Actor Richard Esteras is photographed at the Servi-Sure factory at 2020 W. Rascher, where he is rehearsing “Uncle Vanya.” The play begins performances on Jan. 9 at the warehouse site.

on the hit Hulu series “The Bear.” And now, while the show is on hiatus, Esteras takes on his biggest acting challenge to date — the role of Waffles in Anton Chekhov’s classic drama ...