About Us / Creative Team

Vigil, Director, Editor, Composer, Coordinating Writer

Adam has been creating podcasts for more than five years. Starting with PodCast & Crew, WAIP, The All-Arcadians, The All-ArcaD&Dians, and S Double H for All In Productions. Adam served as writer, producer, composer, performer, editor, designer and more.

As a performer Adam has performed on The Wanderer on the Fable & Folly network, Ten Days in a Madhouse for Music Theatre of Madison, Dracula for The House Theatre of Chicago, The All-Arcadians, WAIP, and the upcoming Argentium Aria.

As an engineer/sound designer Adam has also worked on Ten Days in a Madhouse and Doc Danger and the Danger Squad.

Learn more at adamqutaishat.com

Maria Kennedy, Contributing Writer

Hayley graduated with a BFA in Theater Performance from UW-Whitewater and has primarily worked in the Milwaukee area since. Credits include work with First Stage, All in Productions, Music Theatre of Madison, Schmitz N Giggles, Windfall Theatre and Milwaukee Entertainment Group.

Urgent, Contributing Writer

 Dennis Lewis resides in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he grew up with a dedicated love for superhero cartoons and comics. Black heroes such as Static, The JLA's John Stewart and Dragon Ball's Piccolo (he's not backing down on that last one) have had a profound and lasting effect on Dennis, and taught him that being a hero is not exclusive to any ethnicity or color. He's more than thrilled to carry on the legacy of POC heroes as Urgent/Biome in Vigil. Dennis does what he can to exemplify the importance of these characters and their influence every day as a paramedic and fire lieutenant on the Milwaukee Fire Department. 

Vila, Contributing Writer, Marketing

Laila is an actor based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota, who has performed extensively on stage, as well as in film and audio drama. In the Twin Cities, she has performed with Walking Shadow Theatre Company, Wayward Theatre Company, Lyric Arts, and others. She’s always looking for opportunities to collaborate with local playwrights and to support new works, and she is so proud to have been a part of this project. Laila is a graduate of Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. lailasahir.com

Blossom, Contributing Writer

Kailea Saplan is a mixed actor, originally from the island of Hawai'i. After earning BA degrees in Theatre and Philosophy at Pacific University (Forest Grove, OR), they moved to Madison, Wisconsin in 2016, to pursue graduate studies in education at the University Wisconsin, Madison. Kailea is honored to work with her friend and co-conspirator, Adam Qutaishat, in the exciting original project that is Vigil. Recent credits include: Performer and Lyricist in An American Mythology original concept album (Music Theatre of Madison); Princess Ka'iulani in Beyond the Ingenue: Trailblazers (Music Theatre of Madison); Mrs. Caine and Pauline in 10 Days in a Madhouse podcast production (Music Theatre of Madison); Ophelia in Hamlet (Madison Shakespeare Company); Benvolia in Romeo and Juliet (Theatre Lila); Olivia in Twelfth Night (University Theatre - UW Madison); Princess in Love’s Labor’s Lost (Portland Actors Ensemble); Malcolm in Macbeth (Original Practice Shakespeare Festival); and Romeo in Romeo and Juliet (Pacific University).

Parse, Contributing Writer

Ekene is a Milwaukee based artist and musician. They have performed in a number of stage plays with the Constructivists, All In Productions, and Sunstone Studios. They are very interested in different forms of storytelling and were excited to join the cast of Vigil!

Detective Aria Madden, Contributing Writer

Ashley is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, with a BFA in musical theater and minor in dance. Some of her favorite roles include Beth in Little Women at Forte Theatre Company, Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors at Skylight Music Theater, Ann in Babel at The Constructivists, Miss Jenny in The Whitlings with First Flight Theater Company, Cecily in Being Earnest at Skylight Music Theater, and Bonnie in Bonnie and Clyde at UWM. Ashley loves to try new things and genuinely had fun getting to do some voice over work for the first time; she always welcomes a chance to make something new!  

Voiceover, Waitstaff, Contributing Writer

Shayne has had a wonderful experience working on Vigil. An alum of UW-Green Bay, he has since relocated to the Milwaukee area, where he has collaborated with several local theatre companies and has also worked on a few independent films. One of his career highlights was being the co-host of Public Television's award-winning Cultural Horizons. Also a guitarist and songwriter, he currently performs with local band Sorry, We're Open.

Morse, Contributing Writer

Keith Illidge is a Chicago-area performer. Selected credits include: Marie Antoinette and the Magical Negroes (The Story Theatre); The Tragedy of King Christophe (The House Theatre); The Last Pair of Earlies (Raven Theatre); The Meeting, Topdog/Underdog (Fleetwood-Jourdain).  Regional credits include Untitled: One Man Show (Inis Nua). Keith has received the following awards and nominations: BTA nominee for Best Actor in an Ensemble, Barrymore nominee for Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role. He holds an MFA from the Theatre School at DePaul. 

“It’s a blessing everyday to create art and navigate change in the world.”-Me. 

Love and Light! 

IG and Twitter: @klou_theartist

Shana, Contributing Writer

Jackey Boelkow has most recently been seen in the Ensemble of Skylight Music Theatre's The H*nchback of Notre Dame by Dennis DeYoung for which she also served as the Romani Cultural Consultant. She is a touring company member for Kohl's Wild Theater and performed with the Prague Shakespeare Company in Prague, Czech Republic, where she played Margaret in the European premiere of The Death of Kings: Seize the Crown and Adrianna in The Comedy of Errors. Other credits: Skylight Music Theatre's The Full Monty (Molly/Ensemble/Vicki Understudy), Outskirts Theatre Co.'s Carrie (Chris), and Sunset Playhouse's The Marvelous Wonderettes (Suzy).

Angle, Contributing Writer

Mondisa is an alum of Columbia College Chicago, where she received her Bachelor's degree in Musical Theatre Performance. Mondisa has been seen in six Chicagoland Productions and was last seen in The Tragedy of King Christophe produced by The House Theatre of Chicago in the role of Commentator. Mondisa is represented by Lilys Talent Agency and enjoys all forms of art! Mondisa is honored to be a part of this new endeavor!

Hero, Contributing Writer

Cereyna is a proud native of St.Croix where she was born and raised. She's spent time studying theatre with Loyola University, the Stella Adler Conservatory of the Arts as well as working as an acting resident with Milwaukee Repertory Theatre. Stage credits include Romeo & Juliet, The House That Will Not Stand, and Julius Caesar.