Janaah Coates is an actor, model, vocalist, voiceover talent and dancer. She's performed in multiple stage productions, including shows with Black Ensemble Theater and Mahdi Theater Company. Her on-camera credits include commercials, independent films and web series including Jade Jones' Fanatic, Without a Name and The Life and Times of a Unicorn. Janaah has done work for brands such as Dell, Office Max, Motorola Solutions and Valspar paint. She earned a BA in Broadcast Communications from Western Illinois University and is a former CBS-affiliate TV news reporter / anchor.

Motto to live by "Remember who you are and whose you are " 

Baird Brutscher is an actor based near Freedhem, Minnesota, where he lives and works on his family's dairy farm. Active in central Minnesota theater, Baird has performed with Brainerd Community Theatre, Stage North of Brainerd, Mask & Rose Women's Theater Collective in Bemidji, and Actors Repertory Theatre of Brainerd. His recent roles include Ward the Dentist tin Fluoride: The Musical (2025), Shakespeare in Something Rotten, and Paul Sheldon in Misery.

Dan is a trained improvisor, actor and chemist who lives in Chicago. Previously, he lived in Milwaukee, where he was born, but has since lived in 5 different states. Dan has been in Chicago for the past year. This is the second year that Dan has been a performer at UWWFest. Previously he played Dr. Greg in VR Rehab (Part 1) and Lamont in Maw. His other acting work includes several short films and commercials. His favorite books include the Conan series and books by Michael Crichton and Dan Simmons. When Dan isn't working his favorite place to be is the gym as he competes in Strongman competitions. He's also a talented artist, painter, and photographer. 

Jamie Yerkes is a Chicago-based, classically trained actress who graduated from Bradley University with her B.A. in Theatre Performance. Since then, she has worked with and trained at several theatres, such as Second City, Eclectic Full Content Theatre, and CAMP Chicago. Most recently, Jamie could be seen as Chana in Oakton College's Indecent. Additional credits include Our Town (Stage Manager), Sense and Sensibility(Fanny/Lucy), and The Wolves (#13). Jamie would like to thank her family and friends for their support, and she hopes you all enjoy the show.

Katelyn is thrilled to debut her role of Tessa at UWWfest this year!  She graduated from Northern Illinois University with a B.F.A. in Acting.  She trains currently with Max Arciniega.  Recently she was Mistress Quickly in The Merry Wives of Windsor with Hyde Park Players.  Other credits include Nile Prime in Seasonal Gifts with WT Productions, Eleanore in Tango with Trap Door and Martha in What About Martha with On The Spot among others.  Katelyn is also very heavily involved in the film industry.  Her recent role of Kay in the short film Runner with Poison Arrow Films has been accepted into a festival in Tampa and hopefully many more festivals to come! She has had numerous roles in short and feature length films. Katelyn has worked on commercials for Feldco and cars.com. Katelyn, in her spare time enjoys playing volleyball, spending time with friends and playing with her new kitty Strella.

Imran is a dynamic, multi-disciplinary artist whose creativity bridges the worlds of theater, music, and visual art. His artistic journey began in the 3rd grade, when a passion for performance first drew him to the stage. Since then, Imran has earned multiple certifications and awards that reflect his dedication, versatility, and lifelong love of the arts.

After stepping away from theater for the past decade, Imran is returning with a renewed sense of purpose — ready to create, perform, and inspire once again. His work is fueled by emotion, movement, and storytelling, blending performance into experiences that resonate deeply with audiences. Imran approaches every form of expression with authenticity, curiosity, and heart — always striving to connect, move, and evolve through art.

Jaeda Mae is a Chicago-based actress and creative producer, known for her short documentary 'In the beginning'(funded by Hardpin Media). She earned her MFA in Cinema and Television Producing from Columbia College Chicago (2023) and currently works as a Project Coordinator at Smash Virtual Studios. Jaeda has contributed to projects for clients like Dark Matter on Apple TV, Chicago PD and Salesforce commercials. Her work blends history, culture, and storytelling, creating narratives that are both imaginative and authentic.