RICHARD O’BRIEN Book, Music & Lyrics

Richard, who was born in 1942, began his life in the world of entertainment in 1965, when, at the age of 23, he rode horses in British-made movies. He had no desire to become a full-time stuntman and, wisely, took himself off to an evening drama school which claimed to adhere to the teaching principles of Stanislavski, Lee Strasberg, Stella Adler and anyone else that had decided to embrace the more ‘naturalistic’ approach to acting, commonly known as The Method. In 1967, Richard became an ASM and understudy in a musical touring version of The Barretts of Wimpole Street, retitled as Robert and Elizabeth. He worked backstage in many West End theatres, most notably the Cambridge Theatre at Seven Dials, where, among other duties, he shone a Lime Light upon John Hanson, who at the age of forty-six, may well have been the oldest Student Prince that the world had ever laid eyes upon.

In 1969, Richard joined an ensemble group in a joyous production of Gulliver’s Travels at the Mermaid Theatre. This show was designed and directed by Sean Kenny. The choreographer was a young Japanese Canadian called David Toguri and the following year, Richard auditioned for him once again and joined the cast of the British touring production of the American ‘hippie’ musical Hair. After Hair came Jesus Christ Superstar, which was directed by Jim Sharman. The following year, 1973, Jim cast Richard in a Sam Shepard play at the Royal Court Theatre’s Theatre Upstairs. It was here that he met Richard Hartley, his music partner of more than 40 years. The Rocky Horror Show opened in July of the same year and, slowly but surely, became the biggest cult musical of all time.

Other highlights of Richard’s career are, of course, The Crystal Maze, a game show that warmed the autumn nights for Channel 4. The Child Catcher in the first stage production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Performing for the Queen in the gardens of Buckingham Palace upon Her Majesty’s 80th birthday and playing Fagin in a New Zealand production of Oliver!. In a career that has spanned 50 years, Richard has acted with some of the biggest and best known names in the industry and, lately, he has won over a new and younger crowd of fans as the voice of Lawrence Fletcher, the father of Phineas and Ferb, in the Disney cartoon series of the same name. Although now in his late seventies, Richard still refuses to make eye contact with the grim reaper.

STEPHEN SCHWARTZ  Composer & Lyricist

Stephen Schwartz wrote the music and lyrics for the current Broadway hit WICKED, and has also contributed music and/or lyrics to GODSPELL, PIPPIN, THE MAGIC SHOW, THE BAKER’S WIFE, WORKING (which he also adapted and directed), RAGS, and CHILDREN OF EDEN. He collaborated with Leonard Bernstein on the English texts for Bernstein’s MASS and wrote the title song for the play and movie BUTTERFLIES ARE FREE. For children, he has written songs for two musicals, CAPTAIN LOUIE and MY SON PINOCCHIO. He has also worked in film, collaborating with Alan Menken on the songs for Disney’s ENCHANTED as well as the animated features POCAHONTAS and THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, and writing the songs for the DreamWorks animated feature THE PRINCE OF EGYPT. His first opera, SEANCE ON A WET AFTERNOON, was produced at Opera Santa Barbara and New York City Opera. A book about his career, “Defying Gravity,” has been released by Applause Books. Mr. Schwartz has been inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and has been given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame . Awards include three Academy Awards, four Grammy Awards, and a tiny handful of tennis trophies.

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.

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).

ROSE KURUTZ  Choreographer

 is a performer and choreographer who recently graduated from Miami University. Her previous musical choreography credits include The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical, 9 to 5: The Musical, and The Addams Family with MU Stage Left. She has also produced six pieces for the concert stage with MU Dance Theatre that integrate various aspects of theatrical production. These, along with previous works, have enabled her to develop a distinctive choreographic style.

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).

PHIL VIDECKIS Music Director

is classically trained at the Chicago Conservatory of Music. Most recently he Music Directed last seasons Jesus Christ Superstar and this season’s Jekyll and Hyde in Concert. In recent years, Mr. Videckis has become involved in musical theater, working with local middle schools, high schools, and community theater groups, music directing and/or accompanying shows like Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, West Side Story, Guys and Dolls, City of Angels in Concert, and Gypsy.

TOMMY O’BRIEN Pippin

Tommy has loved finding his “Corner of the Sky” from Pittsburgh to Notre Dame to BrightSide’s Pippin! Chicago-based performer/musician. BRIGHTSIDE THEATRE: Jesus Christ Superstar. Recent Credits: Hunchback of Notre Dame (Highland Park Players) Bridges of Madison County (Dunes Arts), Little Shop of Horrors (BAC), Saluting the Sun, West Side Story (Morris Performing Arts Center). 

ASIA POSEY Leading Player

is excited and honored to be making her musical theater debut in Pippin with BrightSide Theatre. After spending the past three years working her way through law school, she’s ready to finally trade in her legal memos for theatrical monologues. Her past credits include performing in and co-producing Northwestern Law’s original musical revue Follies.

STAN AUSTIN Charles/Player

According to Ancestry.com, Stan is a distant descendant of Charlemagne, and so he is quite excited to portray his own ancestor Pippin is Stan’s 6^th production with BRIGHTSIDE THEATRE: Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol the Musical (Lou Award nomination), Bill Austin in Mamma Mia, Gregor Vassey in Chess in Concert, Caiaphas in Jesus Christ Superstar, and most recently Sir Danvers Carew in Jekyll and Hyde in Concert.

MICHELLE BOLLIGER Fastrada/Player

is thrilled to return to the BST stage! Originally from southern Illinois, she performed in regional theaters nationwide before settling in Roselle. BRIGHTSIDE THEATRE: Ilona in She Loves Me (Lou Award) Gypsy, A Christmas Carol the Musical, The Descendants, Hairspray! and Guys and Dolls.

AMY STEELE Catherine/Player

is thrilled to be a part of this show! BRIGHTSIDE THEATRE: Jekyll and Hyde in Concert, Chess in Concert, and Joseph/Dreamcoat. Favorite credits: The Sound of Music (Beverly Arts Center), The Last 5 Years (Steel Beam), Striking 12 (BoHo); Little Women (JPAC); Shout! The Mod Musical (Drury Lane Water Tower), and most recently These Shining Lives (Village Theatre Guild).

CHERYL NEWMAN Berthe/Player

has been a theater kid her entire life.  This is her second season as BrightSide’s costume designer, earning multiple Lou and Broadway World nominations for Best Costumes.  She is thrilled to make her on stage BrightSide debut as Berthe, a bucket list role.  Cheryl directs, choreographs and designs costumes for several local theaters, including the award winning BAM Theatre and Wheaton North High School. 

EVELYN DOROUGH Theo

is excited to be playing Theo! BRIGHTSIDE THEATRE YOUTH PROJECT: Chip in Beauty and the Beast Jr. Recent role: “Tiny Tim”. Since she could walk & talk, we called her a “walking musical”. She plays piano, takes classes at Paramount, & is a “Starlight” w/Roadshow. YNS choir, competitive dance, & has been part of 5 other productions. 

THOMAS FERRO Lewis/Player

is thrilled to be back at BrightSide! He is a graduate of Millikin University, where he received a BFA in Musical Theatre and a minor in dance. BRIGHTSIDE THEATRE: Peter in Jesus Christ Superstar and Mamma Mia! Other Credits: Georg in Spring Awakening (Act of Faith Productions); and Jack in Love at First Fright (Six Flags St. Louis).

KASSIDY ALDERMAN Player

is thrilled to be back at BrightSide to make magic for you in Pippin! BRIGHTSIDE THEATRE Jesus Christ Superstar. Recently, she performed in [producingbody]’s Moulin Rouge shadowcast Spectacular Spectacular. Kassidy is originally from Pontiac, IL and received her dance degree from Oklahoma City University.

MATTHEW ANDRESEN Player

is thrilled to make his Chicago theatre debut in Pippin! He is working towards his B.M. in Musical Theatre at Carthage College in Kenosha, WI. Select credits: Wolfie in Love at First Fright (Six Flags Great America), Ensemble in Head Over Heels, and Grover et al. in On the Verge (Carthage College).

SHANE ALEXANDER BROWN Player

is originally from San Francisco, California. Before moving to the Midwest Shane did two national tours, several regional theatres, and worked as a shows and parades performer at Walt Disney World. Shane holds a BFA in Acting and Musical Theatre, and was nominated for the Kennedy Center’s Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship.  Shane also received training through the Open Jar Institute (NYC), Black Box Acting Studio (Chicago), and the Actor’s Theatre of Louisville. Special thanks to Jake! Follow @shnalxdrbrn on Instagram.

EROL IBRAHIMOVIC Player

A recent graduate of Columbia College, Erol FINALLY gets to do his dream show. BRIGHTSIDE THEATRE Jesus Christ Superstar and Gypsy. Other credits include: The Producers (Music Theatre Works), and South Pacific (Skokie Theatre), Something Rotten, and She Loves Me (Sunset Playhouse).

DELANEY KATZ Player

is thrilled to be making her BrightSide debut! Previous credits include Linda in Evil Dead the Musical. She is a proud teaching artist at Skyline Children’s Theater. 

MEGHAN KESSEL Catherine/Player

is happy to be back at BrightSide! BRIGHTSIDE THEATRE: Jekyll and Hyde I Concert (Nellie), Jesus Christ Superstar (Mary Magdalene), Chess in Concert, A Little Night Music, Gypsy, City of Angels in Concert and She Loves Me. When not at BST Meghan is a Music Director, teaches at Old Town School of Folk Music, and performs in theater for young audiences.

MONICA ROMO Player

is thrilled to make her debut at BrightSide Theater! Monica performed in numerous shows at the Devonshire Playhouse, previously starring in Rocky Horror Show (Columbia), Something Rotten (Miranda, Bard Boy), Catch Me if You Can (Cindy), Young Frankenstein (Ensemble) and The Music Man (Ensemble).

JUBILEE TAI Player

grew up training at Northwest Ballet Academy and recently graduated with a BFA in Modern Dance with a Minor in Musical Theatre from Point Park University. During her time in school she danced in works by George Balanchine and Al Blackstone, as well as performed in musicals Cinderella and Grease! (Pittsburgh Musical Theatre). Her recent credits include Within (Visceral Dance Chicago) and The Nutcracker (Schaumburg Dance Ensemble).

AMANDA VINSON Player

is thrilled to be a part of Pippin! BRIGHTSIDE THEATRE:  Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.  She recently choreographed BrightSide’s A Little Night Music and Mean Girls, Jr, and is excited to be returning to the stage. Outside of theatre, Amanda is an American Sign Language interpreter.