Passion of Christ
Since its Broadway debut, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s spectacular musical phenomenon Jesus Christ Superstar has thrilled millions of theatregoers worldwide, mesmerizing them with its passion, captivating them with its story and entrancing them with its anthemic title song.
Borrowing from the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John Jesus Christ Superstar is set against the backdrop of an extraordinary series of events during the final weeks in the life of Jesus Christ as seen through the eyes of Judas. Reflecting the rock roots that defined a generation, the legendary sung-through score includes I Don’t Know How to Love Him, Gethsemane, and Superstar.
MEET THE CAST
(Jesus of Nazareth)
(Judas Iscariot)
(Mary Magdalene)
(Pontius Pilate)
(King Herod/Priest/Soldier/Apostle)
(Caiaphas)
(Annas/Apostle)
(Simon Zealotes)
(Peter)
(Tormentor)
(Priest/Soldier/Apostle/us Pilate)
(Tormentor)
(Apostle)
(Tormentor)
(Apostle/us Mary Magdalene)
(Soldier/Apostle)
(Apostle)
(Priest/Apostle)
(Soldier/Man by Fire/Apostle)
(Apostle)
(Maid by Fire/Apostle)
MEET THE PRODUCTION TEAM
ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER – Music
TIM RICE – Lyrics
JEFFREY CASS – Director
JAKE GANZER – Choreographer
PHIL VIDECKIS – Musical Director
KURT OTTINGER – Lighting Design
CHERYL NEWMAN – Costume Design
TIM ELLIOTT- Sound Mixer
JEFF SAND – Technical Director
DE HADDAD – Stage Manager/Asst. Director
JJ O’CONNELL – Assistant Stage Manager
TRENT BRONSON – Production Assistant
Edward MacLennan (Jesus of Nazareth)
Edward is pleased to be returning to BrightSide Theatre in the role of Jesus. He was last seen with BrightSide Theatre as Molokov (Chess in Concert) and Guido (NINE in Concert). Among his favorite roles are Don Quixote (Man of La Mancha) and The Phantom (Phantom of the Opera). Edward has performed in over fifty shows, with about forty of those being musicals.
Michael Davis Arnold (Judas Iscariot)
Michael is thrilled to make his BrightSide Theatre debut in this production of Jesus Christ Superstar! Recent credits include 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Music Theater Works), Promises, Promises (Blank Theatre Company), RENT (Farmers Alley Theatre), Pipeline (Face Off Theatre Company).
Meghan Kessel (Mary Magdalene)
Meghan is happy to be back at BrightSide! Past BST credits: Chess, A Little Night Music, Gypsy, City of Angels, She Loves Me, and Promises, Promises. Other favorites include Little Red Riding Hood (Little Red), Metropolis’ Christmas Carol (Christmas Past), and 9 to 5 (Judy Bernly). When not on-stage Meghan is a Music Director, teaches at Old Town School of Folk Music, and does TYA with AlphaBet Soup Productions.
Jon Cunningham (Pontius Pilate)
Jon is back for his 6th BrightSide production! You saw him last fall as Fredrick in A Little Night Music. This is his 4th production of JCS from his over 25-year career, where he has performed at Drury Lane, Marriott Lincolnshire, Theatre at the Center, Big Noise, and Apple Tree. Favorite roles include Seymour (Little Shop of Horrors), Jesus (JCS), John (John and Jen), and Charlie (Merrily We Roll Along, 2005 Best Actor Jeff Citation Nominee).
Caleb Hand (King Herod/Priest/Soldier/Apostle)
Caleb has been doing Theatre for 20 years. He has a background in music and vocal performance from DePaul University and Wichita State University. His past credits include Ruben-Joseph and the Amazing Technicolored Dream Coat (BrightSide Theatre), Roger-RENT, Charlie Price – Kinky Boots, and Bobby Strong – Urinetown.
Stan Austin (Caiaphas)
Jesus Christ Superstar is Stan’s 4th production with BrightSide. He previously portrayed Ebenezer Scrooge (A Christmas Carol) Lou Award nomination), Bill Austin (Mamma Mia!) and most recently, Gregor Vassey (Chess in Concert). He has often performed in the Chicagoland area theater companies including Music Theatre Works (Brigadoon), Big Noise Theater (Into The Woods), Wheaton Drama (Sweeney Todd, The Mystery of Edwin Drood and A Christmas Carol and Village Theatre Guild (She Loves Me and A Little Night Music).
Emma Widlowski (Annas/Apostle)
Emma is delighted to be onstage with BrightSide Theatre once again! Previous BrightSide shows include Hairspray, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Descendants, Mamma Mia, She Loves Me, and Gypsy.
Tommy O’Brien (Simon Zealotes)
Tommy is thrilled to be in this production of Jesus Christ Superstar! Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Tommy is a Chicago-based performer and musician. Recent credits: University of Notre Dame: Dawn’s Early Light (Tommy Zuchiatti), Cyrano (Le Bret), This is Our Youth (Warren). Other credits: Little Shop of Horrors (Beverly Arts Center), Saluting the Sun (The Edge Theater), and West Side Story (Morris Performing Arts Center).
Thomas Ferro (Peter)
Thomas is elated to be back with BrightSide for this wonderful show! He is a recent graduate of Millikin University where he received a BFA in Musical Theatre and a minor in Dance. Recent credits include Ricky Potts (u/s) in Ride the Cyclone (4 Chairs Theatre), Georg in Spring Awakening (Hass and Swanton), and Mamma Mia! (BrightSide). Thomas would like to thank his friends and family for their constant love and support.
Kassidy Alderman (Tormentor)
Kassidy is thrilled to make her Chicago theatre debut in Jesus Christ Superstar! She is originally from Pontiac, IL, and she got her degree in dance from Oklahoma City University. Some recent work includes The Polar Express train ride and Live Entertainment at Cedar Fair parks.
Russell Badalamenti (Priest/Soldier/Apostle/us Pontius Pilate)
Russell is honored to be making his BrightSide Theatre debut! Previous credits include: Michael, Tick…Tick…Boom!; Lumiere, Beauty and the Beast; Vidal, Sweet Charity and Warner, Legally Blonde!
Julia Hope Budd (Tormentor)
Julia is so excited to be checking this dream show from her bucket list! Julia was most recently seen in Alphabet Soup Productions’ tour of James and the Giant Peach as Miss Ladybug. She was also Covidia in the Chicago Conspirators production of Commedia Divina: It’s Worse Than That.
Zach Gibson (Apostle)
Zach is excited to return to BrightSide with JCS after being seen in Chess in Concert. He has been involved in regional theater for over 10 years. Favorite roles include The D’Ysquith Family (A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder; 2023 Lou Award Winner – Best Performer Lead Role), Barrett (Titanic the Musical), & Peter Shaw (Silent Sky) [Wheaton Drama]; Quasimodo (Hunchback of Notre Dame) & Officer Lockstock (Urinetown) [NTP]; Father Flynn (Doubt) [Greenman].
Amber Golich (Tormentor)
Amber is so excited to be making her BrightSide debut! She recently graduated from the Chicago College of Performing Arts where she earned her BFA in Musical Theatre with a Dance Concentration. Previous Chicago credits include The Drowsy Chaperone (Ensemble) and Catch Me If You Can (Ensemble) with Surging Films & Theatrics, as well as The Polar Express Train Ride (Swing).
Erica Harrington (Apostle/us Mary Magdalene)
Erica is thrilled to be making her BrightSide debut, returning to theatre after a 5-year hiatus. Chicago area credits include productions with: Porchlight, Edge of the Wood Theatre, Second City, Highland Park Players, and Up and Coming Theatre.
Erol Ibrahimovic (Soldier/Apostle)
Past credits include Gypsy (Brightside Theatre) The Producers at Music Theatre Works, On The Town (Columbia College) and Ride the Cyclone (4Chairs Theatre). Erol has also recently performed in Milwaukee, with credits that include Something Rotten, and She Loves Me (Sunset Playhouse). Other credits include: Little Women (Wheaton Drama); Les Misérables, The Mystery of Edwing Drood, and Songs for a New World (Infinity Arts Academy). Erol is going into his senior year at CCC (2025) for the BFA musical theater program.
Athena Kopulos (Apostle)
Athena is thrilled to be working with BrightSide Theatre for the first time! Recent projects include These Are The Times with Folks Operetta, Within with Visceral Dance Center, and Sister Act with Metropolis Performing Arts Centre.
Mary Grace Martens (Priest/Apostle)
Mary Grace is a graduate of Columbia College Chicago with a degree in Musical Theatre. Performing Credits: 25th Annual Spelling Bee (Wheaton Drama), American Idiot, Songs for a New World (ECC Theatricals), Shrek the Musical (Point2Productions), and Joseph/Dreamcoat (BrightSide) Directing/Choreography Credits: Up and Coming Theatre (Fame), Point2Productions (Dogfight*), Fox Valley Theatre Co. (Godspell, Spelling Bee). *Lou Award 2022 Best Choreography
Thomas McMahon (Soldier/Man by Fire/Apostle)
Thomas is ecstatic to be making his BrightSide debut in Jesus Christ Superstar! Recent Roles: Angel (RENT), Jesus (Jesus Christ Superstar), Shakespeare (Something Rotten), Action (West Side Story), Blackstache (Peter and the Starcatcher), Benny (Guys and Dolls), Chad (Disaster).
Abigail Quinn (Apostle)
Abigail is excited to make her professional debut with BrightSide Theatre. This past year Abigail took three months to study acting at the Shakespeare’s Globe in London and plans to attend music school next school year. She has been a part of community theatre her whole life playing roles such as Wendla in Spring Awakening, Carrie in Carrie, and Diana in A Chorus Line.
Mary Schwark (Apostle)
is thrilled to be making her professional debut with BrightSide Theatre! Recent credits include Edwin Drood in the Mystery of Edwin Drood with Kankakee Valley Theatre and Judy in A Chorus Line with Acting Out Theatre.
Shaina Summerville (Maid by Fire/Apostle)
Shaina is thrilled to return to BrightSide Theatre where she previously performed in Promises, Promises (Fran), Hairspray (Penny), Bridges of Madison County (Carolyn), and Beauty and the Beast. Most recently, Shaina played Lucy in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown at Elgin Community College. Shaina has performed at Williams Street Repertory, Citadel Theatre, Jedlicka Performing Arts Center, and more. When not onstage, Shaina is an audiobook narrator with 150+ titles to her name.