She Loves Me
Season 11 10 Again
Most charming musical ever written! Adapted into the films The Shop Around the Corner (1940), In the Good Old Summertime (1949), and You’ve Got Mail (1998) starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.
MEET THE CAST
(Amalia Balash)
(Georg Nowack)
(Ilona Ritter)
(Steven Kodaly)
(Mr. Maraczek)
(Ladislav Sipos)
(Arpad Laszlo)
(Keller, Headwaiter, Ensemble, u/s Mr. Maraczek)
(Ensemble)
(Ladislav Sipos)
(Ensemble, u/s Ilona)
(Ensemble, u/s Kodaly)
(Ensemble)
(Ladislav Sipos)
MEET THE PRODUCTION TEAM
JEFFREY CASS, Director & Prop Design
DE HADDAD, Production Stage Manager/ Asst. Director
ERIC LUCHEN, Scenic Design
SAMUEL STEPHEN, Lighting Designer
LESLIE HEATH, Costume Design
TIM ELLIOT, Sound Mixing
SARA CATE LANGHAM, Music Director
JENI DONAHUE, Choreographer
HALEY SHADDEN, Asst. Stage Manager
JEFF SAND, Technical Director
PAUL SANTUCCI, Set Construction
STACI HAUK, Administrative Assistant
TIN PENAVIC, Co-Founder
JULIE ANN KORNAK, Executive Director/ Co-Founder
Julie Ann Kornak (Amalia Balash)
Julie Ann Kornak was most recently seen as Tanya in BST’s Mamma Mia! and Maleficent in Disney’s the Descendants playing opposite her daughter, Amanda. Previous recent BST credits include Claudia in NINE in Concert, Muriel Eubanks in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and as Francesca in Bridges of Madison County. Julie can also be seen around town singing in many Naperville/local area churches. Much love to Adam, Ryan, Aidan, Amanda, and Grandma for being my biggest fans!
Jon Cunningham (Georg Nowack)
Jon Cunningham is thrilled to be back with BrightSide. You may have seen him recently as Lawrence (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) or Chuck Baxter (Promises, Promises in Concert) . With over 20 years of experience, Jon has performed at 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).
Michelle Bolliger (Ilona Ritter)
Michelle Bolliger is beyond excited to be joining BrightSide Theatre to tell this beautiful story! Previous BrightSide credits include Hairspray! (Amber), A Christmas Carol (Lamplighter/Christmas Past), Guys and Dolls (Ensemble), and their Summer In The Parks Concerts. Michelle can also be seen currently working with Chicago Kids Company and chasing after her toddler, Sophie Sue. Special thanks to her supportive husband, family and friends. Let’s have some fun!
Paul Mullen (Steven Kodaly)
Paul Mullen happily returns to BrightSide, where he portrayed Harry in Mamma Mia! Favorites: Georg Nowak in She Loves Me (Stage Right Dinner Theatre), Lord Farquaad in Shrek (Magical Starlight), and Harold Hill in four productions of The Music Man (NCC, Music On Stage, White Pines Dinner Theatre, and Forte Productions at Pheasant Run Resort). He is a clinical psychologist and co-founder of True North Clinical Associates, and a professor of Psychology at North Central College.
Ken Rubenstein (Mr. Maraczek)
Ken joyously returns to BrightSide. A veteran Character Actor, he has appeared in numerous theaters in and around Chicago including: Citadel, Lake Forest, Metropolis, Music Theatre Works, Piven, and Victory Gardens, playing such diverse roles as: Arvide Abernathy (Guys & Dolls), Ben (The Secret Garden), Caiaphas (Jesus Christ Superstar), Fagin (Oliver), Grandpa (Little Miss Sunshine – The Musical), Herr Schultz (Cabaret), Mr. Lawrence (Little Woman The Musical) and Tevye (Fiddler on the Roof). Thank you Jeff!
Gary Charles Metz (Sipos)
Gary Charles Metz (Sipos) is pleased to return to the BrightSide stage, having appeared as Dr. Ernie Cusack in our 2015 production of Neil Simon’s Rumors. A seasoned actor, director, playwright, and, singer songwriter, Gary has been entertaining audiences for more than 35 years. Listeners can hear samples of Gary’s 16-song Dare To Be Kind recording of original music at www.garycharlesmetz.com.
Logan Baffico (Arpad Laszlo)
Logan Baffico is ecstatic to be returning to BrightSide in this dream role! He was previously seen here in Joseph…Dreamcoat (Benjamin) and Beauty and the Beast (Chip). Additional past favorite roles include Rudy in Over the Tavern (TATC), Hero Boy in The Polar Express (Rail Events Productions), and Chad in All Shook Up (SDFA). Overwhelming thanks to the BrightSide team, and a huge shoutout to his loving family, SDFA, and LTHS for their love and support.
Craig Zeller (Keller, Headwaiter, Ensemble, u/s Mr. Maraczek)
Craig Zeller is delighted to be making his debut with BrightSide Theatre in She Loves Me, one of his favorite musicals. He recently appeared in MadKap Production’s Something’s Afoot at Skokie Theatre. West suburban audiences may have seen him in Closer Than Ever as Man 1, Bobby in Company, or Leo Bloom in The Producers. Craig holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Drake University. He would like to thank Julie, Hannah and Madeline for their love and support.
Amy Arbizzani (Ensemble,u/s Amalia Balash)
This is Amy’s BrightSide debut, but her third time with She Loves Me (her favorite musical), having previously played Amalia. Prior to performing Off-Broadway, she toured nationally with The Light in the Piazza (1st Bway Ntl), internationally with Twice Charmed (Fairy Godmother) for NETworks/Disney, and won a Jeff Award for her portrayal of Lucille Frank in Parade. She holds a Masters degree in Education and has served as both academic and performing arts educator since 2002. Thank you, Dear Friend.
Meghan Kessel (Ensemble)
Meghan Kessel is happy to be back at BrightSide! Most recently she played Aunt Em in The Wizard of Oz with AlphaBet Soup Productions. When not on stage Meghan teaches at Old Town School of Folk Music, works as a Music Director, and plays piano (most recently with BrightSide’s Mamma Mia!). She would like to thank her family and friends for their constant support and love.
Emma Widlowski (Ensemble, u/s Ilona)
Emma Widlowski is delighted to be onstage with Brightside Theatre once again! Previous Brightside shows include Hairspray, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Descendants, and Mamma Mia!. Other credits include Freaky Friday (Williams Street Rep) and The Polar Express (Rail Events Productions).
Mark Bartishell (Ensemble, u/s Kodaly)
Mark Bartishell BrightSide Theatre debut! A graduate of Millikin University, B.F.A. Musical Theatre. He played George Smith in the World Premiere of When Angels Wept with New Lincoln Theater. He also played Christina Crawford in Christmas Dearest with Hell in a Handbag Productions. His most recent production was with Music Theater Works production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid where he understudied Scuttle, the Pilot, and performed the role of Chef Louis.
Kenny Miller (Ensemble)
Kenny Miller is so excited to be making his BrightSide Debut in She Loves Me! Performance credits include Gilbert/Ensemble in Hairspray, Curtis Jackson in Sister Act, Avery (Understudy) in The Flick, and Sebastian in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella. Kenny would like to thank the cast, crew and production team for a memorable experience. @kmr.fabulous http://kennymil.wixsite/mysite
Dean Zaverdas (Ensemble)
Dean Zaverdas is a recent graduate from Columbia College Chicago’s musical theater class of 2022. Dean has been in over 36 shows in his career since starting his passion for theatre in the 5th grade. Dean’s most notable shows he’s been in is Cabaret directed by Elizabeth Swanson, Playwriting New Stew directed by Paul Amandas, Grease, West Side Story, and Into the Woods by Melanie Lamoureux, and Chicago directed by Max Cervantes.