GET TO KNOW OUR TEAM: 1ST UP - CAROL KARAGUEZ

From now till the end of the run we will highlight the talented individuals involved in helping make the Midwest Premiere of Cuba and His Teddy Bear possible with a brief questionnaire.

1. Where are you from? If not from Chicago, how did you end up here? What is your ethnicity?

Born and raised in Chicago till I was 7, then moved to California. I moved back in 2000. I am Lebanese-American.

2. What is your position in Cuba?

Costume Designer

3. What drew you to want to work on Cuba and His Teddy Bear?

I had a pretty good feeling I would say yes to working on “Cuba” even before reading the script. UTC has always chosen plays that are raw and true to the company’s mission. This play definitely meets their needs and mine as a designer. Reinaldo Povod created these astoundingly rich characters that I have the honor to dress. It’s very exciting.

4. Why is this a great piece of theater for Chicago?

I think this is a great piece of theater for Chicago. It’s urban, it’s never been produced here and, best of all, it’s timeless. Even though it was written over 20 years ago, the themes are still relevant today. I truly believe that our audience will connect with the world of the play. It’s too real not to.

5. What makes Chicago Theater great to you?

Diversity.  If a company can produce a play that can speak to the large and diverse audience of Chicago, it is great.

6. What do like about working with UTC/PTC? If you have worked with UTC/PTC before what show did you work on and how was your experience?

Working with UTC is always a blast because they know how to bring people on board who are passionate about what they do and truly enjoy the process thick and thin.

I’m thrilled to be making this my third costume design for UTC. My last production was “Broken Thread”. My first production was “Eulogy for a Small Time Thief”. It was a great experience. Pulling period costume pieces is always fun, especially for “Eulogy”. The characters were over-the-top, so I had the liberty of ‘going there’ with the design.

7. What do you do for work outside of your position in Cuba?

When I’m not costume designing for UTC, you could find me directing around town. I work regularly with Silk Road Theatre Project and Chicago Dramatists. Last year, I served as part-time faculty at the College of Lake County, Grayslake. I had the honor of directing their fall production “Real Women Have Curves”. I hope to get into educational theater long-term.

8. Maybe other than Cuba, what is your favorite play that you have worked on?

Sorry, but there are too many to narrow down to one.

9. Why are you pursuing theater in Chicago, rather than somewhere else?

Chicago has earned a reputation for being the city with exciting new plays. My heart has always been in the development of new works. Collaborating with playwrights from the birth of a play is very exhilarating.  Chicago gives me that opportunity often.

10. What’s your favorite line from a play?

“I gotta postage stamp for a dick.” - Jackie (Cuba and His Teddy Bear)

Interview by Ivan Vega

Photo by Anthony Aicardi