It Takes Two with guests Devin DeSantis and Stephen Schellhardt!
Todays’ guests kick off our series celebrating Pride Month. They are a couple here in town who have been part of the Chicagoland theater scene for over 10 years.
Devin DeSantis is a Jeff Award nominated artist who is regarded as one of Chicago’s leading theatrical vocalists, who has been honored to work with theatre companies and symphonies around the country and the world.
A graduate of Northwestern University’s School of Music, and proud member of Actor’s Equity Association, he performs on stages in and around his current home of Chicago, New York, and many other wonderfully essential Equity houses around the country.
Favorite theatre credits include “Kinky Boots”, “The Little Mermaid”, “The Who's Tommy”, “Les Miserables”, “Next to Normal”, and the regional premier of “Dear Evan Hansen” (all at the Paramount Theatre), “Waitress” (at The MUNY), “Parade” (at Writer’s Theatre), “Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein” (at Drury Lane Theatre), “Anyone Can Whistle” starring Patti LuPone and Audra McDonald, and “The Most Happy Fella” starring George Hearn (at Ravinia).
He was a singer for 4 years in “The Radio City Christmas Spectacular” starring The Rockettes at the world-renowned Radio City Music Hall and is a regular guest artist with the Colorado Symphony and San Diego Symphony, where you can find him every holiday season. In between concerts and shows, he is a lead singer with the Bluewater Kings Band and a member of The Four C Notes. Devin is the husband of today’s second guest, Stephen Schellhardt.
Stephen is a Joseph Jefferson Award-winning actor and director hooked on theatre since the second grade when he organized, cast and put on a performance of “The Wizard of Oz” for his entire grade school. What followed has been a marvelous theatrical journey encompassing a musical theatre degree from Carnegie Mellon University’s acclaimed drama school and a professional career that has taken him all over the world.
Stephen has worked as a performer, creative, and educator. He has worked with every Equity theatre company in Chicago as well as with the Lyric Opera Chicago, the Ravinia Festival, and Northwestern, Roosevelt and Rockford University. He was in the first national tour of “Altar Boyz” and performed in Jane Austen’s “Persuasion” at The Royal Winchester Theatre in England and at the Shanklin Theatre on The Isle of Wight.
Stephen also served as Associate Producer and Casting Director at Writers Theatre in Glencoe before becoming a visiting professor at Northwestern University and then Head of Musical Theatre at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt. He also served as artistic director and proud company member of BoHo Theatre in Chicago for six years.
Over two decades of performing, directing and teaching professionally, Stephen recognizes that everyone has a story to tell, a song to sing and a distinct perspective to offer. His personal passion for education, social justice and employing his broad experience to help guide and coach aspiring performing artists has become a top priority.
I hope you enjoy my conversation with today’s guests, Devin DeSantis and Stephen Schellhardt.
Now let’s go, to the top of the show!
