Cathleen Schandelmeier-Bartels

Cathleen Schandelmeier is currently in graduate school at Northeastern Illinois University, studying to be a high school English teacher with the goal of one day having... more

Cathleen Schandelmeier is currently in graduate school at Northeastern Illinois University, studying to be a high school English teacher with the goal of one day having her own theater department. She takes an active leadership role with the NEIU/IEA (Illinois Education Association) where she served as President last year, and Vice President this year. She is also on the staff of the school newspaper, the Independent. She has worked for the Chicago City Clerk's office as a Student Intern for the last two summers. She has worked as a Director for the Addison Community Children's Theater off and on since 1992. She is a Producer/Performer/Poet/Photographer who collaborated with Francois LeRoux of South Africa for three years including multi-media performances of: "Moving Chicago" (Peter Jones Gallery); "Yearning to Breathe Free" (the Swedish American Museum); and "Foot Fantasia"-the Soul of Soles (Peter Jones Gallery). She was the Director of Theater for the Pine Arts Performing Arts Center where they produced her play "Santa Girl" (She's black - she's good - she's coming to your 'hood!) in December of 2007. Cathleen is perhaps best known as the host of the Beach Poets a poetry series which has been running since 1990. She also was a host of Chicago's first-ever televised poetry talk show titled "Venue" where she interviewed such notable artists as: Kurt Heinz, Tony Fitzpatrick, Marc Smith and Paul Peditto. Her books of poetry include Chicago Phoenix (published by Puddin'head Press, 2005) Tattoo Screams of Love, Scream and I'll Believe You, and Suck on My Toes and I'll Follow You Anywhere. She has performed one woman shows at Cafe Voltaire and Mary Arrchie as well as other theaters. Poet, artist, actress, puppeteer, and mother, Cathleen has written numerous children's plays, which focus on such contemporary themes as stopping child abuse. These plays have been performed on such stages as Organic Theater and The Chicago Cultural Center. Among her many awards, Cathleen has been named one of the 100 Women Making a Difference by Today's Chicago Woman Foundation, she won a Certificate of Leadership in Racial Justice from the YWCA, was awarded the title "Outstanding Leader in Peace" from the Peace Museum, and was an Adade Wheeler Award Nominee for Significant Contributions to Women's History. She is married to master of Music, Peter Bartels and is the mother of three children: Vincent born in May of '91, Teodoro, born in Sept. '99 and Katrina Marie, born in '01 (who likes to be called "Katie"). Her family is delighted to report that we are expecting our first grandchild in November. Personal Statement: My passion and love of the theater is an infectious delight to both young and old. I feel theater is a valuable tool to every aspect of our culture - from fast food workers to corporate executives, from artists to firemen, from the page to the stage - because the balance of healthy self-care and the ability to work well with others is essential to its existence. My primary ambition as a theater artist is to empower and educate people to learn to trust their gut instincts, to learn to make sound decisions - to be in a moment and experience it fully - these are the goals of my art. My personal motto is: work hard, tell the truth and persevere - joyfully - because attitude is everything.