Who We Are

Jeffrey Cass, Artistic Director

Jeffrey Cass holds a B.F.A. in Musical Theater Performance from Roosevelt University where he also studied lighting design and stage management. He previously served as the Producing Director for Circle Theatre of Forest Park/Oak Park, IL where he was a company member for 4 years. Directing Credits include: The Who’s Tommy (6 Joseph Jefferson Nominations including Best Musical and Best Director) Bash and The Distance From Here (Midwest Premier) by Neil LaBute, Burning Blue (Midwest Premier), Crazy for You, Beauty and the Beast, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Urinetown, Peter Pan and New Plays Festival 2 and 3 at Circle Theatre. Chicago acting credits include: Mystery of Edwin Drood (Jeff Nominated – Circle), Jekyll & Hyde, Is There Life After High School, Evita as well as Joseph (Jedlicka Performing Arts Center) Joseph… (Oak Park Village Players) Man Of La Mancha, The Cradle Will Rock, Lady In The Dark, As You Like It, Measure For Measure, Al Pachino!, Bring Them Home and Rhinoceros (Roosevelt University). He has toured with American Eagle Productions in 1776, Joseph and Tom Sawyer, and with Green Light Performing Company in numerous original educational musicals.

Julie Ann Kornak, Co-Founder and Executive Director

Julie Ann Kornak is a Co-Founder and Executive Director of BrightSide Theatre. As a native of Chicago’s suburbs, Julie has been surrounded by theatre and music her whole life. From an early age, she began studying voice and was classically trained for 15 years. As an actress, some of her favorite musical roles include: Christine in Phantom (Kopit & Yeston) at the Jedlicka Performing Arts Center (JPAC) and playing both Penny & Judy in the original musical farce Danger Will Robinson, based on the TV show Lost in Space, also at the JPAC. Favorite roles in non-musicals include: Jean Perkins in Funny Money at the JPAC, Jacqueline in Don’t Dress for Dinner and Diana in Lend Me A Tenor with Summer Place Theatre, Elvira in Blithe Spirit and both Marlo & Patsy in the original interactive comedy Patsy’s Bridal Shower with Theatre Eclectic.

Julie is a professional singer throughout Chicagoland and most often can be heard singing at Sts. Peter & Paul and St. Margaret Mary Catholic Churches in Naperville. With her BA in Psychology & Sociology and a minor in Theatre from the University of Illinois at Chicago, Julie brings not only her love for the theatre but a background in Human Resources to the BrightSide Theatre. Julie is happily married to her husband, Adam, and is a proud mom to her oldest son, Ryan, and to her twins, Aidan and Amanda.

Melanie Greenberg, Treasurer of the Board of Directors

Melanie Greenberg, a native of Aurora, has been living in Naperville for 16 years. Melanie volunteers extensively in the community, for her children’s schools, and as a board member at Congregation Beth Shalom of Naperville. She and her husband Mark, are both supporters of the arts in all forms: the Chicago Lyric Opera, Lifeline Theatre and for many years on the Patron Circle of the Sundance Film Institute. Melanie was introduced to BrightSide Theatre by her youngest of three sons, Ben, who has acted in all of the BrightSide Theatre’s Youth Project productions and had his professional debut as “The Kid” in Bleacher Bums.

Meg Birch, President of the Board of Directors

Ms. Meg Birch is a financial advisor with The Navigation Group at Morgan Stanley. Meg earned her undergraduate degree in Finance from University of Illinois. Additionally, she holds both a Master of Business Administration from DePaul University and a Master of Science in Finance from Boston College. Meg lives in Downers Grove, Illinois with her husband, Matt, her two kids Marley and Maclean, and two cats. She encourages her kids’ creative pursuits through BrightSide Theater and also enjoys watching the kids play volleyball and swim. The family also spends time together golfing, riding bikes and sometimes binge watching cringe-worthy movies and television shows. When she and Matt find time between all the kids’ activities, they enjoy an occasional date night.

Tin Penavic, Co-Founder and Board Member

Tin Penavic is a Co-Founder of the BrightSide Theatre and is on the Board of Directors. He developed an interest in theatre while attending the University of Illinois at Chicago as an Economics major. After being cast in a series of successive shows he was awarded a talent tuition waiver from the Department of Theatre and switched his major. Soon he was accepted in Northern Illinois University’s Bachelor of Fine Arts program and continued his studies in the Meisner acting and the Williams movement technique. Upon graduation Tin, along with the summerNITE ensemble performed “Scenes From American Life” by A.R. Gurney in Harlow, England.

Tin studied improv at I.O. (formerly Improv Olympic) in Chicago and sketch comedy at the Next Stage Theatre in Los Angeles. While in Los Angeles, Tin continued working in film, television and theatre and became a member of the Screen Actors Guild. His recent credits include Robert Dubedat in Don’t Dress for Dinner at the Summer Place Theatre, C.K Dexter Haven in the Philadelphia Story and Ben Hecht in Moonlight and Magnolias both at the Albright Theatre and Nikola Tesla in Electrocution at Stage Left Theatre. He also completed the short film Mattress World for Blue Damen Pictures in 2009.

He currently resides with his wife Leslie and sons Ivo and Adrean in Downers Grove.

Paul Santucci, Board Member

Paul Santucci has a BS in Communications and a Minor in Theater from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, he also has a MS in Recreation Administration from Aurora University and an Executive MBA from the University of Notre Dame. Beginning his theater performance at the famed Oak Park & River Forest HS in 1980 as a dancer, chorus member and actor, Paul continued his love for theatre after college, being a part of too many shows to list, as a Producer, Director, Actor, Dancer, Stage Manager, Art Director, Set Designer (Nominated for a “Boonie Award” for Set Design for Man Of La Mancha), Set Builder, Lighting Director and Sound Director. Paul as an adult has performed on many stages in the Chicagoland area for dinner theater, professional theater, community theater and university theater. His favorite role in a musical was Tommy Djilas, from The Music Man, his favorite acting role was Dr. William Chumley in Harvey, and his favorite overall show he performed in was as a Scottish Sword Dancer in Brigadoon! ​

Paul is a supporter and defender of the arts in his professional and volunteer efforts in the Naperville area. He believes in giving back to the community and has sat, and sits, on many boards currently, as an elected Township Trustee in Naperville, on the board of advisors with a non-for-profit adult education resource center, and with the West Suburban Irish group in Naperville. Paul is also a member of three school PTA’s as well as a life long soccer player, coach and referee.​

Paul is currently the owner of a communications and IT consulting company, Santucci Communications, and is a licensed Commercial Real Estate Broker as an investment and development broker for Dolan & Murphy in Aurora. Paul lives in the Naperville area with his wife Jenny and is very proud that his three children Gabi, Nikki and Dylan are all in the arts, including music, fine and performing arts, continuing in their father’s footsteps.​

Denise Hayes, Board Member

Denise Hayes is excited to promote the experience BrightSide Theatre offers to entertain our community and educate our children. BrightSide Theatre youth programs have provided her family opportunities to thrive in their love for musical theatre and performance. She lives in Naperville with her husband and daughter and supports performing arts within their school and church community.

Anthony Berg, Board Member

Anthony Berg holds a BA in Theatre with emphases in Directing and Acting, a minor in Professional Communications, with an additional endorsement in vocal music from Elmhurst University, along with certification in Business and Leadership Training from the Dale Carnegie Training program.
Anthony has also worked as a director and actor on over 100 productions within many theatre outlets of the Chicagoland suburbs, educated and directed the students of St. Francis High School in Wheaton, lent his vocal talents to the Christian Rock Band “Guiding Path” and offered his knowledge and passion for the theatre arts to many charitable theatre programs working with all ages.
In his past, Anthony was a casting director at O’Connor Casting Company working on commercials, tv, movies, industrials and print ads. He helped establish the casting of “real people” in commercials including the original Dove ad commercials showcasing women of all different shapes and sizes. He also worked closely with Pie Town Productions to cast hosts and designers for “Design to Sell” and “Design on a Dime” on HGTV.
Anthony currently lives in Addison with his beautiful puppy, Rue-Bea Jolene.

RENEE KOSIAREK, Secratary of the Board of Directors

Renee has a Bachelor of Arts in Communication & Theater from the University of Illinois at Chicago and received her Juris Doctorate from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.

Renee has spent over fifteen years as a leadership & creativity professor at DePaul University and North Central College. She has served as the director for several graduate leadership programs and taught hundreds of students courses related to leadership theory, creativity, ethics, evidence-based decision making, and nonprofit management.

Renee has coached hundreds of individuals and has been trained by some of the world’s leading experts on leadership and empowerment. Her book, The New Leader: Harnessing the Power of Creativity to Produce Change, was published by Business Expert Press in 2016.

Renee currently serves as a member of the Lisle Township Mental Health 708 board and has assisted with strategy & strategic planning for Broadway Weekends, The Brain Inflammation Collaborative, International Music Foundation and About Face Theatre Company. During the pandemic, she helped Broadway Weekends build and grow an educational arm within schools as well as a scholarship fund.

Renee has been a fierce advocate for lung cancer awareness and research. Twenty years ago, Renee worked to have November declared Lung Cancer Awareness month in Illinois and started one of the first ever lung cancer walks in the country, which helped raise awareness as well as hundreds of thousands of dollars for the cause. She then went on to mentor several other leaders who were inspired by Renee’s work, and started their own walks in other parts of the country. This began a movement of sorts for lung cancer, the number one cancer killer in America.