Julie Ann Kornak

Brightside Theatre To Present PHANTOM In Concert In January 2026
by A.A. Cristi - Dec 11, 2025

BrightSide Theatre will open its 2026 season with Phantom in Concert, a concert staging of the musical by Maury Yeston and Arthur Kopit. The production will run January 9–18 at North Central College’s Madden Theatre.

Cast Announced For Brightside Theatre’s PHANTOM IN CONCERT
by A.A. Cristi - Nov 21, 2025

BrightSide Theatre has announced casting for its January 2026 concert staging of PHANTOM, the Maury Yeston and Arthur Kopit musical based on The Phantom of the Opera.

BrightSide Theatre to Present SUMMER IN THE PARKS 2025 Free Outdoor Concert Series
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 23, 2025

BrightSide Theatre has announced the return of its popular SUMMER IN THE PARKS concert series for 2025, offering nine free, one-hour performances of FUN IN THE SUN: A Broadway Musical Revue.

Review: JEKYLL & HYDE IN CONCERT at BrightSide Theatre
by Tina St. Angelo Wetzel - Jan 19, 2025

This is the moment – when Dr. Henry Jekyll decides to try an experiment. Jekyll and Hyde in Concert is the newest production from BrightSide Theatre.

BrightSide Theatre Announces 2024-25 Season SPELLS AND SUPERSTITIONS With Two Musicals And Two Plays
by A.A. Cristi - May 7, 2024

BrightSide Theatre reveals its 2024-25 season, 'Spells and Superstitions,' featuring two plays and two musicals including DRACULA, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, and PIPPIN.

Brightside Theatre To Perform CHESS IN CONCERT February 9-18
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 23, 2024

Artistic Director Jeffrey Cass and Executive Director Julie Ann Kornak are excited to continue BrightSide Theatre's SEASON 12 – The Season of Passion – with the masterful musical CHESS IN CONCERT.

BrightSide Theatre Presents CHESS In Concert
by A.A. Cristi - Dec 19, 2023

BrightSide Theatre presents Chess in Concert, a professional theatre performance in Naperville's Historic Downtown District. Don't miss this captivating production of Chess in Concert.

BrightSide Theatre Reveals Season 12 - Season Of Passion
by Stephi Wild - Jul 24, 2023

Artistic Director Jeffrey Cass and Executive Director Julie Ann Kornak  will celebrate the 12th Season at BrightSide Theatre; 'A Season of Passion'. We start the season with a masterful musical full of elegance and romance, Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music. 

BrightSide Theatre Presents GYPSY, June 2-18
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 29, 2023

Artistic Director Jeffrey Cass and Executive Director Julie Ann Kornak have announced that to end its 10 season BrightSide Theatre will present what is regarded to be the finest musical ever created…GYPSY!

BrightSide Theatre to Present SHE LOVES ME in October
by Blair Ingenthron - Aug 27, 2022

BrightSide Theatre Artistic Director Jeffrey Cass and Executive Director Julie Ann Kornak have announced that they will begin their 10th season with She Loves Me, running from October 14 through 30th. 

BrightSide Theatre to Preset MAMMA MIA!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Apr 18, 2022

Artistic Director Jeffrey Cass and Executive Director Julie Ann Kornak will present the final show of BrightSide Theatre’s 10th Anniversary Season – BrightSide is Back! The twice postponed production closes out the season with the music of ABBA in the musical that has entertained over 60 million people around the globe -  Mamma Mia!  

BrightSide Theatre Announces 10th Anniversary Season
by Stephi Wild - Sep 15, 2021

 Artistic Director Jeffrey Cass and Executive Director Julie Ann Kornak are proud to announce BrightSide Theatre's 2021-2022 Season - “Tenth Anniversary Season – BrightSide is Back!” 

BrightSide Theatre & Naperville Park District Present Summer In The Parks
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 19, 2021

BrightSide Theatre is bringing a new program to the parks in Naperville this summer.  “Summer in the Parks: The Music of Rodgers & Hammerstein” will perform on 3 different Wednesdays throughout the summer at the Wagner Family Pavilion, located at the 95th Street Community Plaza, 3109 Cedar Glade Drive in Naperville.  

Brightside Theatre Presents NINE THE MUSICAL In Concert
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 16, 2020

BrightSide Theatre, Naperville's only professional theatre performing in the historic downtown district, continues their 9th Season a?" Guilty Pleasures a?" with NINE the Musical in Concert  Performing at the Bartley & Maricela Madden Theatre at North Central College, 171 East Chicago Avenue in Naperville February 7-9, 2020.   Tickets are on sale now at www.brightsidetheatre.com, or by phone at 630-447-TIXS (8497).

BrightSide Theatre Offers Theatre Classes For All Ages This Fall
by Stephi Wild - Aug 20, 2019

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. Taught by Artistic Director, JEFFREY CASS, BrightSide Theatre offers fall classes to explore theatre arts in different ways. From Age 4 a?" Adults there is a class that fits everyone!

BrightSide Theatre Announces Season 9 - Guilty Pleasures
by A.A. Cristi - May 16, 2019

Artistic Director Jeffrey Cass and Executive Director Julie Ann Kornak are proud to announce BrightSide Theatre's 2019-2020 Season - Season Nine Guilty Pleasures From the pleasure of a holiday favorite A Christmas Carol the Musical, to the pleasure of the women in Nine the Musical in Concert, to the hilarious and touching story of 6 Southern women in Steel Magnolias, and to the guilty enjoyment of the music of ABBA in the musical that has entertained over 60 million people around the globe Mamma Mia!, Season Nine is sure to keep you theatrically satisfied.

BrightSide Theatre Presents DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS
by Stephi Wild - Apr 16, 2019

BrightSide Theatre, Naperville's only professional theatre performing in the historic downtown district, continues their 8th Season Dreamers & Schemers - with the deliriously funny and Tony Award winning Best Musical Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Performing at the Theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall at North Central College, 31 S. Ellsworth Street in Naperville June 7-23, 2019. Tickets are on sale now at www.brightsidetheatre.com or by phone at 630-447-TIXS (8497). The press performance is Friday, June 7 at 8pm.

BrightSide Theatre To Hold Annual Fundraiser Today
by BWW News Desk - Oct 13, 2018

The BrightSide Theatre Board of Directors, Artistic Director Jeffrey Cass and Executive Director Julie Ann Kornak invite you to BrightSide Theatre's 2018 Annual Benefit today, October 13 from 7-10 pm at the Theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall, 31 South Ellsworth Street, Naperville, IL  60540.

BrightSide Theatre To Hold Annual Fundraiser 10/13
by A.A. Cristi - Aug 16, 2018

The BrightSide Theatre Board of Directors, Artistic Director Jeffrey Cass and Executive Director Julie Ann Kornak invite you to BrightSide Theatre's 2018 Annual Benefit on Saturday, October 13 from 7-10 pm at the Theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall, 31 South Ellsworth Street, Naperville, IL  60540.

BrightSide Theatre Announces Its 2018-19 Season - DREAMERS & SCHEMERS
by A.A. Cristi - May 8, 2018

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!