The Monster Weekly

John Francisco is a Chicago based artist and has been working extensively in the theatre and education communities for the last decade. He is a leading voice in the development of Chicago Children’s Theatre’s Red Kite Program performing and collaborating on their annual, sensory-based and interactive theatrical experiences for children with autism and their families. He has also designed and led the subsequent “Camp Red Kite,” a 3-week summer arts camp for children with autism.

His work in the autism community extends to several schools across the city and suburbs and he also leads several Professional Development workshops for Chicago Public School teachers specific to social/emotional learning, conflict resolution, crisis management and behavior modification.

Additionally, John also works as the Student Services Coordinator at Erikson Institute: A Graduate School in Child Development. He teaches “Wiggleworms” at the Old Town School of Folk Music and writes and directs productions for numerous performing arts summer camps with Carolyn at the Menomonee Club for Boys and Girls. In his spare time he acts in plays around Chicago.

As a kid, John loved reading Tin Tin, watching The Secret of Nimh, and farting on his brother.

Carolyn Defrin is a theatre and teaching artist. As a founding member of The House Theatre of Chicago, she has performed in and collaborated on the creation of over 20 world premiere productions and served as the theatre’s Director of Community Programs, designing numerous programs for at-risk youth, low-income neighborhoods and the hearing and visually impaired communities. She has also taught theatre workshops for children and adults around creating and performing new work, and written and directed several productions for and by children in schools and summer camp programs.

Carolyn has also worked as a performer/educator with Steppenwolf, The Goodman, Lookingglass, Redmoon and Chicago Children’s Theatre—where she first met John Francisco performing in The Red Kite Program designed for children with autism.

She currently resides in London, England, pursuing a Masters Degree in Performance and Design at Central Saint Martin’s College of Art and Design.

As a kid, Carolyn loved watching the Doozers on Fraggle Rock, listening to her mom read her James and The Giant Peach, (one chapter at a time), and sneaking potato chips under her bed to eat late at night.

Kyle Bice is a Chicago based freelance artist, specializing in illustration and
fine art.  A 2002 graduate of the American Academy of Art with a BFA in painting,
Kyle has recently done work for Coca Cola, Kellogg’s, New Holland Brewing,
Image Comics, Dark Horse Comics and his work has been seen in CMYK
magazine.Kyle most recently published A Book of Dwarves and is currently working on
two children’s books to be published in the near future.

As a kid, Kyle loved reading old fairy tales, watching The Never Ending Story,
and eating sour worms.