The mission of Point of Contention Theatre Company is to challenge conventions through innovative Chicago store-front productions of new and established plays that examine the theatrical elements of life and compliment the ensemble of actors and artists providing theater…with a point.

This is what Chicago’s theater scene is all about: around a corner, in a little space one could easily pass by, a small theater company is doing great things.

-Chicago Theater Blog (The Wonder, 2009)

The Company

Brandon Baisden (Artistic Director) has been with POC since 2007 and has appeared in POC’s
staged reading of Frankenstein and in Radium Girls. A Commuincations major from the
University of Illinois at Springfield and a 12-year veteran of commercial radio, Brandon puts his
audio production skills to use as the POC Podcast producer and has been the sound designer
for POC’s productions of Still Photos, Radium Girls, The Wonder: A Woman Keeps a Secret, and
Vanishing Points.

Annie Passanisi (Company Member) is a fine product of St. Louis, Missouri and Columbia
College Chicago where she majored in playing children (“Ragtime,” “Hansel Und Gretel”) and
the mentally unstable (“The House of Bernarda Alba,” “The Pillowman”). She may have sat
on your lap and eaten your food during “Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding.” Other credits include “Oh,
Boy!” “The Wind in the Willows,” “Radium Girls,” “Zombies from the Beyond,” and “Mary
Shelley’s Frankenstein.” She has been known to bake pies for people who love POC.

Rachel Staelens (Associate Company Member) is a director and stage manager around town.
Her most recent work with Point of Contention was as stage manager/assistant director on
their spring 2010 production of Vanishing Points by Martin Jones. Rachel is also Production
Manager for the inaugural Chicago Fringe Festival TM (September 1-5, 2010 in Pilsen – http:/
/www.chicagofringe.org/). She would like to thank her friends and family for their continued
love and support and assures them that – as always – she will return all calls when the show is
up.

Lindsey Smith (Emeritus Member) co-founded POC and served as Executive Director from
2006-2008. Past productions include Ragtime, King Lear and Princess Ida. In addition, she is a
former member of the Grant Park Music Festival Chorus and the William Ferris Chorale. Now
living in Iowa, Lindsey is a freelance curator, archivist and exhibit developer. exhibitsmith.com

Megan Brown (Company Member) first became involved with POC in 2008 with their
production of Still Photos (Emily). A native of Upstate New York, she moved to Chicago in 2006
after spending a year on tour with the Missoula Children’s Theatre and their production of
Robin Hood. Since living in Chicago she has worked with such companies as n.u.f.a.n. ensemble,
Profile’s Theatre, Village Players Theatre Company, Appetite Theatre Company, and The
Mystery Shop among others. Megan received a BA in Theatre from Elmira College.

Allyson Baisden (Production Manager) is originally from South Florida and began in theatre at
the early age of 6. She earned her BA in Theatre Arts from Earlham College and her Masters in
Social Work from the University of Illinois Chicago. Ally has worked in Chicago in both theatre
and concert production as a production manager, stage manager and actress. Some of her
favorite roles include Olive in the Odd Couple- Female Version, Reagan in King Lear and Ado
Annie in Oklahoma. She is the resident Production Manager with Point of Contention. With
POC, she has produced The Wonder (2009), Chaos (2009), Radium Girls (2008) and stage
managed Vanities (2007). She is currently in production for Chaos (opens November 2009) and
Vanishing Points (opens in February 2010).

Amanda Bobbitt (Company Member) is currently pusuring a degree in Theatre and Elementary
Education at Loyola University Chicago. In the past year she has stage managed The Red Hood
and The Nerdy Girl and the Intergalactic Dog (Rascal Children’s Theatre), Still Photos and the
3rd annual Chaos Festival (Point of Contention), Bruschetta (Appetite Theatre), The Sum of
Us (1027 Productions), and Cut to the Quick: Atom Smashers for the side project. She also
costumed Radium Girls (Point of Contention). Eventually Amanda hopes to climb down from
the tower and end up back on stage where she origanally started. Amanda’s roles have ranged
from Princess Winnifred to Cinderella to Juliet. She can’t wait for the shoe to fit and she can
become a princess again.

Brandon Boler (Business Manager) is a Chicago native and received his B.S. from Bradley
University in Peoria, IL in Theatre Performance. An original company member of POC, Brandon
has also worked with other Chicago companies such as The Artistic Home, Redmoon, Dog
and Pony, Nothing Without A Company, and Stage Left and thanks to his amazing Dad, has a
website, www.brandonboler.com for you all to view and find out more about Brandon. His
Mom and Twin sister are pretty amazing too J Please continue to check out POC’s website, as
we grow together as a company and ensemble.

Brett Lee (Company Member)
Derek Van Tassel (Associate Company Member)
Nicci Schaumacher (Associate Company Member)
Brian Jarreau (Associate Company Member)
Nicole Witoski (Resident Artist)