"Then there is Cathy (a brilliant comic turn by Tori Whaples), whose nerdy looks and orthodontic rubber bands belie a zesty sex drive."

                                                                                                                                                                       -Hedy Weiss Chicago Suntimes

Photos by Joe Mazza/Brave lux, inc

Left: Elizabeth Ledo( Martha) and Tori Whaples (Mary Lennox)             Center: Tori Whaples (Mary Lennox) and Cast                               Right : Tori Whaples(Mary Lennox)  and James Earl Jones II(Ben) 

Below: Tori Whaples(Mary Lennox) and cast during finale

All photos by Michael Brosilow

“none of those kids ever missed a performance.”                                                                               -Chris Jones Chicago Tribune

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/ct-ott-child-actor-jones-1020-story.html



"The approach — which is led by a melancholy but really lovely lead performance from Tori Whaples as Mary Lennox — is certainly supported by the story."

                                                                                                                                              -Chris Jones Chicago Tribune  


Theater

"Tori Whaples, as the Young Mary Lennox is a small living treasure and if her talents continue to grow at even a modest rate her parents can spend her college education funds and not have to worry about her getting scholarships to an acting school if that's the direction of her heart. Dancing, acting and singing all at their best, you couldn't want more from anyone in that role and the Young Mary Lennox, played by Tori Whaples is worth the price of the ticket all by herself."
                                                                                                                                              -Ed Vincent Oakpark Journal      

Left: Tori Whaples (Cathy​) with Matthew Uzarraga (Walter) and Eli Tokash(Trevor)

​Center: Tori Whaples(Cathy) and the cast in "I Can't Wait

Right: Tori Whaples(Cathy) and Eli Tokash (Trevor)

All photos by Michael Brosilow

Mary Lennox is played by Tori Whaples with assertiveness and charm. She has a lovely voice and just the right amount of attitude to convince us that she will make things better. Her, “I Heard Someone Crying” is haunting and squeezes great emotion from the listener. She is only a 6th grader and based on this performance there will be much success in her future.

                                                                                                                                              -Michael Horn Around The Town Chicago

"There are kids in the show who also shine (Chicago has some great young talent). Opening night, the Whitaker kids were played by Aaron Stone as David and Tori Whaples as Janice... These kids are very talented!

                                                                                                                                                                    -Around the Town Chicago

"But the requisite hope comes from Trevor's indomitable spirit (and that of one of his pals, Cathy, played by the terrific Tori Whaples)."

                                                                                                                                                                        -Chris Jones The Chicago Tribune

"In the hugely demanding, make-or-break role of Mary, Whaples (a sixth grader who is part of the impressive north suburban Performers School Ensemble), is a marvel, bringing both the perfect bearing, accent and attitude to her role, and a singing voice of exceptional expressiveness. It will be fascinating to watch her career."

                                                                                                                                              -Hedy Weiss Chicago Suntimes

Court Theatre closed it's 60th Season with The Secret Garden May 21-June 21, 2015

Directed by Charles Newell and Music Director Doug Peck.

Tori played Mary Lennox in her first professional show. 

In 2016, Tori was cast as Janice Whitaker in the Chicago Premiere of Far from Heaven at the Porchlight Theatre.  

World Premiere Trevor: the musical   Aug 9- Oct 8, 2017  Writers Theatre

Directed by Marc Bruni.  Choreography by Josh Prince. Produced by U Rock Theatricals NYC

Tori was first cast as Cathy Quinn  in the March 2017 workshop  at Writers' Theatre.  She was then cast in the production after the workshop ended.  The Musical is based on an Academy Award winning short film of the same name.   

This short film was the inspiration for the Trevor Project.  The Trevor Project is a crisis intervention and suicide prevention center focused on the lives of LGBTQ youth and community.  

Left: Candace C. Edwards(Sybil) ,Summer Naomi Smart(Cathy Whitaker), Tori Whaples(Janice Whitaker)

 Photo by Brandon Dahlquist

"and Cathy (a pitch-perfect Tori Whaples, a Grayslake Central High School freshman), a longtime friend who wants to be something more."                                                                                                                                                                               -Daily Hearld