The BrightSide Theatre Youth Project was developed to provide a professional and educational learning experience for grade school to high school students interested in exploring musical theater. In this program, children work directly with professional directors, musical directors, choreographers, designers, and artists to develop their own theatrical skills.
After 10 very successful seasons, we are happy to announce that this year’s BrightSide Theatre Youth Project production will be Mean Girls, Jr.
2024 Spring Youth Program
Participants will learn the art of musical theatre acting, including what it means to be a character and how to portray their character through dialogue, choreography, and song.
Adapted from Tina Fey’s hit 2004 film, Mean Girls is the story of how Cady Heron may have grown up on an African savanna, but nothing prepared her for the wild and vicious ways of her strange new home: suburban Illinois. How will this naïve newbie rise to the top of the popularity pecking order? By taking on The Plastics, a trio of lionized frenemies led by the charming but ruthless Regina George. But when Cady and her friends devise a “Revenge Party” to end Regina’s reign, she learns the hard way that you can’t cross a Queen Bee without getting stung.
Adapted from Fey’s hit 2004 film, Mean Girls was nominated for a staggering 12 Tony Awards. This queen-bee took Broadway by storm and has joined the musical in-crowd.
Rehearsals will take place January – March 2024.
Performances will be held from March 9 to March 17, 2024.
Rehearsals will be held indoors at BrightSide Theatre’s Rehearsal Studio 1989 University Lane, Unit D, Lisle, IL 60532.
The Performance will be at the Meiley-Swallow Hall at North Central College 31 S Ellsworth, Naperville, IL 60540.
Roles will be assigned based on an audition after registration and fees are paid. There will be no refunds based on casting decisions.
Cast size is limited to 40 participants aged 8-18 years.
Spring Youth Program Tuition is $425. If you have siblings, please call 630.447.8497 to receive the sibling discount. A commemorative T-Shirt is provided to each camp student.
MEET THE STAFF
Director
Music Director
Choreographer
Take a Look at Past BrightSide Theatre Youth Project Photos
De Haddard – Director
De holds a BFA in Musical Theater with a dance minor from Millikin University. She has been a theatrical director in the Naperville and surrounding area for 16 years. Favorite Directing credits: Spamalot, Addams Family, She Kills Monsters, The Hobbit. Favorite acting roles: Gabriella – High School Musical, Mother Superior – Sound of Music, and Marty – Grease.
Meghan Kessel – Music Director
Meghan holds a degree of Music Education from Loyola University New Orleans. She joined BrightSide in 2021 as a performer in Promises, Promises. Most recently she was onstage in A Little Night Music. Meghan also teaches voice and piano at Old Town School of Folk Music and performs in TYA musicals with AlphaBet Soup Productions. As a music director, some of her favorite shows have been Joseph…Dreamcoat, Mamma Mia, and Sister Act Jr.
Shane Alexander Brown – Choreographer
Shane Alexander Brown is originally from San Francisco, California– now lives and works in Villa Park as a dance and cheer coach. Shane was most recently seen in Brightside Theatre’s fall production of A Little Night Music. Prior to moving to the Midwest Shane was a fulltime shows and parades performer at Walt Disney World where he danced onstage in live television events with Ariana Grande and Derek and Julianne Hough, even a short segment with Whoopi Goldberg. Shane holds a BFA in Acting and Musical Theatre, and was nominated for the Kennedy Center’s Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship six times. Shane also received training through the Open Jar Institute in New York City, and the studio program at Black Box Acting Studio in Chicago. Favorite roles include Baby John in West Side Story, and Cornelius in Hello, Dolly!