Versions of Undesirable Elements have been produced in cities around the world, including Tokyo, Holland, Seattle, Minneapolis, and New York; however, the Chicago response to this project is astonishing. An extraordinary array of over twenty-five community organizations and scores of individuals have assisted us in this endeavor.  Joining the Museum of Contemporary Art in support are Columbia College, the Chinese Service League, International House, the Center for Arts Policy, the Polish Museum of America, the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, Beacon Street Gallery and Gallery 37, among others. Our sincere thanks to all of the organizations and individuals who helped make this event possible. They are proof of the excitement and interest in the dialogue Undesirable Elements/Chicago can bring to a city where cultural barriers have existed for so long.  

We are delighted to have received a National Endowment for the Arts award to support Mr. Chong's residency and the production of Undesirable Elements/Chicago.  As the first major production of the Duncan YMCA Chernin's Center for the Arts, the work represents three qualities we plan to bring to all future endeavors: the engagement of artists of stature and vision, the philosophy of inclusion and the commitment to examining critical issues of our time. In creating the Chicago premiere of this innovative and unprecedented community arts project, we're redefining the cultural landscape and bringing art to the heart of Chicago!  

Ifa Bayeza  

Ifa Bayeza (Artistic Director) is a multi-media artist and producer. She was awarded a 1994 fellowship from the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts fund for New American Plays for her experimental work, The Judgement of Paris. She was also co-producer and senior writer for the acclaimed five-part NBC television documentary series, Images & Realities, an examination of media imagery of African-Americans. She has written numerous works for young audiences including Indian Giver, a half-hour radio exploration of the links between black Americans and Native Americans and Brenda Adams, an American Film Institute short feature, which won the SONY Innovators Award in 1989. Ms. Bayeza was also dramaturg and set designer for Ntozake Shange's OBIE award-winning 'for colored girls who considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf.' Formally Arts and Education Director of Court Theatre, Ms. Bayeza was appointed Founding Artistic Director of the Duncan YMCA Cherninís Center for the Arts in 1996. A graduate of Harvard University, she is a member of the Executive Committee of the Center for Arts Policy, a board member of Young Chicago Authors and an advisory board member of the Mayor's Millenium Park Committee. Ms. Bayeza was recently appointed to the Board of Governors of the African Grove Institute for the Arts (AGIA), an international organization dedicated to the revitalization of performing arts related to the African experience.  

Pam Dickler (Managing Director) Prior to coming to the Duncan YMCA Chernin's Center for the Arts, Pam worked with several Chicago production companies including Kolson Creative Productions, and Cullen, Henaghan and Platt. She  served as associate producer and stage manager for Do the White Thing and Gentlemen Prefer Bonds; as general manager for Always Patsy Cline; and as producer for Chicago's Gridiron Show - McDome and Domer at the Park West. Pam is the founding managing director of Terrapin Theatre, an Illinois not-for-profit theater company. For Terrapin, Pam has produced all 15 of their productions, as well as directing Laurel and Hardy Sleep Together, The Love Song of Saul Alinsky and The Little Turtle (a childrenís play which she also wrote). Pam was seen onstage recently in Terrapinís productions of Public/Privacy and Aunt Dan and Lemon, and she is currently producing The Bathroom (La Salle de Bain) at Live Bait Theater.  

Teresa Cisneros (Special Projects Coordinator) has dedicated herself to the organizing and founding of arts projects throughout the city of Chicago. Teresa is co-founder of the Young Collectors Club, Executive Director of Luna Negra Danza Teatro, as well as the Anonymous Artists Group. She has served as the Education/Outreach Coordinator for the Chicago Cultural Center, Gallery 37 Projects Coordinator for the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and researcher for the Inter-University Program for Latino Research at the Smithsonian Institution. She graduated from the University of Texas Austin and completed her graduate studies at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.  

Daniel Michael Frazier (Light Design/Slide Setup) has experience as an actor, director, musical director, composer, producer and designer, and has been involved in over 60 productions between Seattle and Chicago. Daniel has worked with such companies as Famous Door, Terrapin Theatre, European Repertory Company, Strawdog Theatre, The Free Associates, The Playhouse, Poundcake Players, and the Playwrights Center to name a few. Dan has a BFA in Theatre from Pacific Lutheran University. He recently directed the new musical Rag Doll, in development at the Goodman Theatre, and is providing original music, sound design and lights for Urban Legend's production of Frankenstein in Love, written by Clive Barker, as well as original music for Terrapin Theatre's production of The Bathroom at Live Bait Theater.  

Stephanie Mc Canles (Special Assistant) A native of Milwaukee and 1998 finalist for the Drama League Directors Project, Stephanie has been directing theatre in Chicago since 1996. Past productions include Lloyd's Prayer, Sexual Perversity in Chicago, The Skinhead Hamlet, Optic Nerve (Adapter), 4 From the Girlz Room and SCHOOL: Four Lessons. She is extremely grateful to Ping, Teresa, Ifa, Pam and all the wonderful people she had the honor of interviewing for this project.  

Anna C. Bahow (Senior Dramaturg) has been producing and directing in Chicago for the last several years. Interested in new works, she is dedicated to theatre that challenges stereotypes and explores ideas of commonality and difference. She is a member of the Directors' Lab at Lincoln Center in New York and her work as a writer can occasionally be heard on the Chicago public radio program 848. She is currently the Program Director for The Women's Theatre Alliance New Plays Development Workshop and New Plays Festival.  

Victoria Malone (Assistant to Mr. Chong) is a writer, documentor and arts administrator. She is currently working for the Chicago Center for Arts Policy, at Columbia College. She grew up in the east, the south and the mid-west, the product of a nomadic family. She currently resides in Chicago on the city's Near West Side.  

Production Staff for Undesirable Elements 

Artistic Director Ifa Bayeza 
Managing Director Pam Dickler 
Project Coordinator Teresa Cisneros 
Special Assistant Stephanie Mc Canles 
Assistant to Mr. Chong Victoria Malone 
Senior Dramaturg Anna C. Bahow 
Dramaturg William Carroll 
Technical Director Shawn Wallace 
Light Design/ Slide Setup Daniel Michael Frazier 
Set Construction Web Young 
Poster Design Kevin Heisner 
Poster Typesetting Andrew Rogers 
Cast Photo Stephen Garrett

Duncan YMCA
Chernin's Center for the Arts

Ifa Bayeza
Artistic Director

Pam Dickler
Managing Director

Shawn Wallace
Technical Director

J. Love
Writer's Voice Director

Dorian Jones
Life Long Learning Center (3LC)

Teresa Cisneros
Special Projects Coordinator

Marie A. Celestin
Administrative Coordinator

Duncan YMCA

Fred C. Matthew III 
Executive Director 
Mary Irvin 
Business Director 
  

DUNCAN YMCA 
BOARD OF DIRECTORS  

Mr. Arnold Brown 
Mr. Charles Campbell 
Mr. John Dillon 
Mr. Paul Gregg 
Mr. Daniel Hales 
Mr. Louis Holland 
Ms. Janet M. Koran 
Mr. Anthony Kramer 
Mr. Steve Larrick 
Mr. Donald Lord 
Mr. Ronald Mueller 
Mr. Thomas Naumann 
Mr. Robert Sefton 
Mr. Corey Simonson 
Ms. Ann Smith 
Mr. Lawrence Steinert  

A special thanks to all the individuals who have helped to make this project a reality by donating their time and resources throughout the past two years.  

Special thanks to 
Chicago Center for Arts Policy 
Chicago Neighborhood Tours 
Columbia College Chicago 
Gallery 37 
Museum of Contemporary Art 
Street Level Youth Media  

Donors 
Annie Properties 
Hyatt at University Village 
Ilford Film 
Renee Bogan 
Repro Inc. 
Salsedo Press 
Unisource  

Special thanks to the following organizations 
Advisory Council on Arab Affairs 
Alternatives Youth Inc. 
American Indian Center 
American Indian Economic Development Association 
Beacon Street Gallery 
Center for Asian Arts and Media 
Chicago Children's Museum 
Chicago Cultural Center 
Chicago Historical Society 
Chicago Housing Authority 
Chicago Public Schools 
Chicago State University 
Chicago Tribune 
Chinese American Service League 
Council on Arab Affairs 
Dance Detour 
Department of Cultural Affairs 
International House at the University of Chicago 
Irish American Heritage Center 
Metro Chicago 
Metropolitan YMCA of Chicago 
National Photo 
New City YMCA 
Orr High School 
Pintig Cultural Group 
Polish Museum of America 
Roosevelt University 
St. Ignatius School 
School of the Art Institute of Chicago 
Street Intervention YMCA 
The Family Institute at Northwestern University 
University of Illinois at Chicago 
Women's Theater Alliance