NOEL COWARD Playwright

was born in 1899 and made his professional stage debut as Prince Mussel in The Goldfish at the age of 12, leading to many child actor appearances over the next few years. His breakthrough in playwriting was the controversial The Vortex (1924), which featured themes of drugs and adultery and made his name as both actor and playwright in the West End and on Broadway.

During the frenzied 1920s and the more sedate 1930s, Coward wrote a string of successful plays, musicals and intimate revues including Fallen Angels (1925), Hay Fever (1925), Easy Virtue (1926), This Year of Grace (1928), and Bitter Sweet (1929). His professional partnership with childhood friend Gertrude Lawrence started with Private Lives (1931), and continued with Tonight at 8.30 (1936).

During World War II, he remained a successful playwright, screenwriter and director, as well as entertaining the troops and even acting as an unofficial spy for the Foreign Office. His plays during these years included Blithe Spirit, which ran for 1997 performances, outlasting the War (a West End record until The Mousetrap overtook it), This Happy Breed and Present Laughter (both 1943). His two wartime screenplays, In Which We Serve, which he co-directed with the young David Lean, and Brief Encounter, quickly became classics of British cinema. However, the post-war years were more difficult. Austerity Britain – the London critics determined – was out of tune with the brittle Coward wit. In response, Coward re-invented himself as a cabaret and TV star, particularly in America, and in 1955 he played a sell-out season in Las Vegas featuring many of his most famous songs, including “Mad About the Boy,” “I’ll See You Again” and “Mad Dogs and Englishmen.”

In the mid-1950s he settled in Jamaica and Switzerland, and enjoyed a renaissance in the early 1960s, becoming the first living playwright to be performed by the National Theatre when he directed Hay Fever there. Late in his career he was lauded for his roles in a number of films, including Our Man In Havana (1959) and his role as the iconic Mr. Bridger alongside Michael Caine in The Italian Job (1968). Writer, actor, director, film producer, painter, songwriter, cabaret artist as well as an author of a novel, verse, essays and autobiographies, he was called by close friends “The Master.”

His final West End appearance was Song at Twilight in 1966, which he wrote and starred in. He was knighted in 1970 and died peacefully in 1973 in his beloved Jamaica.

JEFFREY CASS  Director/Artistic Director

Jeffrey Cass is a Joseph Jefferson Award Nominee and Lou Award Recipient,  has successfully directed over 30 Productions for BrightSide Theatre, most recently Chess in Concert, A Little Night Music and Gypsy. He also played “Edna” in BST’s production of Hairspray. He holds a B.F.A. in Musical Theater Performance from Roosevelt University. He previously served as the Producing Director for Circle Theatre where he directed 8 Productions including The Who’s Tommy (6 Joseph Jefferson Nominations including Best Musical and Best Director).

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 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.

ARABELLA ZURBANO Scenic Design

is a theatre designer with a BA in Theatre Design & Technology from Columbia College Chicago. She is a member of Nothing Without a Company’s Junior Board, and former Properties Apprentice with Olney Theatre Center. Recent credits include Over/Under (prop/lighting design), BrightSide Theatre’s Dracula (scenic charge), Factory Theater’s Stabbed in the Heart (scenic charge), Dawn Theatre Project’s Arriving at Dawn 2024 (set/prop design), and Goodman Theatre’s The Nacirema Society (assistant scenic design). 

DELANEY KOSAR Props Designer

graduated from Illinois State university in 2023! She’s designed for shows at Illinois Shakespeare Festival (Complete Works of William Shakes abridged and King Lear) and has worked as Prop Overhire for The Paramount Theatre in Aurora. (Million Dollar Quartet, Peter and the Star Catcher, The Full Monty).

RICK BERGGREEN Understudy Male Roles

BRIGHTSIDE THEATRE: Debut.  He is thrilled to return to Chicagoland theater after 20 years, part of BST’s production of Noël Coward’s Private Lives. Past credits include Jane Austen’s Persuasion, The Importance of Being Earnest, and Hair (when he had more). He thanks his family for their support, especially his two incredible daughters, Moira and Vivienne.

BEV COSCARELLI   Louise

BRIGHTSIDE THEATRE: Moon Over Buffalo. A native of Chicago, this is Bev’s second time appearing in a BST comedy.  Along with over 30 stage productions, Bev has appeared in several dozen industrial films, a 2024 TV pilot, narrated a series of web videos, appeared in several indie films, and has filmed many commercials throughout the Midwest. She is currently featured in a TV spot for Yellow Tail Wines as the type of intrusive neighbor who could drive you to drink.

JON CUNNINGHAM  Elyot Chase

BRIGHTSIDE THEATRE: 7 Productions. You may remember him as Felix in The Odd Couple, Fredrik in A Little Night Music, or Georg in She Loves Me.  Jon has performed all over Chicagoland during his 25-year career, including 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).

JAMIE MARIE DEPAOLO  Amanda Prynne

BRIGHTSIDE THEATRE: A Little Night Music (Petra; 2024 Lou Award Best Musical Winner and Best Supporting Actress nominee) and City of Angels (Alaura). She is an actor/singer throughout the Chicagoland area, with favorite credits including The Mousetrap (Mollie), Harvey (Nurse Kelly), The Great Gatsby (Daisy), Legally Blonde (Vivienne), Gypsy (Louise), and Sweeney Todd (Johanna). So much love to Max and Emmet, her friends and family, and her emotional support water bottle for always being by her side through every opportunity. 

MATT HELLYER  Victor Prynne

BRIGHTSIDE THEATRE: Debut.  Matt is delighted to step on the BST stage, proving “to the Victors go the Sibyls.” Traversing the Fox River Valley, Matt has performed at the Albright (Clue, Leading Ladies, Twelfth Night), Elgin Theatre Company (Filumena, The Game’s Afoot, The Tin Woman), and with Janus Theatre (Gross Indecency, The Merchant of Venice), among others, most relishing roles in The Taming of the Shrew and Now and Then, opposite a girl who stole more than scenes.

SYDNEE HOWES  Understudy for Female Roles

BRIGHTSIDE THEATRE: The Rocky Horror Show. She is an actress originally from California. She just finished getting her BFA in Musical Theatre (Dance Concentration) at Chicago College of Performing Arts. You might have seen her in Big Noise’s production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Ensemble/Canaan Dancer). She would like to thank her, friends, family, and Epsom salt baths for always being a support system.

EMILY SHERMAN  Sibyl Chase

BRIGHTSIDE THEATRE: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Peaseblossom). Emily is thrilled to be performing with BrightSide again! Other previous include Pride and Prejudice (Jane), Anne of Green Gables (Ruby, u/s Anne) with Inkwell Arts, where she is also a resident company member; The Secret Garden (Jedlicka PAC); Hairspray, Bullets Over Broadway (The Barn Theatre), Violet (WMU). Emily holds a BFA in Musical Theatre Performance from Western Michigan University. Love always to Mom, Dad, and Benjamin! IG: @emilysherman94

KRISTIN RIPOLI  Stage Manager

Kristin has been a part of shows at North Riverside Players, Theatre of Western Springs, and Greenman Theatre. She wishes to give a big thank you to her friends and family who are always supportive of her theatre adventures. Enjoy the show!