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)
Allyson Baisden 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).
Brandon Baisden is originally from central Illinois and started performing in high school. He did several productions in college including A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and Much Ado About Nothing. Other productions include, Music Man, A Little Night Music, The Crucible, and King Lear. Brandon has also 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 is putting his audio production skills to use as the POC Podcast producer and was the sound designer for POC’s productions of Still Photos, Radium Girls and The Wonder: A Woman Keeps a Secret.
Amanda Bobbitt 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 Born and raised in the city of Chicago, Brandon is excited to take the next step in his Chicago acting career. A recent theatre performance major and business minor graduate from Bradley University in Peoria, IL, Brandon enjoys the simplicities of theatre, that is, entertaining an audience. But please don’t get him confused with Peter Brook’s idea of the Deadly Theater. With a strong foundation in improv, he has done everything from Shakespeare, to great family outdoor dramas, which led him into exploring both Western- and Eastern-style theater, including the work of Japanese director Tadashi Suzuki. Chicago credits include a Windy City Players tour of Beauty and the Beast and Mary-Arrchie’s Abbie Hoffman Festival. Brandon has also toured with Sleeping Beauty and most recently was in Redmoon Theater’s Boneyard Prayer and Winter Pageant Redux.
Megan Brown is one of our newest members. Welcome to the POC!
Brett Lee is one of our newest members. Welcome to the POC!
Lindsey MacAllister co-founded POC and served as Executive Director from 2006-2008. Now living in Iowa, she has been in a variety of productions including Ragtime, King Lear, Princess Ida, and scenes from The Marriage of Figaro. She has sung with Grant Park Music Festival Chorus and the William Ferris Chorale, and currently sings with the Des Moines Choral Society. exhibitsmith.com
Annie Passanisi is a fine product of St. Louis, Missouri and Columbia College Chicago where she majored in playing children (Ragtime,The Pillowman) and the mentally unstable (The Miss Firecracker Contest, The House of Bernarda Alba). She has also appeared in Cinderella Goes Disco and The Skriker. Most recently, Miss Passanisi was in Tony and Tina’s Wedding. theanniepassanisi.com