St. Germain / Columbia College Chicago

Positions

Co-Founder and Artistic Director / Slug Face Productions / 2026 - curr.

Illustrator and Writer / Tease and Resist / 2025 - curr.

Production Intern / Stillpoint Theatre Collective / 2025 - 2026

Producer for The Youth Commons and Next Gen Dramatists / Chicago Dramatists / 2024 - curr.

Production Manager / Fox and Spade Theatre Ensemble / 2024 - 2025

Education

B.A. in Theatre (Directing Concentration) / Columbia College Chicago / 2020 - 2024