Anna-Rose Ii-Epstein 

(Co-Artistic Director)

Anna Rose  (she/her/they/them is a co-founder of Nothing Without a Company.  Although a native of Texas, she has considered Chicago and the theatre community her home for over 20 years. She fell in love with Chicago while attending the National High School Institute Cherub program at Northwestern. Soon after, she attended DePaul Theater School, where she feel in love with yoga, and Columbia College Chicago, where she received her BFA in Acting with a minor in Directing. She has performed, directed, assistant directed, assistant taught, and produced over 60 new plays with Nothing Without a Company and various other companies including Steppenwolf Theatre, Victory Gardens Theatre, The Goodman Theatre, Mary Archie Theatre, The Inconvenience, Redmoon Theater, Nothing Special Productions, About Face Theater, Pride Films and Plays, Silent Theatre Company, Windy City Performing Arts, and The Center on Halsted. Anna Rose is a Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT), focusing on energy work and body awareness through breath control. She is proud to be the originator of the Red & Gray Playwright Festival, where students write, direct, and produce their own works at The High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in her hometown, Houston, TX.  She featured in Windy City Times 2014's 30 Under 30 award with her wife Hannah Ii-Epstein as the first power couple to be honored together in this category. Anna Rose is the award recipient of Best Director (2015 & 2016) with the 48 Hour Film Project Chicago. Anna Rose is also a Licensed Massage Therapist, lover of yoga and in 2024 became a recipient of the “presidential volunteer service award” for her commitment to working with the queer community and providing self-care classes for all.