More About Babes With Blades Theatre Company Presents World Premiere of “yo ho.,” July 19 - August 29
Babes With Blades Theatre Company’s (BWBTC) 2026 season opens with a world premiere, yo ho., by playwright SMJ, directed by JD Caudill and fight choreography by Carly “CB” Cason, July 19 - August 29 at The Edge Theater Off Broadway, 1133 W. Catalpa Ave.
yo ho. charts the journey of Anne Bonny and Mary Read, two pirates aboard a campy, sexually charged ship facing immediate threat from the crown. Equal parts historical fantasy and introspective sexual and gender exploration, this play is a deeply emotional reimaging and reminder of queer history.
The ensemble cast of ten, in alphabetical order, features Stef Brundage (they/them, Calico Jack); Sierra Buffum (they/them, Mary Read); William Delforge (he/him, Chad/James); Schnaude Dorizan (she/her, Vanessa U/S); Stephanie Fongheiser (she/her, Anne Bonny U/S); Cris King (she/her, Calico Jack U/S); Rachel Sleek Bañuelos (she/her, Anne Bonny); Makenna Van Raalte (they/she, Mary Read U/S); Jacob Watson (he/they, Chad/James U/S) and Brittani Yawn (she/her, Vanessa).
The production team includes BWBTC ensemble members Line Bower (they/them, technical director); Jennifer Mohr (she/her, costume designer); Payton Shearn (she/they, production assistant) and Laura J. Wiley (she/her, lighting designer) as well as Carly “CB” Cason (they/she/any, fight choreographer); JD Caudill (they/them, director); Kat Coyl (they/them, assistant director); Amy C. Gilman (she/her, scenic designer); Rose Hamill (she/her, production manager); Alex Kingsley (they/them, sound designer); Meme Matteson (she/they, assistant fight choreographer); Grace Mealey (she/her, stage manager); Alyssa Vera Ramos (she/her/ella, intimacy designer) and SMJ (they/them, playwright).
The performance schedule is Thursdays – Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. The open caption performances are Saturday, Aug. 15 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Aug.16 at 3 p.m. and Thursday, Aug. 20 and Friday, Aug. 21 at 8 p.m.. The sensory friendly performances are Sunday, Aug. 2 and Sunday, Aug. 9 at 3 p.m. and with the fully masked audience performances, Sunday, Aug. 9 and Aug. 16 at 3 p.m. The running time is approximately two hours (including intermission). Streaming dates for yo ho. will be announced at a future date. Tickets are $28 for students and seniors, $35 for general admission and are on sale now at BabesWithBlades.org.
Headshot Block of Cast:
Top Row: Stef Brundage, Sierra Buffum, William Delforge, Schnaude Dorizan
Middle Row: Stephanie Fongheiser, Cris King
Bottom Row: Rachel Sleek-Bañuelos, Makenna Van Raalte, Jacob Watson, Brittani Yawn
yo ho. charts the journey of Anne Bonny and Mary Read, two pirates aboard a campy, sexually charged ship facing immediate threat from the crown. Equal parts historical fantasy and introspective sexual and gender exploration, this play is a deeply emotional reimaging and reminder of queer history.
The ensemble cast of ten, in alphabetical order, features Stef Brundage (they/them, Calico Jack); Sierra Buffum (they/them, Mary Read); William Delforge (he/him, Chad/James); Schnaude Dorizan (she/her, Vanessa U/S); Stephanie Fongheiser (she/her, Anne Bonny U/S); Cris King (she/her, Calico Jack U/S); Rachel Sleek Bañuelos (she/her, Anne Bonny); Makenna Van Raalte (they/she, Mary Read U/S); Jacob Watson (he/they, Chad/James U/S) and Brittani Yawn (she/her, Vanessa).
The production team includes BWBTC ensemble members Line Bower (they/them, technical director); Jennifer Mohr (she/her, costume designer); Payton Shearn (she/they, production assistant) and Laura J. Wiley (she/her, lighting designer) as well as Carly “CB” Cason (they/she/any, fight choreographer); JD Caudill (they/them, director); Kat Coyl (they/them, assistant director); Amy C. Gilman (she/her, scenic designer); Rose Hamill (she/her, production manager); Alex Kingsley (they/them, sound designer); Meme Matteson (she/they, assistant fight choreographer); Grace Mealey (she/her, stage manager); Alyssa Vera Ramos (she/her/ella, intimacy designer) and SMJ (they/them, playwright).
The performance schedule is Thursdays – Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. The open caption performances are Saturday, Aug. 15 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Aug.16 at 3 p.m. and Thursday, Aug. 20 and Friday, Aug. 21 at 8 p.m.. The sensory friendly performances are Sunday, Aug. 2 and Sunday, Aug. 9 at 3 p.m. and with the fully masked audience performances, Sunday, Aug. 9 and Aug. 16 at 3 p.m. The running time is approximately two hours (including intermission). Streaming dates for yo ho. will be announced at a future date. Tickets are $28 for students and seniors, $35 for general admission and are on sale now at BabesWithBlades.org.
Headshot Block of Cast:
Top Row: Stef Brundage, Sierra Buffum, William Delforge, Schnaude Dorizan
Middle Row: Stephanie Fongheiser, Cris King
Bottom Row: Rachel Sleek-Bañuelos, Makenna Van Raalte, Jacob Watson, Brittani Yawn
Date & Time
July 19, 2026
8:00pm
Additional Dates
This event also occurs on:
07/23/2026, 07/24/2026, 07/25/2026, 07/26/2026 and 19 other dates
Location
The Edge Theater Off-Broadway
1133 W. Catalpa Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
Communities
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