When selecting projects to present, we look for:
big-hearted and universal stories,
told in innovative, engaging and accessible ways,
that we hope spark conversation and inspire change.
For our inaugural project, we partnered with Kerfuffle to create The Conductors, a new play for children 6 and under!
Created with the ideals of The Connected Routes Project in mind, this beautiful show has now become our flagship production.
The Conductors: A new play for the very young
ORIGINALLY CREATED IN SUPPORT by a grant from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events*
Created by Kerfuffle and The connecting routes project
directed by ashley laverty
All aboard the magic train! Where should we go? Who shall we visit?
The conductors are on a search for treasure in this play specifically designed for very young children. Featuring live music and playful audience participation, “The Conductors” is a silly, joyful, and engaging first theatre experience for children ages 2-6 and their families.
Join the conductors as they explore community and connection along the railroad lines!
“The Conductors” Trailer (2021 Chicagoland Tour). Filmed by Jenny Lynn Christoffersen.
The Conductors features original music and celebrates themes of community, friendship and new experiences - while exploring everywhere a train may take you and everyone it may connect you with. A perfect first theater experience for the very young, our whimsical show encourages audiences to “find their treasure” in everyday adventures, whether it be in blanket forts with grandma or meeting new friends in outer space.
The experience offers free tickets for all, runs 45 minutes, and is intended for children 6 and under (and their caretakers). Featuring interactive elements throughout the performance, there is a pre-show art-making activity where audience members color train tickets illustrating where they would travel on the “magic train,” and afterwards, a chance to meet the cast and draw together.
Created by Kerfuffle (www.kerfuffletvy.com), one of only three companies in the country exclusively producing theatre for very young audiences, The Conductors was the first production to tour with The Connecting Routes Project!
The original 2021 production was partially funded by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, and toured with The Connecting Routes Project to outdoor spaces at Chicagoland museums and libraries via the regional Metra railways.
Since our initial tour, Kerfuffle has continued sharing The Conductors with hundreds of children and families in partnership with Chicago’s Night Out in the Parks festival in 2022 and 2023 and at the 2024 Odyssey Festival in Lincolnshire, IL.
In June 2024, The Conductors toured once again with The Connecting Routes Project (for our very first time on Amtrak!) to Bloomington-Normal, IL, for performances with Illinois Art Station.
Please reach out if you are interested in bringing The Conductors to your community!
This show can be performed in a variety of spaces, either indoors or outdoors!
Highlights of our Amtrak tour of “The Conductors” in June 2024.
THE CONDUCTORS
TOURING HISTORY WITH THE CONNECTING ROUTES PROJECT
RECENTLY: June 4, 2024 - Learn more about tour here!
Connie Link Amphitheatre (Normal, IL)
Bloomington Public Library (Bloomington, IL)
PREVIOUSLY: September 17-28, 2021
Blue Island Public Library (Blue Island, IL)
Kenosha Public Museum (Kenosha, WI)
Waukegan Public Library (Waukegan, IL)
Harvey Public Library (Harvey, IL)
Production Photos
Behind the scenes: rehearsal video
Rehearsal Photos
The cast of The Conductors
Shea Lee
Shea Lee (she/hers) is a Chicago-based actor and graduate of Northwestern University, where her focuses included musical theatre, theatre for young audiences, and Asian American studies. Her favorite credits are Anon(ymous) (NU Purple Crayon Players), Giggle Giggle Quack (Lifeline Theatre national tour), and most recently, Goose and Gert (Kerfuffle TVY). She is the company manager of Laughing Stock Theatre, Chicago's premiere Commedia dell'Arte theatre company, and is represented by Shirley Hamilton Talent. If Shea could take a magic train anywhere in the universe, she would visit every mountaintop on every planet, then pick the best view to go back and stay.
Madison hill
Madison Hill (they/them) is a Chicago based actor, deviser, mover, and shaker. Madison has worked with multiple companies in Chicago, and even started their own devising company with their partner. On top of working as an actor, Madison is an Advanced Actor Combatant with the SAFD, writer of quick witted short plays, and a freelance Stage Manager, so their entire life is oriented towards working on and offstage. If Madison could take a magic train anywhere in the universe it would be to the bottom of the ocean, to explore the 70% of the ocean floor that has been uncharted!
Samie Jo Johnson
Samie Jo Johnson (she/they) is a multi-hyphenate artist who is always eager to embrace an opportunity to play. Prior to landing in Chicago, Samie Jo lived and worked in Seattle, Denver, England, Southern Indiana, and the many highways in between. Performance highlights include being ready to perform any character in Hamlet with Quicksilver Shakespeare in Chicago and dancing through the streets of Italy (literally) for a site-specific production of In. Sight. Out. with La Mama Umbria. If they could take a magic train anywhere in the universe, it’d have to be to the moon!
The Crew of The Conductors
Ashley Laverty, director
Ashley Laverty (she/her) is a theatre maker originally from Worcester, Massachusetts. She is the founding Artistic Director of Kerfuffle, a theatre and dance company for very young children. With Kerfuffle, she has developed and directed The Conductors, Toad Hall, Nested, The Caterpillar's Footprint, Goose and Gert and is excited to direct Toddler Hiking Club this September! She is a teaching artist and has 10 years of teaching artist experience, specializing in drama in the early childhood classroom. In Chicago, Ashley is proud to be a teaching artist with Lifeline Theatre and The Stage School. She holds an M.F.A in Theatre for Youth from Arizona State University and a B.A. in Theatre Arts with a concentration in Musical Theatre from Point Park University's Conservatory of Performing Arts. If Ashley could travel anywhere on a magic train, it would be to visit Budapest again!
Mariah Bennett, set Designer
Mariah Bennett (she/hers) is a multidisciplinary designer originally from Dallas, Texas. At a young age she always knew she wanted to be creative and graduated from the University of North Texas with a B.F.A in Art & Design. She then went on to pursue her M.F.A in Interior Architecture from Rhode Island School of Design. After working for a small hospitality firm she moved to Chicago to pursue her interest in production/set design. Her passion is to design experiences and has done notable work with Ivan Carlson since her arrival to the windy city. She is an educator of all ages teaching children with the Empowerment Factory, middle school with Down City Design, Pre-College high school students, graduate students and Continuing Education at RISD. If Mariah could travel anywhere on a magic train, it would be to the ocean!
Josh Bernaski, Tour manager
Josh Bernaski (he/him) is the founding Artistic Director of The Connecting Routes Project and the Tour Manager for The Conductors! A graduate of Temple University, Josh now lives in Chicago, and has worked with Lifeline Theatre, Drury Lane, Theatre at the Center, First Folio, Akvavit Theatre, Pegasus Theatre and The Shakespeare Project. Josh has also performed at regional theatres across the country, and for audiences across South America, Asia and the Middle East. If Josh could travel anywhere on a magic train it would be to Bulgaria with his brother!
costume design: ashley laverty
costume sticher: izumi inaba
The Conductors donors and supporters
*This project was partially supported by an Individual Artist Program Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events, as well as a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency, a state agency through federal funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.
Please consider supporting our journey! Your generous (and tax-deductible!) donation will help us connect with communities across the nation and support our artists.