Performed at The Theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall on the Campus of North Central College
31 S. Ellsworth, Naperville
Approximate Running Time is 2 hours and 40 minutes (includes intermission)
Passion for Love and Folly
With one of the most singular, sumptuous Broadway scores written, we are thrilled to present Stephen Sondheim’s romantic musical farce A Little Night Music.
At the turn of the 20th century, Desiree Armfeldt, a renowned traveling actress, is growing weary of her life on the road. A chance encounter with an old flame set in motion a series of romantic misadventures that culminate into a madcap weekend in the country where couples waltz, passions erupt, jealousies flare, and hilarity triumphs over all as the summer night smiles on the young and old alike.
Based on the Ingmar Berman film Smiles of a Summer Night, featuring Sondheim’s best-known song, Send in the Clowns, A Little Night Music will leave you thoroughly enchanted.
MEET THE CAST
(Desiree Armfeldt)
(Fredrick Egerman)
(Madam Armfeldt)
(Anne Egerman)
(Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm)
(Countess Charlotte Malcolm)
(Henrik Egerman)
(Fredrika Armfeldt)
(Petra)
(Frid u/s Henrik)
(Mrs. Anderssen/2nd Woman u/s Petra)
(Mr. Lindquist)
(Mrs. Nordstrom)
(Mrs. Segstrom/1st Woman u/s Desiree)
(Mr. Erlanson/Bertrand)
(Malla/Osa u/s Mrs. Anderssen )
(Understudy for Carl Magnus/Mr. Lindquist/Mr.
Erlanson/Bertand)
MEET THE PRODUCTION TEAM
HUGH WHEELER – Book
STEPHEN SONDHEIM – Music and Lyrics
JEFFREY CASS – Director/ Set and Props Designer/ Artistic Director
SARA CATE LANGHAM – Musical Director
JEFF SAND – Technical Director
AMANDA VINSON – Choreographer
CHERYL NEWMAN – Costume Designer
TRENTON BRONSON – Lighting Designer
ROBERTO PUIG – Wig Master
DE HADDARD – Stage Manager/Asst. Director
JJ O’CONNELL – Assistant Stage Manager
Melissa Paris (Desiree Armfeldt)
Melissa Paris is thrilled to be part of BrightSide Theatre’s A Little Night Music. Recent credits include Diana (Next to Normal) at Oakton College; Abigail Adams (1776) at E.D.G.E. Theatre; and MC (Join the Club) at The Skokie Theatre. Other favorites include Pam Sakarian (Baby); Birdie Hubbard (The Little Foxes); Jessie Cates (‘Night Mother); Cinderella (Into the Woods); Marta (Company); and Peggy Sawyer (42nd Street). Thank you for supporting the arts!
Jon Cunningham (Fredrick Egerman)
Jon Cunningham returns to Brightside after his turn as Felix (The Odd Couple), Stone (City of Angels in Concert), and Georg (She Loves Me) last season. You may also remember him as Lawrence (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) or Chuck Baxter (Promises, Promises Concert). With over 20 years of experience, Jon 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).
Carol Brown (Madam Armfeldt)
Carol Brown BrightSide debut. Among others, musical stage credits include Sally Plummer (Follies), Vera Charles (Mame), Aunt Eller (Oklahoma!), Mae Peterson (Bye, Bye Birdie), Marie (The Most Happy Fella), Lady Thing (The King and I), Fraulein Schneider (Cabaret), Golde (Fiddler on the Roof), Eulalie (The Music Man) and many musical Revues. She has performed on many stages and is also a former member of The Dallas Opera Company. Step into this enchanting magic with us!
Sophie Smekens (Anne Egerman)
Sophie Smekens is excited to work with BrightSide after performing with them last year in Promises, Promises in Concert. Since then, she has played Maria in The Sound of Music (Riverbank Theatre) and understudied Beth in Merrily We Roll Along (Blank Theatre Company). Sophie is so thankful to her friends, family, and educators at The Hartt School for their endless support! To God be the glory, great things He has done.
Gerald Kelel (Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm)
Gerald Kelel is very excited to be working with BrightSide Theatre on this production. While performing has taken a bit of a backseat to a career in IT and raising two wonderful children, he is looking to get back on stage a little more after recently playing Harold Hill in NR Players recent production of The Music Man (joined on stage by both of his kids). Favorite credits include understudying Jinx and Sparky in Forever Plaid at the Royal George Theatre and the Ravinia Festival’s staged concert of Sweeney Todd attended by the late, great Stephen Sondheim. He would especially like to thank his supportive wife Meaghan who is a constant source of encouragement.
Julie Ann Kornak (Countess Charlotte Malcolm)
Julie Ann Kornak was most recently seen singing in BrightSide’s Summer in the Parks Concerts. Last seen as Amalia in BST’s She Loves Me, other BST credits include: Tanya in Mamma Mia!, Claudia in NINE in Concert, Muriel Eubanks in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and as Francesca in Bridges of Madison County. Julie can also be seen around town singing in many Naperville/local area churches. Much love to Adam, Ryan, Aidan, Amanda, and Grandma for being my biggest fans!
Max Trotter (Henrik Egerman)
Max Trotter is thrilled to be making his BrightSide debut. He has performed across the Chicago area. Recent credits include Steel Beam Theatre’s Miscast Cabaret, Young Scrooge/Fred in A Christmas Carol (Wheaton Drama), Nigel Bottom in Something Rotten (Rising Stars), Anthony Hope in Sweeney Todd (NRP), and Joseph in Joseph…Dreamcoat (Rising Stars). He’d like to thank his family, Jamie, friends, and coaches for supporting him on this ongoing journey.
Sammy Menapace (Fredrika Armfeldt)
Sammy Menapace is thrilled to return to the BrightSide stage after appearing in Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat. She has also performed professionally at The Goodman Theatre, The Lyric Opera, Citadel Theatre, Pheasant Run and on Amtrak’s The Polar Express. Special thanks to coaches/mentors Tiffany Whalen, Lisa Rene Kasko, Alex Bahaveolos and Micki Doherty and her Ghostlight theatre community, friends and family. Sammy is a freshman at Montini High and is represented by Gray Talent.
Jamie Marie Depaolo (Petra)
Jamie Marie Depaolo is thrilled to return to the BrightSide stage, last seen as Alaura Kingsley in City of Angels in Concert. Favorite credits include Gypsy (Louise, Theatre of Western Springs), Sweeney Todd (Johanna, North Riverside Players), The Great Gatsby (Daisy Buchanan, Theatre of Western Springs), Legally Blonde (Vivienne Kensington, Fremont Street Theatre), and Crazy for You (Polly Baker, Guardian Angel Players). She thanks her family, friends, and Max for their endless encouragement and all in attendance for supporting live theatre!
Dean Zaverdas Jr (Frid u/s Henrik)
Dean Zaverdas Jr. is a Chicago based Actor that has prowled over many stages in the Chicagoland area. Graduating Columbia College Chicago with a BA in Musical Theatre, Dean has acted in over 40 theatrical productions throughout his career. Recently he was selected to perform with the International Lyric Academy to east-coast, and internationally premier the hit show With a Song in My Heart: The Romance of Richard Rodgers in July 2023.
Meghan Kessel (Mrs. Anderssen/2nd Woman u/s Petra)
Meghan Kessel is happy to be back at BrightSide! Past BST credits: 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 teaches at Old Town School of Folk Music and works as a Music Director. She would like to thank her family and friends for their constant support and love!
Shane Brown (Mr. Lindquist)
Shane Brown is originally from San Francisco. Shane earned his BFA in Musical Theatre, and was a finalist for the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship at the Kennedy Center. Previous to moving to the midwest Shane worked in entertainment at Walt Disney World, appearing in shows and parades in all five properties, guest appearances on television, Disneyland Paris, and Disney Cruise Lines. Some of his favorite performances include: West Side Story, Ragtime, Hairspray (Nat’l Tour), and Mary Poppins.
Dana Vetter (Mrs. Nordstrom)
Dana Vetter is a classically trained soprano and thrilled to join Brightside Theatre for A Little Night Music! She has performed Eileen in Wonderful Town with Falls Patio Players and Christine in selections from The Phantom of the Opera with Miami Valley Symphony. She premiered the role of Mary Jo in Passion in Pigskin with Opera on Tap Wisconsin, and played Sandy in Fortuna the Time-Bender vs. The Schoolgirls of Doom with Milwaukee Metro Voices. In concert, she was the soprano soloist in Haydn’s Missa Cellensis in C and Schubert’s Mass in B-flat with the Milwaukee Area Messiah Community Chorus and Orchestra. She was also a featured soloist and ensemble member with Belle Ensemble in Racine, WI.
Andrew Buel (Mr. Erlanson/Bertrand)
Andrew Buel is excited to come back to perform with Brightside Theater. His last appearance was in A Christmas Carol in 2019, and he also appeared as ensemble in Guys and Dolls. Recently he has performed in St. Charles as a member of the Any Suggestions? improv comedy team at the Steel Beam Theater. He would like to thank his family and teachers for their support and hopes everyone enjoys the show.
KRISTINA DRENDEL (Malla/Osa u/s Mrs. Anderssen)
Kristina is delighted to be a part of this wonderful show and making her BrightSide debut! She holds a B.A. in Musical Theatre from Columbia College Chicago and an M.A. in English from Arizona State University. She has recently worked with multiple Chicagoland area theatres including Goodly Creatures, Canterbury Summer Theatre, Chicago Kids Company, and Paradox Theatre Works. She would like to thank her partner Hanson and everyone who has supported her.
SADIE WYNNE (Mrs. Segstrom/1st Woman/u/s Desiree)
is excited to make her BrightSide debut! Previous credits include The Sound of Music (Mother Abbess, Maria), Into the Woods (Rapunzel), Company (April), I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (Woman 1), The Christmas Schooner (Martha, Enid), and Annie (Grace Farrell). Much love to her daughters CeCi and Veronica and her husband Danny!
SEAN RHEAD (Understudy for Carl Magnus/Mr. Lindquist/Mr.
Erlanson/Bertand)
is thrilled to be back with BrightSide for this beautifully hilarious show. Some past credits with BST include City of Angels (Angel City 4), the Announcer (Miracle on 34th Street), and Jacob Marley (A Christmas Carol the Muscial- Lou Award Nomination). Other favorites include Elijah in Moby Dick (Underscore), Frollo in Hunchback of Notre Dame (Jedlicka), and Orin in Little Shop of Horrors (Munroe Park Theatre). Sean also spends much of his time recording voiceovers and musically educating today’s youth. All his love to his wife Caitlin and their dog Ollie!