Circle Theatre - Company

	Kevin Bellie (Artistic Director) Kevin Bellie has been one of Circle Theatre's co-Artistic Directors for three years and a company member for over 19 years. Kevin is also the current Co-Director of Circle Theatre's Emerging Young Artists Program. Kevin's direction and choreography credits at Circle include The Mystery of Edwin Drood (JEFF Nominated), Hello Again (JEFF Recommended), Nine (JEFF Citation Recipient), Triumph of Love (JEFF Citation Nominee), The Life (JEFF Citation Recipient), Grand Hotel (JEFF Citation Recipient) and Rags (JEFF Recommended). Also, he choreographed She Loves Me, and The Secret Garden (JEFF Citation Recipient). In addition to his work at Circle, Kevin has choreographed Anyone Can Whistle (Pegasus Players), A New Brain (Porchlight, JEFF Nominated), Closer Than Ever (Porchlight, JEFF Recommended) and Being 11 (Serendipity.) During the day, Kevin is an Educator at St. Ignatius College Prep High School.
	Bob Knuth (Producing Director) Bob Knuth has been a Circle company member for 7 years, where he has directed/scenic designed the productions of Jane Eyre, She Loves Me, and The Secret Garden (nominated for 10 JEFF Citations including Direction and Design; winner of 4 JEFF Citations including Best Musical Production). Bob has earned numerous design awards for his work at Circle, including a JEFF Citation for Steel Magnolias; JEFF nominations for best scenic design for The Life, Triumph of Love and The Secret Garden; and After Dark Awards for 2001 Outstanding Season (Set, Lights & Graphic Design) for Cosi, The Life, and Sanctuary, & 1998 Outstanding Scenic Design for Grand Hotel. Other Circle sets have included Credeaux Canvas, Judas Kiss, Golf, Drood, Fool for Love, In The Blood, Shape of Things, and The Wild Party. After 6 years as the Senior Graphic Designer for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Bob has recently moved to The Second City Theatre as their marketing Art Director.
	Chris Arnold Chris is excited to be a new member of Circle Theatre, where he began Assistant Directing Design For Living. Since then he has directed for New Play Festival 4, Tent Meeting, and will direct BOY in January 2008. In the Chicago-land area he has directed for Thunder & Lightning Ensemble, The Bailiwick, the side project, Illinois Theatre Center, Act One Studios, and LiveWire, amongst others. As an Assistant Director he has worked on Boy Gets Girl with Eclipse Theatre Company and the Leapfest production of In Times of War with Stage Left. Chris has interned at Steppenwolf and Goodman Theatre. While at Goodman Theatre he had the opportunity to serve as Script Manager for Blue Surge by Rebecca Gilman. He holds an MFA in Directing from The University of Memphis.
	Sheldon Baren Sheldon Baren became involved with Circle Theatre because he needed to stop doing the opening scene from Fiddler on the Roof every time he was alone in his vehicle! Before he starred in Circle's inaugural production over 20 years ago, he had played Tevye for two performances at his temple and just loved it so much that he continued doing it for himself --- until he could no longer go on. Upon seeing the announcement in the local newspaper that Circle was forming, and their first show was to be Fiddler, he had to try to be in it, just to get the part out of his system! Little did he know his audition would lead him into a wonder-filled world of theatre that he had never dreamed he would enter. Sheldon thanks his wonderful wife, Phyllis, who challenged him to go to the audition, Karen Skinner , who cast him as Tevye in Circle's very first show, Wayne Buidens who did not say no, and Ben Goodman who took the part of the butcher to allow Sheldon to be Tevye again. He's still around at Circle and loves every moment - and everyone who shares the joy of this theatre with him.
	Carolyn Brady Riley Carolyn Brady Riley often switches gears between being on stage and providing music direction for Circle’s main stage and its CTEYA program. Music direction at Circle includes Meet Me in St. Louis - JEFF Recommended, & Dear World. Other music direction credits include Nunsense, Company, Quilters at Triton College, Little Shop of Horrors and South Pacific at Moraine Valley College, and for opera The Old Maid and the Thief and The Telephone for St. Xavier University. Carolyn serves as an Adjunct Professor in the Music department at St. Xavier where she teaches voice, conducts choral ensembles, and directs the opera. She is currently preparing the SXU Chorale for a performance of the Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the Southwest Symphony. After training for her B.M. in Vocal Performance/Minor in Theatre (Illinois State University) and M.M. in Vocal Performance with Honors (Roosevelt University), Carolyn has performed on stage in the opera, musical theatre, and concert genres. Credits include: Brahms Liebeslieder, Giovanna in Rigoletto and La Maetressa in Suor Angelica (Intimate Opera), Ella in Mack & Mabel, Miss Scatcherd/ Lady Ingraham in Jane Eyre (JEFF Nominated & Citated), and Ensemble in Harry Connick Jr.’s Thou Shalt Not (Circle Theatre), Miss Segstrom in A Little Night Music (Porchlight), Micaeala & Mercedes in Carmen (Vocal Arts Group), Beggar Woman in Sweeney Todd (Effective Theatre), First Lady in The Magic Flute (Brevard Music Center), Du Page Opera Theatre & Grant Park Symphony Chorus. Carolyn is proud to be a part of Circle’s talented and dedicated company.
	Steven Camara
	Catherine Ferraro Catherine Ferraro has enjoyed growing up at Circle Theatre since she first performed here in Annie in 1985. Recently she has had the honor of being a cast member in Circle's productions of Hay Fever (Jeff Recommended), Can Can (Jeff Recommended), An Ideal Husband (Jeff Nominated Best Production), Mack and Mabel (Jeff Recommended), Sweet Smell of Success (Jeff Recommended), The House of Bernarda Alba, Steel Magnolias (Jeff Nominated Best Ensemble), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Jeff Nominated best production), and Thou Shalt Not. She is most sentimental about the Emerging Young Artists' program here in which she is active behind the scenes. In the past she has directed Once on This Island, Damn Yankees, Footloose, Seussical the Musical, Fiddler on the Roof, Anything Goes, Into The Woods, Disney's High School Musical and All Shook Up with CTEYA. She has also designed the costumes for many CTEYA productions. Catherine is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and is now in the final stages of obtaining her master's degree in education from DePaul as well as her reading endorsement from Northeastern. She teaches elementary school in a Chicago Public School.
	Meredith Freyre Meredith is so happy to have found a home at Circle Theatre and loves working with this amazing group of people! Meredith graduated from Northern Illinois University with a B.A. in Criminal Sociology and an "unofficial" minor in vocal performance. During the day she works as an Administrative Assistant for Quicksilver Associates in Chicago. Recent credits include: Polly Pretty Polly Songs of Death and Seduction (Theo Ubique), 1776 in the Pitt Orchestra (Signal Ensemble Theatre), Tinsel! (Li'l Buds Theatre Company). Chicago credits include: 2007 Stages Festival The Showgirl of 52^nd Street (Theatre Building Chicago), Staged Reading of Nefertiti (Theatre Building Chicago). Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Jeff Recommended), Dear World, Sweet Smell of Success (Jeff Nominated), Meet Me in St. Louis (Jeff Nominated) all at Circle Theatre. My Favorite Year at the Bailiwick Repertory (Jeff Nominated), and The Frogs with Pegasus Players (Jeff Recommended). Meredith has also sung in several Chicago Benefits including: "Why We Tell Our Story: Stephen Flaherty Tribute" and the "Bailiwick 25^th Anniversary Benefit." She can also be heard singing in cabaret shows at Davenports Piano Bar & Cabaret and the National Anthem for Chicago's Professional Lacrosse Team. Love and thanks to Chris for his amazing support and photos!
	Rivkah Gevinson Rivkah has been a part of Circle's junior company for three years. Past productions at Circle include: Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Into the Woods, Jane Eyre, and she will soon appear in Can Can. She participates in the theatre program at her high school where she has performed in shows such as Drawing War, Recent Tragic Events, and Chicago. Also, she is directing STOP KISS there in the spring. Last year Rivkah sang in the IMEA All-State Chorus. She was an NHSI Theatre Arts Cherub at Northwestern University this past summer.
	Eric Lindahl Eric is happy to be one of the newer associate members of Circle Theatre. Past Productions include Dear World, Design for Living, Thou Shalt Not, and Mack & Mabel. Other than working with Circle, he been in shows with Bohemian Theatre Ensemble, Metropolis, Lifeline, One Theatre Company, and Bailiwick. He is excited to be involved with such a wonderful group of people.
	Terri Lopez
	Tara Malpass Tara Malpass is very excited to join Circle Theatre. She has had the honor of Stage Managing for a number of Chicago Theatres since her move here in 2005. Some of her favorites productions include Tent Meeting with Circle Theatre, Earl the Vampire with Thunder and Lightning Theatre Ensemble, The Last Supper with InFusion Theatre Company, PINS at Bailiwick Repertory, and Lease on Love with Diamante Production. Tara is also a company member of InFusion Theatre Company.
	Laura McClain Laura is thrilled to be working with such a wonderful group of artists! She first fell in love with Circle while appearing as Nina in the 2006 production of Dear World. The romance continued when she performed in the Jeff-recommended Meet Me In St. Louis in 2007. Laura has also recently worked with Bohemian Theatre Ensemble (Jekyll & Hyde), Bailiwick Repertory (A Man of No Importance), Blue Moon Studio Theatre (Weird Romance) Metropolis Performing Arts Centre (Steel Magnolias), and Pretty Blue Sky Theatre (An Ideal Husband). Laura is a 2004 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with degrees in Theatre Performance and English Literature.
	Jeremy Myers Jeremy is honored to be one of the newest company members at Circle, where he has been seen in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Can-Can. He holds a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre from Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. Other Chicago credits include The Mikado, Bittersweet (Light Opera Works), and My Favorite Year (Bailiwick Rep.) Jeremy can also be seen as Bitty Puppy in the ongoing production of Bitty Bear's Matinee at American Girl Place Theatre.
	Darci Nalepa Darci Nalepa has been a proud company member of Circle Theatre since 2005 after appearing in Thou Shalt Not. She has continued to work and grow appearing in past productions including The Distance From Here, Sweet Smell of Success, Stone Cold Dead Serious, Mack & Mabel and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. She most recently appeared as Rose in the acclaimed production of Enchanted April. Darci was also fortunate enough to co-direct Blood Brothers with the talented CTEYA program. Other Chicago credits include Meshuggah-Nuns (Chicago Jewish Theatre), Run for Your Wife (Metropolis Center for the Performing Arts), Venus (The Mill) and The Mystery of Edwin Drood as Helena Landless (Noble Fool Theatricals). Darci graduated from Augustana College with a B.F.A. in Theatre. Following her college career, she studied traditional Eastern Theatre in China.
	Lindsay Nance Lindsay Nance, a native of Winnipeg, Manitoba started acting at the tender age of 7 years old. She moved to the United States in 2002 to continue her acting career. After receiving her B.A. in theatre performance from Goshen College she moved to Chicago in 2007. Lindsay was lucky enough to make her Chicago debut in Circle Theatre's production of BOY. She has also worked with About Face Theatre in the Home Project and most recently made her film debut in Halfway Home.
	Scott Neild
	Donna Oswald Donna is honored to be a company member at Circle Theatre, where she has previously stage managed and/or otherwise worked on shows including, As You Like It, Lips Together, Teeth Apart, Hedda Gabler (thank you DK for letting me paint the world white!), Whatever Happened to BB Jane, and The Wild Party. She has stage managed, produced, run box office, built sets, run lights and/or sound and done just about anything else that did not require her to actually go on stage while the curtain was up and the lights were on! Favorite productions throughout Chicago in the past include Painting Churches, Bells Are Ringing, The Ransom of Red Chief, Much Ado About Nothing, Early One Evening At The Rainbow Bar & Grille, Six Degrees of Separation, Pippin, Beauty & The Beast, and The Who's Tommy. She is a also a member of The Saints and currently serves as their coordinator for Circle Theatre.
	Shawn Quinlan Shawn Quinlan is ecstatic to be a part of such an amazing company! Past shows at Circle include, Thou Shalt Not, Dear World, Sweet Smell Of Success, and Mack & Mabel. Other theatres Shawn has performed with are About Face Theatre, The Bailiwick Rep, Theatre Building Chicago, Porchlight Music Theatre, and Stage Two to name a few. Favorite roles include Riff in West Side Story, Paul in A Chorus Line and Danny in Grease. Aside from performing, Shawn is also a freelance choreographer. He has one child, his beautiful Pomeranian, Fiyero!
	Rachel Quinn Rachel is thrilled to be a new member in Circle Theatre's amazing company. Past shows at Circle include the Jeff Recommended Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Milly) and the Jeff Recommended Mack and Mabel. She can be seen in Circle's upcoming production of Can Can. Rachel is also a graduate of the University of Akron with a B.A. in Theatre. Some favorite roles include Ruby in Dames at Sea, Lois/Bianca in Kiss Me, Kate, Cassandra in The Trojan Women, and Louka in Arms and the Man.
	Beth Scheible Beth has been a company member for over 15 years. She works with Circle's Emerging Young Artist Program. Beth has Staged managed many shows at Circle. She's had the honor of working with Rebecca Gilman, Rupert Holmes, Michael John LaChiusa, and even Russell Crowe, but feels none hold a candle to the people that she works with regularly at Circle. During the day she is in charge of running the family daycare. Beth is the proud mother of her beautiful daughter, Vivian Grace.
	Kelly Schumann Kelly Schumann has appeared in numerous Circle Theatre productions, including What's Wrong With Angry? for which she received a 2006 Joseph Jefferson Citation Nomination and Steel Magnolias, which resulted in a 2004 Joseph Jefferson Citation for Supporting Actress in a Play. This winter, Kelly appeared in Los Angeles' Celebration Theatre's production of Beautiful Thing. An active staff member of Circle Theatre's Emerging Young Artists Program, Kelly has co-directed Seussical the Musical, Fiddler on the Roof, Anything Goes, and Into the Woods. She will be co-directing Blood Brothers and High School Musical this summer. Kelly graduated in 1996 from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. In Chicago, she has studied with Steppenwolf Theatre Company and Piven Theatre Workshop and with Jackie Bartone and Peter Jensen in New York.
	Michelle Weissgerber
	Monica Wilson
	Sean Hardin (junior associate) Sean is honored to be a Junior Associate Company Member. He was Jose the Poolboy/Who in Seussical the Musical, Dr. Grimwig/Ensemble in Oliver!, and Mingo in Crazy For You. Sean looks forward to performing in more productions at Circle Theatre.
	Rachael Harris (junior associate) Rachael feels privileged to have been a part of Circle for over a year now. She has performed in Oliver, Crazy for You, Anything Goes, Beauty and the Beast, and will be appearing as the Witch in Into the Woods this summer. Aside from her theater activities, Rachael has been a member of the Upper Room Dance Studio for four years and has danced in numerous showcases there. She also competes on a state and national level, singing and dancing for the IYCM Fine Arts Festival. Rachael is honored to become a Junior Company Member here at Circle and considers herself blessed to be working with such a fabulous group of people!
	Zanny Laird (junior associate) Zanny has been performing since age 9 in numerous roles in American Girl’s musical Circle of Friends. She finished her 4th year performing in the musical American Girl Revue as Molly. Zanny first appeared at Circle in Jane Eyre as Adele. Most recently she was in CTEYA’s production of Beauty and the Beast playing Silly Girl and Monsieur D’Arque. She also appeared in Northwestern University’s production of Gypsy and Jedlicka Performing Art’s Sound of Music. Zanny just completed a 6-week run with the Bohemian Theatre Ensemble’s Sophocles Electra playing young Electra-Past where she was the only young adult and soloist in the cast. Zanny can be heard as the lead of Susan in the Twilight Zone Radio Drama Caesar and Me with Jason Alexander. She also has supporting film roles in Under the City with John Heard and is featured in Perilous Ties. She is a dedicated musician and dancer and is looking forward to the coming years as a junior company member with Circle. Zanny can be seen as Cinderella’s Mother/Granny in CTEYA’s production of Into The Woods and Patty Simcox in Grease.
	Amanda Lamacki Amanda feels honored to be a member of the Junior Company. Circle Theatre has been a second home to her for over three years. During that time she has appeared in Into the Woods, Grease, Thoroughly Modern Millie (Cora), Blood Brothers, High School Musical, Urinetown (Hope Cladwell), and How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying (Rosemary Pilkington). Outside of Circle, Amanda is a sophomore at Trinity High School where she also participates in drama and choir activities there. For Amanda, it is such a thrill to be apart of the talented Circle family; she loves every minute of it and looks forward to future productions. She would like to thank her family and friends for supporting her and putting up with her constant singing and dancing!
	Nick Lindmark
	Erin McPartlin Erin is thrilled to be part of Circle Theatre's Junior Company. She is currently a junior at Oak Park River Forest High School. Erin has been a part of the CTEYA program for 6 years now and has done numerous productions, some which include Guys and Dolls, Hello Dolly, The Music Man, Footloose, Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Seussical, Fiddler on The Roof, Beauty and the Beast, Grease, Pippin, Crazy For You, and most recently High School Musical just to name a few. Erin is actively involved with her school choir and musicals. She is excited to have many more performances with a dedicated group of amazing performers.
	Audrey Robertson
	Chad Roat (junior associate) Chad made his theatrical debut by landing the role of Sherlock in his school's production of Sherlock Holmes. He was then urged by an audience member to audition for a part in Circle Theatre's production of Fiddler on the Roof, where he was cast in the role of Mordcha, and the rest, as they say, is history. He also enjoyed participating in Anything Goes as well as Beauty and the Beast, Into the Woods, Grease, and Pippin. Chad feels very honored to be a junior company member and a part of Circle. He is looking forward to working in upcoming CTEYA productions of Blood Brothers, High School Musical, and whatever may follow!
	Marek Zurowski (junior associate) Marek is very proud to be a part of this wonderful company. He has been acting in the CTEYA program since Oliver, in which he played the notorious Bill Sykes. He became a Junior Company member after playing Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast. Most recently he played Cinderella’s Prince in Into the Woods and Doody in Grease. His past roles include Lank in Crazy for You, Fiyedka in Fiddler on the Roof, and Evelyn Oakleigh in Anything Goes at Circle. He has also appeared as Albert Peterson in Bye Bye Birdie and the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz at Roosevelt Middle School. He is a freshman at OPRF High School and is involved in the acting and music programs there. He would like to thank his whole family for their inspiration and support.

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