Halena is the artistic director of The Hypocrites where she both performs and directs.  She is the co-founder and former artistic director of Barrel of Monkeys.  She is a UT-Austin and Northwestern grad and a former member of the Big Apple Circus Clown Care unit.  With the Neo-Futurists she directed Burning Bluebeard, co-created and directed Daredevils and Daredevils Hamlet and the sight specific extravaganza, Fake Lake. Halena is equally proud to have worked with many other respectable and disreputable theater companies in Chicago over the years; some memorable acting credits include: The Kid Thing (About Face/ Chicago Dramatists), The Fall of the House of Usher, Oedipus, Mud and 4.48 Psychosis (The Hypocrites), The Children’s Hour (Timeline), The Golden Truffle (Redmoon), and Fair Use and Theatrical Essays (Steppenwolf). Halena has been nominated for a Jefferson Citation for Best Supporting Actress and Best Direction, named one of “30 under 30” to watch by SixOSix magazine, and received a signed letter from Mr. Rogers saying she was “special” in 1978.   She also just had a (remarkable) kid.