ABOUT
MUD LIFE follows Roc and his cousin Tae, two aspiring hip-hop artists from Chicago’s West Side, struggling to build a future while under the thumb of a manipulative strip-club owner named Littles.
When a mysterious outsider offers Roc and Tae a rare opportunity to break free, loyalties fracture, ambitions collide, and they are forced to make choices that will alter the course of their lives forever. Set in North Lawndale, MUD LIFE is a powerful new play exploring the bonds that hold us together, the forces that keep us stuck, and what we’re willing to risk for the chance at a better life.
Each show includes a pre-show lounge AND performances, WITH a SPECIAL open mic* BEFORE EACH FRIDAY SHOWING.
*Friday showings are preceded by a special edition of RADIATE, an open mic series (typically held every third Tuesday of the month) by Collaboraction's young adult ensemble, The Luminaries.
PHOTOS
Each show includes a pre-show lounge AND performances, WITH a SPECIAL open mic* BEFORE EACH FRIDAY SHOWING.
*Friday showings are preceded by a special edition of RADIATE, an open mic series (typically held every third Tuesday of the month) by Collaboraction's young adult ensemble, The Luminaries.
THE ARTISTS
G. RILEY MILLS
Playwright
G. Riley Mills is an Emmy Award-winning producer and writer based in Chicago. His musical, The Hundred Dresses, (co- written with Grammy-nominee Ralph Covert), premiered Off-Broadway at The Atlantic Theatre Company, starring Academy Award-nominee Stephanie Hsu. He and his frequent writing partner, Willie Round, co-adapted Collaboraction’s award-winning hit docudrama Trial in the Delta: The Murder of Emmett Till. Their play, Lift Every Voice, also co-written with Round, was published by Dramatic Publishing and won the 2022 “Distinguished Play Award” from the American Alliance for Theatre and Education. He has twice won the Jeff Citation for Best New Work (Sawdust and Spangles in 1997 and Streeterville in 2001). His plays have been produced at such theatres as TimeLine, Mixed Blood, The Children’s Theatre Company, Prop Thtr, Orlando Rep, Birmingham Children’s Theatre, Royal George Theatre, Apollo Theatre, and many more. His new book, “Synergy and Sparks” was published by John Wiley & Sons and won a 2026 International Impact Book Award. grileymills.com
WILLIE ROUND
Playwright, Lead Actor
Willie Round is a Chicago-born playwright, actor, filmmaker, songwriter, and community- centered storyteller from North Lawndale. A graduate of Central State University with a B.A. in Mass Communication, Round creates work rooted in the history, culture, resilience, and lived experiences of Chicago’s West Side. His works include Mud Life, a stage play inspired by his life and experiences growing up in North Lawndale; LAWNdale King, which explores Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1966 campaign in Chicago; and the published work Lift Every Voice. Round is also a co-writer of Trial in the Delta, a three-time regional Emmy Award-winning production centered on the Emmett Till murder trial. His artistry extends across theater, film, music, acting, and videography. As hip-hop artist MudLife Roc, he has opened for artists including Gucci Mane and Lil Wayne. He is also the founder of Mud Life Entertainment LLC. Round’s mission is to authentically represent Chicago’s West Side, preserve its stories and history, and inspire the next generation through art.
ANTHONY MOSELEY
Director
Producer, director and actor Anthony Moseley believes in the power of live experiences to transform our lives and our world. Serving as Executive and Artistic Director of groundbreaking Chicago-based theatrical and experience group Collaboraction, he has led the company through a period of remarkable growth and innovative output. Since 1999 he’s established the company’s headquarters and theater facilities in the Flat Iron Arts Building, presided over more than 100 productions and events, built Experience Design – an acclaimed event creative division, co-created and served as Director of the annual Sketchbook Festival, and worked with thousands of collaborators to further explore and celebrate the human condition through the live moment. Using art to plant seeds of hope and promote peace, he led the development of Crime Scene: a Chicago Anthology, a critically acclaimed play about violent crime in Chicago created from hundreds of interviews, transcribed television news reports, social media posts and dramatized actual crimes that featured a post-show town hall discussion. Collaboraction will tour free performances of its sequel – Crime Scene: Let Hope Rise – to Chicago parks as part of the Chicago Park District’s 2013 Nights Out in the Parks.
FEATURING
CARINA LASTIMOSA
as Casey
Carina Lastimosa is a Filipino-American actor hailing from the San Francisco Bay Area; currently residing in Chicago. Selected Chicago theatre credits include An Educated Guess (Definition Theatre), Hail Mary/Maria (Nova Entertainment), Friends With Guns (A Short Leap Theatre Co.) The Duchess of Malfi (Babes With Blades Theatre Company), and I Build Giants (The Plagiarists). She is also a proud ensemble member of CIRCA Pintig, the only Filipino-focused theatre company serving the Chicago and greater Midwest area. Selected Bay Area theatre credits include Dogeaters (Magic Theatre), Sisters Matsumoto (Center REPertory Company), A Kind of Sad Love Story (Bindlestiff Studio), and A Dreamplay (The Cutting Ball Theater). Carina is a graduate of Indiana University and a recipient of Theatre Bay Area’s TITAN Award. She is represented by Lily’s Talent Agency. For more, visit www.carinalastimosa.com
SIMEON HENDERSON
as Littles
Simeon “Mr. Chicago” Henderson Actor/Comedian/Author Born on the Westside of chicago. Simeon started his career at The Famous Second City of Chicago. Simeon began hitting the stage performing in stage plays around the city. Simeon has had starring roles on Hit shows like Chicago PD, Chicago Fire, Empire and is one of the leads on the new series “Tyrant” Like Father Like Son. Simeon was also an on air personality for WCIU 26 THE U and is always showing Love to the city that loves him back, CHICAGO!
DEMORRIS BURROWS
as Tae
DeMorris Burrows is a Jeff nominated actor who is excited to make his Collaboraction debut , His previous work, One Man Show: Measure of a man (coalescence Theatre) ;Topdog Underdog (Invictus Theatre company) ; 1919 (Steppenwolf Theatre Company) ; 1800’s vs. 2020 (Rge Productions) Television/Film: Power Book lV: Force (STARZ) ; Chicago P.D. (NBC); Infidelity (BET+); Burrows wanted to give back to his community so he host a free acting workshop throughout the year. Find him on social media @_demorris__
WILLIE ROUND
as Roc
Willie Round is a Chicago-born playwright, actor, filmmaker, songwriter, and community- centered storyteller from North Lawndale. A graduate of Central State University with a B.A. in Mass Communication, Round creates work rooted in the history, culture, resilience, and lived experiences of Chicago’s West Side. His works include Mud Life, a stage play inspired by his life and experiences growing up in North Lawndale; LAWNdale King, which explores Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1966 campaign in Chicago; and the published work Lift Every Voice. Round is also a co-writer of Trial in the Delta, a three-time regional Emmy Award-winning production centered on the Emmett Till murder trial. His artistry extends across theater, film, music, acting, and videography. As hip-hop artist MudLife Roc, he has opened for artists including Gucci Mane and Lil Wayne. He is also the founder of Mud Life Entertainment LLC. Round’s mission is to authentically represent Chicago’s West Side, preserve its stories and history, and inspire the next generation through art.
PRODUCTION CREW
DRAMATURG
Martine Kei-Green Rogers
assistant director
Isabella Bradley
production manager
Alivia Arizaga
stage manager
Sam Burkett
ASSISTANT stage manager
Shreya Khanna
HOUSE manager
Denise Serna
set designer
John Wilson
SOUND DESIGNer
Harper Justus
PROJECTIONS DESIGNER
Liviu Pasare
LIGHTING DESIGNER
Destiny Garner
SOUND DESIGNer
Sam Lancaster
INTIMACY CHOREOGRAPHER
Allison Peevy
VIOLENCE/FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHy
R and D Choreography
CASTING director
Claire Simon