BrightSide Theatre Announces Its 2018-19 Season - DREAMERS & SCHEMERS

Artistic Director Jeffrey Cass and Executive Director Julie Ann Kornak are proud to announce BrightSide Theatre's 2018-2019 Season - "Season Eight- Dreamers & Schemers" From a musical theatre favorite Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat complete with a full children's choir, to the laugh out loud comedy Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, to the musical farce Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, this season has something for everyone!

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Nov 23 - Dec 9, 2018

lyrics by Tim Rice | music by Andrew Lloyd Webber

directed by Artistic Director Jeffrey Cass

musically directed by Jon Neuhoff | choreographed by Jeni Donahue

Any Dream Will Do

Celebrating its 50th Anniversary, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is the irresistible musical about the trials and triumphs of Joseph, Israel's favorite son. The Biblical saga of Joseph and his coat of many colors is set to a cornucopia of musical styles bringing this timely and timeless Old Testament tale to vibrant life. It's holiday fun for the whole family!

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike March 8 - 24, 2019

by Christopher Durang |directed by Artistic Director Jeffrey Cass

Three Grown Siblings. One Hot Mess!

Vanya and Sonia have never left the confines of their childhood home in Bucks County, PA, while their sister Masha has been gallivanting around the world as a successful actress. Their soothsayer/cleaning woman, Cassandra, warns them of impending doom. A surprise visit from their sister Masha and her hunky boy toy, Spike, throws the normally quiet household into utter upheaval as its residents and visitors get swept up in rivalry, regret, wild costume parties, voodoo dolls and the sudden possibility of escape. A hilarious family reunion you won't soon forget!

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels June 7 - 23, 2019

book by Jeffrey Lane | music and lyrics by David Yazbek

directed by Artistic Director Jeffrey Cass

musically directed by Sarah Giordano | choreographed by Jeni Donahue

A Song. A Dance. A Con.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, based on the popular 1988 MGM film, takes us to the French Riviera where two con men and a beautiful woman collide with the elite. A hilarious jazzy musical farce full of schemes, high jinks, masquerades and double-crosses will keep you laughing and guessing to the end!

All performances take place at the Theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall at North Central College, 31 S. Ellsworth Avenue in Naperville in the heart of its historic downtown district.

Affordable tickets starting at $25 are available for BrightSide Theater's 2018-2019 Season, providing opportunities for Season Subscribers, Groups and Individuals to enjoy our Season Eight - Dreamers & Schemers as only BrightSide Theatre can produce. Subscriptions on sale now. Individual tickets will go on sale July 15, 2018. For more information on purchasing tickets, visit us at www.BrightSideTheatre.com or call the Box Office at 630-447-TIXS (8497)

BrightSide Theatre Youth Project

BrightSide Theatre continues its commitment to young artists with the belief that involvement in arts programs increases the development in children on both an academic and social scale while building self-esteem. We designed The BrightSide Theatre Youth Project to provide a professional and educational learning experience for grade school to high school students aged 8-18 interested in exploring musical theater. In this program, children work directly with professional directors, musical directors, choreographers, designers, and artists to develop their own theatrical skills. (Our staff has/currently works with professional theatres including, Paramount Arts Center, First Folio, Chicago Shakespeare, Broadway in Chicago, Drury Lane Oak Brook.) After very successful productions for the last five seasons, we are happy to announce that this year's BrightSide Theatre Youth Project production will be Fame, Jr.

FAME, JR.

March 9-17, 2019

Conceived and Developed by David De Silva| Book by José Fernandez

Lyrics by Jacques Levy| Music by Steve Margoshes

directed by Barry R. Norton | choreographed by Jeni Donahue| musically directed by Sarah Giordano

Following the international acclaim of the hit motion picture, television series and stage show, Fame The Musical JR. is nothing short of a global phenomenon. Fame JR. features a high energy, contemporary pop score (which includes the hit title song) and a touching coming-of-age story.

Set during the last years of New York City's celebrated High School for the Performing Arts in the early 1980s, Fame JR. is the bittersweet, but ultimately inspiring, story of a diverse group of students who commit to four years of grueling artistic and academic work. With candor, humor and insight, the show explores the issues that confront many young people today.

Auditions for BrightSide Theatre's Youth Project will be in December 2018 and tickets will be on sale in January 2019 - $15 for Adults and $10 for Students. For more information on the program, auditions or purchasing tickets, visit us at www.BrightSideTheatre.com or call at 630-447-8497.

About the Artistic Director:

Jeffrey Cass a Joseph Jefferson Nominee most recently co-directed Hairspray with BrightSide Theatre. He has successfully directed BrightSide's Bridges of Madison County the Musical, Guys and Dolls, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Spamalot, The Sound of Music, It's a Wonderful Life: a Live Radio Play, Cabaret, RENT, Company, BrightSide Theatre's inaugural production - Run For Your Wife. He has also directed for BrightSide Theatre's Youth Project inaugural production Disney's Alice in Wonderland, Disney's The Little Mermaid, Disney's Aladdin, Legally Blonde Jr. the Musical and Thoroughly Modern Millie, Jr. 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 The Who's Tommy (6 Joseph Jefferson Nominations including Best Musical and Best Director) Neil LaBute's Bash and The Distance From Here (Midwest Premier), Burning Blue (Midwest Premier), Crazy for You, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Urinetown, Peter Pan and for the New Plays Festivals.

About the Director of FAME, JR.

Barry R. Norton holds a B.A. in Directing/Musical Theatre from Columbia College where he studied under the late Sheldon Patinkin and the Steppenwolf Theatre Ensemble. Barry has over 25 years of Theatre experience both directing and on stage. He previously held a position as Artistic Director/ Board Member for The Woodstock Musical Theatre Company/ The Woodstock Opera House. Some of his directing credits include most recently co-directing HAIRSPRAY with BrightSide Theatre, Joseph...Dreamcoat, Oliver (Broadway World nomination for Best director), Annie, Crazy for You, Always Patsy Cline, Oklahoma, Bye, Bye Birdie, The Wiz, Hello, Dolly!, The King and I, Cinderella, The Outsiders, and Seussical. When not on stage performing, directing, and set designing/painting he can be found teaching his 4th graders in Chicago.

BrightSide Theatre (Jeffrey Cass, Artistic Director and Julie Ann Kornak, Executive Director) currently just completing its 7th season, is Naperville's only professional theatre performing in the historic downtown district. BrightSide Theatre is committed to Enlighten, Educate, and Entertain through comedies and inspirational stories from across the globe. A unique blend of award-winners, premieres, modern works and timeless classics meant to reflect upon and inform our community inhabit BrightSide's stage. BrightSide Theatre is partially supported and funded by a generous SECA Grant. For more information on BrightSide Theatre, please visit www.brightsidetheatre.com.