Company Members

Vi has been an alleged theater artist for over two decades, debuting as Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer in Westview Elementary’s Christmas Pageant in 2003. They have since dabbled in many aspects of theatrical production, with mixed results. They claim to have been most successful in matters of acting, directing, and stage management. They received the Mr. Chill Award from the University of Tennessee Department of Theater in 2018, in addition to assorted minor recognitions including a Bachelor of Arts degree. They moved to Chicago in 2019. Following a brief global hiatus from the performing arts, they have returned to theatrical ventures, where they are most often spotted Directing with BYOT productions.

Further information regarding Vi’s theatrical deeds may be found on their website: https://jacksoncburnette.wixsite.com/my-site

And their instagram handle is@inscrutable_silliness.

Member since January 2024

Member since November 2015

Donaldson Cardenas (he/they) loves his BYOT Family... An actor for fifteen years and a writer for over 30, he feels at home in this welcoming space where he can do both. He studied at Second City’s Conservatory and Artistic Home. Donaldson was recently seen in St Sebastian Players' Barefoot in the Park. Chicago Reader said he was "a precise blend of bohemian bonhomie and shoulder-shrugging fatalism" and Around the Town Chicago said he "plays this role to the extreme."

Other recent credits include A Drama in Rogers Park (Young Krones), Perforated Play (Hate/Lab and The Runaways), and Happy Days (Chicago Park District). (Happy Days by Sam Beckett. Not the one with the Fonz.)

Writing-wise, Donaldson created and co-wrote the episodic podcast “Monocyte,” as well as the one-shot “Interview with the Gorgon,” both for Eclectic Full Contact Theatre. During the Great Unpleasantness, he shot and edited videos for TUTA Theater’s One Minute Global Project, for which he also composed music (as Kikki Garleek).

Member since August 2021

Dante Charlton has been a frequent BYOT Productions collaborator since September 2016. A graduate of Solano College Theatre’s Actor Training Program, Dante’s dabbled in singing, directing, stand-up, and burlesque since trading NorCal summers for Chicago winters. They can be seen in Dead Clown Production’s upcoming horror film “Alan & The Black Cat”, haunting the Music Box Theater whenever a new horror film drops, or putting on a karaoke freak-show in Andersonville or Lakeview depending on the Friday night!

Member since April 2017

Member since September 2014

Member since January 2019

Member since December 2022

Member since June 2016

Member since May 2014

Member since April 2024

Member since May 2017

Member since September 2018

Member since July 2014

Jessica Swim (she/her) studied theatre and sociology as an undergrad and has brought this focus on community into her professional and artistic life. Currently working at an advocacy nonprofit, she has stayed connected to theatre throughout her career, bringing its life lessons to her practice. Within theatre, she has enjoyed exploring a variety of disciplines, from dramaturgy, to acting, house management, directing, and marketing. She is the Leadership Coalition President at Artemisia Theatre and is on the board of HOPE X ROPE, an organization providing resources to families on the South Side.

Member since April 2022

Member since September 2023

Brittany (she/her) started doing theater in 7th grade (aka 2000) because all of her friends joined Drama Club, and she didn’t want to walk home alone. She’s been in love with it ever since. With no formal theater training and a Liberal Arts degree, everything Brittany knows how to do, she learned on the fly. She started participating with BYOT in April 2018 and hasn’t looked back. Brittany currently serves at BYOT’s Artistic Direcor.

Member since November 2018

Member since April 2023

Member since May 2014

Member since May 2014

Member since November 2014

Member since October 2015

Member since May 2016

Member since January 2016

Member since September 2014

Member since February 2016

Member since January 2016

Member since October 2014