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This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council
The Deep See
By Walter Todd
CREATIVE TEAM
Walter Todd (Playwright)
Walter Todd (they/them) is a Black, non-binary, and early career playwright/director from Hobart, Indiana. They are a junior at Northwestern University from which they will receive a BS in Theatre in 2026. Their work contends with themes of identity, specifically how people use modes of performance to convey their identity. Their play The Deep See was first staged as a part of the Adaptfest Reading Series at Northwestern. Their play, Couch Surfing, a mix of narrative improvisation and sketch comedy, was also staged at Northwestern. Most recently their Black sci-fi superhero drama Hanged Men was staged as part of the Vibrant Colors Collective's In Living Color Festival. Outside of theatre they are deeply passionate about trivia, neurodivergence, and the sociopolitical state of the world.
Emma Durbin (Lead Producer)
Emma Durbin (they/them) is a Chicago-based playwright, producer, and multidisciplinary theatre artist whose work centers queerness, love, and community. They are a co-founding producer for new play development initiatives including Freshly Brewed at The Understudy Coffee and Books, New Play Fest 2025 at Subtext Studio TC, and Whale Watch Fest. This summer they are thrilled to be returning to their hometown to serve as the literary assistant at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in support of the Black Swan new play development lab. Emma’s plays include: landscape (workshops: Mirrorbox Theatre, Valdez Theatre Conference, Whale Watch Fest NYC, Theatre L’Acadie; awards: Premiere Play Festival semi-finalist, Irons in the Fire at Fault Line Theatre semifinalist, NAP Series at Normal Ave finalist, and LAB Series at The Inkwell Theater finalist), overgrown (Valdez Theatre Conference, Jackalope Playwrights Lab), Witchcraft, Bitchcraft (Pocket Theatrics). Training: DePaul University (Playwriting BFA); The Kennedy Center (New Play Dramaturgy Intensive with Mark Bly). Visit emmadurbin.com to learn more!
Niní Bagundo (Director)
Niní Bagundo is an Indigenous (Otomí Hñähñú/Maya) writer and director with a deep love for new work. Their work seeks to reclaim and uplift Native American, Indigenous and Latine stories by holding the past up to the light and imagining freer, more hopeful futures. Upcoming Chicago work includes Chalo! A Soccer Musical alongside PopUp! Productions, and Judy Lawrence’s boy crush as a part of the Foaming @ The Mouth Festival. BA: Northwestern University. For more information, visit: ninibagundo.com
Mia Rhee (Dramaturg)
Mia Rhee (she/her) graduated from Northwestern University with a B.A. in Communication Studies. During her time there she completed the Creative Writing Fiction Sequence, a yearlong workshop course culminating in a capstone novella. She has been a PA at The Late Show with Stephen Colbert during their Chicago Live show run in 2024. Her work has been published in REMAKE and is forthcoming in the Chicago Review of Books.
Malik Mcgriff-Middleton (Issac)
malik mcgriff-middleton (any pronouns) is an artist and educator living and working in Evanston and Chicago. Born and raised in Harlem, New York, their credits include new play development (The Deep See, The Gold is Deep) alongside film (How To Swim, Pandora's Parcel) and community arts work. They are pleased to be working with the team of The Deep See to explore Blackness, queerness, and what it means to take agency over your own becoming.
Kandace Mack (Joanna & Siren)
Adam Schulmerich (Abraham)
Adam Schulmerich (he/him) is an ensemble member of Shattered Globe Theatre (recent credits: Lobby Hero; Becky, Nurse of Salem) and graduate of Purchase College's Conservatory of Theatre Arts & Film. He also operates The Coach House, a no/low cost rehearsal space aimed at supporting Chicago theatre companies.
Christi Singleton (Herman & Rumbletongue)
Hi! My name is Christi (she/her), 19 years old, and I currently study Musical Theater at Roosevelt University (CCPA) and I’m so excited to play the role of HERMAN/RUMBLETONGUE!
Davaghn Marcus Darrian Whiting (Stage Directions)
Davaghn (she/they) is ready to start the summer on a high note with The Deep Sea and Deltarune chapters 3 + 4!!!