Odd Couple
Season 11 10 Again
This classic comedy centers around uptight, neat Felix Ungar and easygoing, disheveled Oscar Madison as new roommates.
MEET THE CAST
(Felux Unger)
(Oscar Madison)
(Murray)
(Speed)
(Vinnie)
(Roy)
(Gwendolyn Pigeon)
(Cecily Pigeon)
MEET THE PRODUCTION TEAM
JASON HARRINGTON, Director
ERIC LUCHEN, Set Designer
PEGGY JENSEN, Prop Designer
SAMUEL STEPHEN, Lighting Designer
SHANA HALL, Costume Designer
PEGGY JENSEN, Props Designer
BRIDGET KEARBERRY, Stage Manager
STACI HAUK, Administrative Assistant
JEFFREY CASS, Artistic Director/Director
JULIE ANN KORNAK, Executive Director/Co-Founder
TIN PENAVIC, Co-Founder
Jon Cunningham (Felux Unger)
Jon Cunningham recently graced the BrightSide stage as Georg Nowack in She Loves Me and Stone in City of Angels in Concert. You may also remember him as Lawrence (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) or Chuck Baxter (Promises, Promises in Concert) or one of the Summer in the Parks Concerts. 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).
Dennis Schnell (Oscar Madison)
Dennis Schnell is excited to be back at BrightSide after playing Sam in Mamma Mia! last summer. Past BST productions include Promises, Promises in Concert (Sheldrake), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Freddy), Guys & Dolls (Nathan), Noises Off (Lloyd), and Rumors (Ken). Favorite roles include Brian in Avenue Q and Colonel in Something’s Afoot (MadKap/Skokie), Jake in Jake’s Women and Barney in Last of the Red Hot Lovers (Oil Lamp). Thanks to BrightSide & his incredibly supportive wife, Christyn. www.dennis-schnell.com
Mike Mitchell (Murray)
Mike Mitchell (Murray) is a 28-year veteran high school teacher of English and drama who has directed over 70 plays and musicals. On stage, he appeared as Toad in A Year with Frog and Toad, Pish-Tush in The Mikado, and recently at The Bit Comedy Club in Aurora. Married for 27 years, this father of three daughters enjoys playing guitar, walking his dogs, reading Shakespeare, and grilling for family and friends.
Mike Mitchell (Murray)
Dylan Baxter (Speed) is a Chicago based actor and happy to be making his BrightSide Theatre debut. He recently appeared in the cast of The Winter’s Tale at Oak Park Festival Theatre in the comedic role of the Shepherdess’ son. Dylan completed the three-year conservatory program at Stella Adler Studio of Acting in NYC and returned to the Midwest last year where he lives with his wife, Emma, and their dog, Charlie.
John Zimmerman (Vinnie)
John Zimmerman has retired from two careers – special education teacher and newspaper writer. He now spends his free time writing plays, some of which have been produced by theaters across the country, including Chicago. John, who lives in Carol Stream, has also acted in several plays in Chicago and the suburbs. He is returning to the stage after a 10-year hiatus, and thanks BrightSide Theatre for casting him as Vinnie.
Victor Polites (Roy)
Victor Polites has been appearing on stage in Chicago and Western Michigan for almost 20 years and is thrilled to be working with BrightSide again. Recent productions include Hauptmann (Wheaton Drama), Holmes and Watson (Buffalo Theatre), Don’t Dress for Dinner (Oil Lamp Theatre), And Then There Were None, Lend Me A Tenor (North Riverside), Bleacher Bums (BrightSide), Romeo & Juliet – 10 Years Later (Bravo Theatre), and Duck Hunter Shoots Angel (Holland Community).
Gina Phillips (Gwendolyn Pigeon)
Gina Phillips returns to the BrightSide stage for the third time after playing her most beloved role to date, Truvy in Steel Magnolias, and was also in Not Now Darling. She has also appeared at Oil Lamp Theater, Factory Theater, Pride Arts Center, Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, and most recently at Theater Wit in Creating Arthur and BrightSide Theatre’s The Odd Couple. An alum of DePaul/Goodman School of Drama, Gina currently trains at The Players Workshop at Apollo Theater.
Mary Mcgough (Cecily Pigeon)
Mary Mcgough is delighted to be making her Chicagoland debut at BrightSide Theatre. She is a recent graduate of the Dobbins Conservatory at SEMO with her B.F.A. in Musical Theatre. Favorite credits include Kylar in Bring It On! (HCAM Summer Festival), Adelaide in Guys and Dolls (Dobbins Conservatory), and Mary in the world premiere of Unlimited: The Music and Lyrics of Stephen Schwartz (Dobbins Conservatory). She thanks her family and friends for their support.