Hey there, I’m Morgan Burkey. I’m an actor working and living in Chicago, IL.

In the summer of 2015, I was sitting on a picnic table after a long day painting for Midsummer Night’s Dream at Texas Shakespeare Festival. It was my 2nd year at the festival, and I always loved the people it brought in. I was smoking a cigarette with an actor named Michael, another veteran of TSF, discussing our planned move to NYC. A group clad in casual coolness, midwestern politeness and a slight edginess walks over to us, and regales us of the wonderous place called Chicago. They talked of the theatre scene, the storefronts, the beach (?!), Malort, Steppenwolf, the “L”, Snow-pocolapse, Second City and the Bean. All unknown to me, after one conversation with these Chicagoans, and I was in love with a city I’d never been to. Never even considered!

Michael and I moved to Chicago 4 weeks later. I didn’t know anyone else but Michael, and the gaggle of actors who sold us so efficiently. We got a three bedroom in Uptown, right off the Lake, I got a job in River North, slinging Guinness at an Irish Pub, also meeting other actors, and I started auditioning.

After two years of church basement performances, waiting in line at the Equity building for hours and hours and hours, new headshots, new headshots again, a new job at Steppenwolf’s Front Bar, and several trading of roommates in my Uptown apartment, I finally gained headway by getting accepted to Steppenwolf’s 2017 training program. After the showcase, I signed on with Big Mouth Talent. Because of that step, I was able to audition on a larger scale and meet teachers and directors and writers and performers that would shape my growing career. I went on to study Shakespeare at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre with Kevin Gudhul. I understudied “Stick Fly” at Writer’s Theatre with Dir. Ron OJ Parsons. I even went back to my roots, arm in arm with my School at Steppenwolf ensemble, to play in Passage Theatre’s inaugural production of “Spirits to Enforce”

I’ve done psychedelic photo shoots for Jimmy Dean’s 50th Anniversary. I’ve played with more kittens and puppies I can remember with Reel Paws Productions.

I’m ready for that next push. Ready to solidify my presence in Chicago and gain momentum as a Resident actor. I look forward to the future with an open and hungry heart.

I hope to paint not only what I see, but what I think will tell the truest story.

- M