Invictus Theatre has postponed its planned production of “Cat On A Hot Tin Roof” and removed artistic director Charles Askenaizer from his leadership roles while the board investigates allegations of emotional abuse and harassment. The nonprofit theater, located at 3014 W. Irving Park Road in Chicago, was scheduled to open the play on February 24.
The decision follows the resignation of four cast members—Andrea Uppling, James Lewis, Christopher Ratliff, and Renae Stone—who stepped down after actor and director Ebby Offord publicly shared her experiences with Askenaizer during earlier productions. In a letter to Invictus leadership, the resigning cast stated: “We, the following cast members of Invictus Theater Company’s production of ‘Cat On A Hot Tin Roof,’ formally resign from this production in solidarity with the revelations of abuse that have come to light in the last week.”
Offord described her time working with Askenaizer during a 2021 production of “Hamlet,” alleging an emotionally manipulative environment and instances of sexual harassment. “When I get into ‘Hamlet,’ which is the show that all of this started, I am subjected to sexual harassment. I am objectified. I am emotionally abused,” Offord said in a video posted on Instagram.
In their resignation letter, the four actors asked for action by January 29 and called for “a complete shutdown of this production and the removal of Charles Askenaizer as both director and artistic director.” They wrote: “This action already feels far too late and we must take this action now. We made it very clear that the more time that passes, the deeper this wound becomes for our community. By saying nothing, you are saying everything and that is not a narrative we will perpetuate for our community that is in so much pain.”
Attempts to reach Askenaizer were unsuccessful.
The board announced it would issue refunds to ticket holders and cancel all Invictus classes until further notice. Reimbursements will be offered for canceled activities. Board members also said they are engaging a third-party investigator to conduct an independent analysis before deciding on next steps. “We are taking these concerns about the fair and respectful treatment of our theater cast and staff seriously,” the board said in a statement.
Offord told Block Club she had previously tried to raise concerns about Askenaizer’s behavior but felt ignored until now. She shared screenshots showing she first raised allegations publicly on May 18, 2023, through a Facebook group post discussing problematic theater companies.
According to Offord’s accounts from both her posts and videos, she was initially offered opportunities within Invictus’ classes as a way for Askenaizer to gain her trust before alleged abuse began. She described being kept alone with him in dressing rooms during rehearsals where he would direct emotionally distressing exercises or make triggering remarks related to personal losses she had shared with him.
Offord also highlighted what she described as an imbalance of power at Invictus Theatre due to Askenaizer’s multiple roles as founder, board member, producer, director, and lead actor during past productions. “It just created this chain of power that, no matter who anyone went to, it would go back to him,” Offord said.
Invictus Theatre was founded in 2017 by Charles Askenaizer as founding artistic director. After a fire at its Edgewater location in 2023 forced relocation, it currently operates out of its new space at Windy City Playhouse’s former site on Irving Park Road.
