DE HADDED  Director

De has been directing in and around the Western Suburbs for nearly two decades. Graduating with a BFA in Musical Theater from Millikin University, De brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to the stage. Notable directing credits include “Spamalot,” “Addams Family,” “She Kills Monsters”, and “The Hobbit.” At BrightSide, De has directed hits like “Mean Girls, Jr.,” “Sister Act, Jr.,” “The Lion King, Jr.,” and “Finding Nemo, Jr.” She also serves as BrightSide Theatre’s Youth Project Education Manager.

TIM ELLIOTT   Sound Mixer

Tim is an AV and IT tech at Downers Grove South High School, where he’s been running sound for school assemblies and special events for over 20 years. Tim has been with BrightSide Theatre since our 9th season and has also run sound for musicals with Community Players of Naperville since 2005. 

STAN AUSTIN  Sir Danvers Carew/Ensemble

Jekyll and Hyde is Stan’s 5th production with BrightSide previously portraying Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol the Musical (Lou Award nomination), Bill Austin in Mamma Mia, Gregor Vassey in Chess in Concert and most recently, Caiaphas in Jesus Christ Superstar. He performs regularly in the Chicagoland area including with Music Theatre Works (Brigadoon), Big Noise Theater (Into The Woods), Wheaton Drama (Sweeney Todd, The Mystery of Edwin Drood and A Christmas Carol).

RUSSELL BADALAMENTI  Gabriel John Utterson/Ensemble

A Point Park University alumnus, ecstatic to return to the BrightSide Theatre stage to bring this incredible story to life. Previous credits include Jesus Christ Superstar (Pilate u/s performed), Legally Blonde (Warner), Sweet Charity (Vidal), and Beauty and the Beast (Lumiere).

JULIE BAYER  Lady Beaconsfield/Ensemble

Glad to return to BrightSide Theatre. She has previously performed in Promises, Promises (Margie McDougall), Noises Off! (Brooke/Vicki), and The Dinner Party (Yvonne Fouchet). Other credits include Baby, The Mousetrap, It Runs In The Family (Citadel Theatre), Sweeney Todd (Paramount Theatre); Drood (Fox Valley Repertory); Persuasion (Chamber Opera Chicago: UK, Chicago, NYC tours); Dial M for Murder, A Christmas Carol (Metropolis PAC), and The Lyric Opera Chorus.

MOLLY BREMER  Ensemble

Thrilled to make her BrightSide Theatre debut! Recent: Ella/Cinderella, Cinderella (Metropolis Performing Arts Centre), Belle, Beauty & the Beast (Cortland Repertory Theatre), Eliza Doolittle, My Fair Lady (Cortland Repertory Theatre). Additional: A Christmas Carol (NCCA Jean’s Playhouse), Sweeney Todd, Cabaret (Hangar Theatre). BA, Princeton, and a proud alum of The Chicago Academy for the Arts. @molly_bremer/mollybremer.com

SARAH CONRAD  Poole/Ensemble

Delighted to be back at BrightSide performing in Jekyll & Hyde in Concert! With a career spanning over 20 years in both New York & Chicago, Sarah has performed such iconic roles as Anita in West Side Story, Rose in Gypsy, Maureen in RENT, Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods, and Texas in Cabaret here at BrightSide, as well as countless others. Sarah is also a model represented by The Option Agency.

RACHEL CARRERAS  Lucy Harris

A Naperville native and thrilled to be making her BrightSide Theatre debut! Rachel was most recently seen in Cinderella (Marie) at Metropolis PAC. Other credits include: Honky Tonk Angels (Angela), Into the Woods (The Witch), The Music Man (Mrs. Squires), I Do! I Do! (Agnes), Something Rotten (Bea Bottom), and Spring Awakening (Wendla). www.rachelcarreras.com

NICHOLAS J GREANIAS  General Lord Glossop/Ensemble

Delighted to be returning to BrightSide Theatre, after appearing in Chess last year. A retired United States diplomat, Nick has performed in 8 countries and 14 states. Nick’s favorite characterizations include Tevye, Henry Higgins, Don Quixote, John Adams, Fagin, the King of Siam, Emile de Becque, and a half-dozen Gilbert and Sullivan baritone roles.

JULIE ANN KORNAK  Emma Carew

Most recently seen as Florence in BST’s Chess in Concert.  Other select BST credits include: Charlotte in A Little Night Music, Amalia in She Loves Me, Tanya in Mamma Mia!, Claudia in BST’s Inaugural concert series production of NINE in Concert,  and as Francesca in The Bridges of Madison County.  Julie has also been singing in the Summer in the Parks Concert Series.

GERALD KELEL  Henry Jekyll/Edward Hyde

Thrilled to be back on stage at BrightSide after appearing in last season’s Lou Award winning production of A Little Night Music as Count Carl Magnus. He is excited to tackle the complexities of playing a role that is two wildly different sides of a single coin.   Past credits include Professor Harold Hill in The Music Man, Gary Lejeune in Noises Off, Fredrick Graham in Kiss Me Kate and Don Lockwood in Singin’ in the Rain.

MEGHAN KESSEL  Nellie/Ensemble

Happy to be back at BrightSide! Past BST credits: Jesus Christ Superstar (Mary Magdalene), Chess, A Little Night Music, Gypsy, City of Angels, She Loves Me, Promises, Promises. When not at BST Meghan is a Music Director, teaches at Old Town School of Folk Music, and performs in theater for young audiences.

BRADY MCNEIL  Bishop of Basingstoke/Ensemble

Blessed for the opportunity to sing such beautiful music with such talented castmates! BrightSide credits include Dracula (Jonathan Harker), City of Angels in Concert (Stine), and two Summers in the Parks with BrightSide. Other Chicagoland credits include Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins (Music Director; Strawdog Theatre), Ragtime in Concert (Ensemble; Highland Park Players), Spring Awakening (Music Director; Home Creative Co.), and Titanic the Musical (Harold Bride/Wallace Hartley; Wheaton Drama). @bradygmcneil

SEAN RHEAD  Simon Stride/Ensemble

Delighted to return to BrightSide in this haunting concert production! Favorite past BST credits include City of Angels (Angel City 4), Miracle on 34th Street (Announcer/Foley Artist), and A Christmas Carol: the Musical (Jacob Marley). By day, Sean also instructs small children in piano, guitar, and violin.

JOHN SALOMONE  Spider/Ensemble

Thrilled to be back performing with BrightSide Theatre, having previously played in their productions of Hairspray and Chess. In addition to Corny Collins (Hairspray), John’s favorite past roles include Curly (Oklahoma!), Don Lockwood (Singin’ in the Rain), and Harold Hill (The Music Man). John is a high school math teacher at Marmion Academy in Aurora.

GREY SINDACO  Lord Savage/Ensemble

Excited to perform for the first time with BrightSide Theatre. Grey graduated from Long Island University with their BFA in 2022. They recently directed Me..Jane (DFT), and performed and produced This Performance Is Protest over the summer. They are the Acting 1 and Advanced Movement and Speech teacher at The Chicago High School for The Arts. Keep an eye out at @greygoeswitheverything 

AMY STEELE  Bisset/Ensemble

Grateful to BrightSide for the opportunities. Favorite credits include The Sound of Music (Beverly Arts Center), The Last 5 Years (Steel Beam Theatre), Striking 12 (BoHo); Little Women (JPAC); Mrs. Claus (Chicago Kids Company) and Shout! The Mod Musical (Drury Lane Water Tower).

JAY WHITE  Sir Archibald Proops/Ensemble

Thrilled to be making his Chicago debut! Recent credits: Nick Carraway in The Great Gatsby (Princeton Summer Theatre) and Broadway’s Greatest Hits at 54 Below. Jay is a recent graduate of Princeton University, where he performed at the McCarter Theatre and on tour with The Princeton Triangle Club. Savannah native.  @jay_slingluff_white