Prepare To Fall Under His Spell
Prepare to be transported to the eerie landscapes of Transylvania and the shadowy corners of Victorian England as you embark on a spine-tingling journey filled with suspense, passion, and terror. Sink your teeth into the dark, seductive world of Dracula in Steven Dietz’s riveting adaptation of Bram Stoker’s timeless novel of one of literature’s most iconic characters. Dracula’s sinister allure takes center stage, beckoning you into the unknown with an insatiable thirst for more. You’ll be on the edge of your seat as you follow the relentless pursuit of the enigmatic Count Dracula and the courageous souls determined to stop him.
MEET THE CAST
Coming Soon
MEET THE PRODUCTION TEAM
Playwright
Director
Costume Designer
Lighting & Sound Designer
Technical Director
Steve Dietz Playwright
Mr. Dietz’s thirty-plus plays have been produced at regional theaters across the United States, as well as Off-Broadway. International productions of his work have been seen in England, Japan, Germany, France, Australia, Sweden, Russia, Slovenia, Argentina, Peru, Greece, Singapore, and South Africa. Recent plays include the widely-produced thriller, Yankee Tavern; the Steinberg Award finalist, Becky’s New Car; the Pulitzer-nominated Last of the Boys (produced by Steppenwolf Theatre, Chicago); and the Edgar Award-winning Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure (from William Gillette and Arthur Conan Doyle). Other plays include Fiction (produced Off-Broadway by the Roundabout Theatre Company), Shooting Star, Inventing van Gogh, The Nina Variations, Private Eyes, Halcyon Days, God’s Country, and Lonely Planet (PEN-USA Award for Drama). Mr. Dietz’s work as a director has been seen at many of America’s leading regional theaters. He divides his time between Seattle and Austin, where he is a professor at the University of Texas.
JAY FONTANETTA Director
Jay holds a B.A. in Directing, Columbia College, an M.A. in Theatre Education, Roosevelt University and an M.A. in Fine Arts Administration, Olivet-Nazarene University. He has directed high school, college, community, and professional productions over the last 25 years. Favorites include the Midwest premiere of Aven’U Boys at Circle Theatre, CLUE at the Theatre of Western Springs and Hair for EPCT. Jay has won Outstanding Performance at the Illinois Community Theatre Festival for A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Crucible with the North Riverside Players.
CHERYL NEWMAN Costume Designer
Cheryl has been a theater kid her whole life. She recently quit her day job in special education to do theater stuff and is thrilled to join Brightside for the upcoming season. She also costumes the award-winning BAM children’s theater in Hinsdale, and directs and costumes for Wheaton North High school, the Westmont Park District and Westview Hills Middle School.
KURT OTTINGER Lighting & Sound Designer
Kurt is happy to be working for BrightSide Theatre again. He retired a few years ago after 31 years as theatre technical supervisor/resident lighting and sound designer for the Northbrook Park District. Kurt has designed lighting for Northbrook on Ice, York High School, St. Patrick’s High School, Loyola Academy, Big Noise Theatre, Highland Park Players and many other groups over the years.
JEFF SAND (Technical Director)
works in IT at Villa Park Public Library and as a technician at COD’s McAninch Arts Center. Excited for another BST season! BrightSide: She Loves Me, Gypsy (TD). Summer Place Theatre: The Secret Garden (sound design), Don’t Dress For Dinner (TD), Joseph…Dreamcoat (co-TD, sound), and Mamma Mia! (producer/sound design). Natural Talent Productions: Urinetown (co-producer, sound), Disney’s Hunchback… (sound – regional premiere). Riverfront Playhouse: Between Riverside and Crazy, Lady Day at Emerson’s… (lighting).