Mission
History
Blank Theatre Company was founded in 2017 by a small group of early-career Chicago theatre artists dedicated to continuing the tradition of producing high-quality productions of plays and musicals at the non-equity level. Our first full-production, the musical Spring Awakening, opened in September 2018 and played to sold-out houses its entire run. We produce two-show seasons in addition to several one-night cabaret events every year. After a pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are excited to return to producing in-person productions of beloved canonical works.
Blank Theatre Company is an artistic home that connects emerging theatre-makers with seasoned professionals by creating fulfilling artistic opportunities that give new life to existing texts and welcome new and frequent theatre-goers alike.
Meet the Company
Co-Artistic Director | Founder
Dustin Rothbart
Dustin Rothbart is one of the Co-Founding Artistic Directors of Blank Theatre Company. For Blank, Dustin directed Songs for a New World: In Concert and has appeared on stage as Owen O’Malley in On the Twentieth Century, Charley Kringas in Merrily We Roll Along, Burrs in The Wild Party (Jeff Nomination – Best Ensemble), The Chairman in The Mystery of Edwin Drood and Georg in Spring Awakening. Other recent credits include: Les Misérables (Uptown Music Theatre), Bright Lights Big City (The Beautiful City Project), Rosenberg (Open Space Arts); Anyone Can Whistle, 25th...Spelling Bee (Madkap Productions); Camelot (Janus Concert Series) and The History Boys (Eclectic Theatre). Additionally, Dustin has worked throughout Chicago with Lifeline, Red, Big Noise, Underscore, Citadel, Brightside, JPAC, Mary-Arrchie and regionally with Hampstead Stage Company in New Hampshire and Canterbury Summer Theatre in Indiana. Dustin is a graduate of the acting program at Illinois State University. www.DustinRothbart.com @dustinrothbart
Co-Artistic Director | Founder
Danny Kapinos
Danny Kapinos is a director, music director, and accompanist. As co-Founding Artistic Director of Blank Theatre Company, he directed She Loves Me (Jeff nominations--Best Director and Best Musical), Merrily We Roll Along, Spring Awakening, and The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Credits as an assistant director include Pearl's Rollin' With the Blues (Writers Theatre, dir. Ron OJ Parson) The King’s Speech (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, dir. Michael Wilson), Becky Shaw (Windy City Playhouse, dir. Scott Weinstein), and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (Filament Theatre, dir. Katy Walsh). Proud graduate of Northwestern University. SDC Associate Member and SDCF Observership Class of 2019-2021.
Company Member
Larry D. Trice II
For Blank, Larry has been seen as Oscar D'Armano and understudy Black in Andrew Lippa’s The Wild Party and as understudy Sipos in She Loves Me. Some of their favorite credits include: The Threepenny Opera (Theo Ubique), Tick Tick Boom (Boho Theatre), The Little Mermaid (Music Theatre Works), Shrek (Windy City Performs), Once On This Island (That Was a Show Theatre Co.), The Rocky Horror Show (Stage Wright Productions) and countless other shows, readings and cabarets. Additionally, Larry has worked with Lifeline Theatre, Haven Chicago, and countless others. They are also the Artistic Director of Trans Voice Cabaret Chicago. Love to friends, fam, and Mika. Keep up with them on social media IG, Twitter, TikTok @LtriceBelts
Managing Director
Rachel Guth
Rachel Guth is an award winning actor who has worked at Marriott Theatre, Northlight Theatre, Theo Ubique, Music Theatre Works, Boho Theatre, Black Button Eyes, The Chicago Musical Theatre Festival, Northwestern University, the American Music Theatre Project, and Blank Theatre, where she serves as the Managing Director. Some favorite roles include Samantha Brown in The Mad Ones, Ilona in She Loves Me (Jeff Nominee), Rose in Ghost Quartet, Olive Ostrovsky in 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Rose in The Secret Garden, and Anne in A Little Night Music. Offstage, she has been featured both singing and speaking on popular podcasts, as well as in a national print campaign. Rachel is a Northwestern graduate. Upcoming work with Blank includes Clara in Passion in Summer 2025. See more from her at rachelguth.com and @TheRachelGuth on Instagram.
Halli Morgan
Marketing Coordinator
Halli Morgan is an actor, singer, and marketing professional originally from Texas. After swinging in Blank's Merrily We Roll Along in 2023, she wanted to get more involved with the company and utilize her Master's Degree in Marketing (Emerson College). She has performed at theatres throughout Chicago including Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Kokandy Productions, Hell in a Handbag Productions, Olde School Shakespeare Collective, Music Theatre Works, Timberlake Playhouse, Three Cat Productions, Beverly Theatre Guild, Circle Theatre, and the Chicago College of Performing Arts. Love to Thomas, always. IG: @hallimo
Company Member Emeritus | Co-Founder
Aaron Mann
Aaron has journeyed across the country, but happily calls Chicago home. For Blank, he has taken the stage as Joe Josephson in Merrily We Roll Along, Sipos in the Jeff Award-nominated production of She Loves Me, and as Durdles in The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Additionally, Aaron has contributed to the national recordings of popular musicals like Sweeney Todd, The Sound of Plaid, and Miss Saigon for Music Theatre International (MTI). Other notable roles include Thenardier in Les Misérables (Uptown Music Theatre), Mr. Boss in Slide (Chicago Music Theater Festival), Sir Robin in Spamalot (WTC), and Mr. Mushnik in Little Shop of Horrors (WTC). Aaron's talents extend beyond acting, as he has also written and produced a popular Dungeons & Dragons podcast called "That Big D&D Energy" for all you fellow nerds out there. He's utilized this to become a professional Ad Operations Manager in the podcasting world! Whether on stage or behind the scenes, Aaron's dedication to the theatre is evident in all that he does. Aaron's education includes a BFA in Theatre Studies from Nebraska Wesleyan University.