2nd Story: Storytellers: W

Ric Walker

Longform Development // With the exception of trapeze, lion taming and cliff diving, Ric Walker has done nearly every type of legal performance there is, including an extremely hazardous Lysol & Lighter show. Ric is extremely happy, grateful and excited for a chance to do something new; perform/write with 2nd Story. Currently Ric can be seen performing with the Improvised Shakespeare Company at iO (Improv Olympic), at Comedy Sportz and with the internationally touring comedy troupe Wavelength. Ric is also a veteran of theater, stand up and film.

Nicholas Ward

2nd Story Executive Producer // A member of Serendipity Theatre Collective, Nick Ward is the producer of the annual 2nd Story festival and Red Kiva series and is a member of the Storytelling Development Team. He recently appeared in Theatre Seven’s world premiere production of Lies and Liars. He graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He plans to say hi whenever he sees you at a show. Cheers.

Nadine Warner

Nadine C. Warner has worked as an actor, director, and dramaturg for a number of Chicago theaters including Steppenwolf, Court, and Bailiwick. She is a founding member of the storytelling group, This Much Is True, and holds a regular children’s storytime and blog, www.kiddosandbooks.com in Rogers Park. Her work has been published in Stagebill, North Shore Parents Newsletter, and several legal magazines. She has a B.A. in English from the University of Chicago and a J.D. from the University of Illinois. She draws inspiration from her partner, Lori, her son, Nick, and her mom, dad, sis and bro.

Katie Watson

Katie Watson loves telling stories, and though some aren’t factual, almost all of them are true. When she was a lawyer she accidentally discovered her improv skills in the courtroom, and she’s been improvising with the all-female group Sirens ever since. Katie is the author or co-author of the sketch comedy shows Epic Prattle, Blind Side, Gynecology, Consumer Reports: Spring Break Edition!, and the adaptations of War Is Bad: Sock Puppet Euripides. She’s a regular contributor to public radio and TimeOut Chicago, and she’s read for Dollar Store, Sunday Salon, and WNEP’s Skald. Katie is grateful to, and for, her very funny family.

Sam Weller

Sam Weller is the author of The Bradbury Chronicles: The Life of Ray Bradbury, winner of the 2005 Society of Midland Authors Award for Best Biography. Weller is the former Midwest correspondent for Publishers Weekly magazine. He is a frequent literary critic for the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Punk Planet, and Playboy.com. He has written for the National Public Radio Program All Things Considered and is a contributor to the WBEZ radio program Eight-Forty-Eight. He is a fill-in host for the WBEZ program, Hello Beautiful! As a staff writer for the Chicago alternative weekly, NewCity, Weller received the Peter Lisagor Award for arts criticism. His short fiction has appeared in Spec-Lit and Tales from the Dim Unknown. He is currently at work on creative nonfiction historical mystery. Weller is a member of the full-time faculty in the Fiction Writing Department at Columbia College Chicago.

Doug Whippo

Doug Whippo teaches reading development, creative writing and English-as-a-Second Language through various schools. Excerpts from his novel, Jelly's Last Dance, appear in Hair Trigger issues 22, 23 and 28, as well as F Magazine.

Scott Whitehair

Scott Whitehair first rolled into Chicago with a van full of puppets in 1996, and immediately knew that he would be back some day. As a writer and performer, Scott has been blessed to work with some outstanding people over the last few years, including The Playground Theater, DSI Chicago, Horse2Water, and Theatre Momentum. Currently, he can be seen improvising with his pal Mort, telling stories with This Much Is True, and giddily riding his bike around town. Scott would like to thank 2nd Story for this opportunity, his wife Tara for her support, and the city of Pittsburgh for its character and spirit.

Shaun Whitley

Shaun Whitley is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, music director, and actor. He studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art where he composed original music for a production of Twelfth Night and performed the role of Orsino. In Atlanta, he co-created and co-composed an original score for a neo-vaudeville adaptation of the fables of Jean de la Fontaine, Vive La Fontaine!, with the French-speaking theater of Atlanta, Theatre du Reve. In Chicago, he has worked with TUTA Theatre Co. on their national premiere production of Tracks as actor, musician, and music director. He will be acting in and music directing their upcoming production of Uncle Vanya. Love to Meg.

John Wilson

John Wilson hustles as an actor, scenic designer, writer and teacher in Chicago. He most recently appeared in El Grito del Bronx (Collaboraction/Teatro Vista) at the Goodman, a stage reading of Household Spirits (Goodman), Our Bad Magnet (Mary Arrchie), which received a fancy Jeff nod for best ensemble. He works as a freelance scenic designer for many nonequity companies and as a teacher with Lifeline Theater. Some of his full-length and ten-minute plays have been produced in Chicago and Texas. He is a proud graduate from the School at Steppenwolf. Mr. Wilson loves this city and telling tall tales from his native stomping grounds.