The Midsummer Project Cast

Samantha Abrams (Helena, Hermia, Wall/Snout)
Sami is a 6th grader at Northbrook Junior High. She has been acting since she was five years old. Samantha began working with Piven's Advance Performance Ensemble in the Fall of 2020. Her favorite past roles have included Portia in Cinderella and Augustus Gloop in Willy Wonka. Samantha loves to dance, sing, bake and spend time with friends.
Max Buchko (Flute, Lysander, Demetrius, Flute, Puck)
Max started at Piven in January of 2020. Max Has done improv, acting, and stand up at The Second City for 5 years. He is an 8th grader at Rogers Park Montessori School and loves biking and playing video games.
Mariel Flickinger (Helena, Hermia)
Mariel is in 9th grade at North Shore Country Day School. She has been performing dance on stage since she was 4 years old and performing in theatrical productions since she was 7. Her favorites roles that she has played have been 'Amaryllis' in The Music Man and 'Zippy' in last year's Piven Performance Project. She loves piano, singing, baking, and tennis. She first learned improvisational comedy at Piven and can't wait for the chance to perform live improv in-person again someday soon!
Annie Frankel (Hermia, Puck)
Annie is a sophomore at Evanston Township High School. She has been with Piven since 4th grade and has been a part of the Performance Project Ensemble as well as many other classes. Annie loves to crochet, dance, and spend time with friends when she's not busy at work!
Clementine Frazer (Hermia, Robin Starveling, Helena)
Clementine is a 7th grader at the Carleton Washburne School and has been acting and doing improv for 8 years. She joined Piven in January 2020. Some of Clementine’s past favorite productions include Aladdin, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Alice in Wonderland. In her spare time Clementine likes to play tennis, bullet journal, and travel.
Joshua Gordon (Demetrius, Lysander, Prologue/Quince)
Joshua has been a part of Piven for 4 years. Josh enjoys Video games, Watching theater, and playing instruments.
Maude Hovey-Bradshaw (Quince, Helena, Puck)
Maude has been taking classes at Piven since 4th grade and recently performed in As You Like It. She was in Loyola University Chicago’s Fun Home earlier this year, and she is the lead singer for the band The Seven Ten Splits. Maude loves meditation, cats, and anime.
Xander Mroczek (Demetrius, Moonshine/Starveling)
Xander has been taking classes at Piven since fourth grade, most recently performing in As You Like It, back in the Fall. Xander loves acting/comedy, his pandemic puppy and eating ramen.
Maddy Schwendener (Hermia, Helena, Lion/Snug)
Maddy has been taking classes at Piven since 5th grade. She performed in As You Like It in the fall and is delighted to be back on the Piven stage. She loves kittens, roller blading, and acting.
Tyler Torf (Bottom, Puck, Lysander)
Tyler has been taking classes at Piven since 3rd grade. Tyler has been performing since he was 3 years old, and some of his favorite performances include Willy Wonka and Newsies. He loves spending time with his family, sports, and sewing.
Sean Zielinski (Demetrius, Lysander, Pyramus/Bottom)
Sean is thrilled to be returning to Piven’s Performance Project, this time playing the characters of Demetrius and Bottom! In addition to theatre, Sean also enjoys acting for film and TV. Sean's other interests include creating stylized films, producing Synth Pop and 90's dance music, and developing forms of digital art such as 3D character modeling.