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.
	Patricia Austin Patricia Austin is ecstatic to be a new Circle Theatre Company Member. Past productions with Circle include Housewife in Dear World and Lotty Wilton in the Jeff Award winning production of Enchanted April. Other Chicago credits include Hell in a Handbag Productions, Signal Ensemble Theatre, Muse of Fire Productions, First Folio Shakespeare, Emerald City Theatre, TriArts, Inc., Polarity Ensemble, and Scooty and Jo Jo Productions. She is excited to be involved with such a passionate group!
	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.
	Jen Bludgen Jennifer is delighted to be an associate company member. She has appeared in Circle’s Dear World and Secret Garden. Other companies she has worked with include Light Opera Works and Theatre at the Center. Her favorite role, however, is that of doggie mom to her two furry children, Googles and Mocha.
	Rani Blair-O'Brien Rani Blair-O'Brien graduated from the C.C.P.A. at Roosevelt University with her degree in performance studies. She's been seen around Chicago at American Girl Place, The Mill Theatre, Redmoon Theater, and StageLeft Theatre. Recently she directed LES MISERABLES for the C.T.E.Y.A. program and Assistant Directed Circle's CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF and LITTLE WOMEN.
	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.
	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.
	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 Terri is thrilled to be an associate with this dynamic company. She was last seen here in Enchanted April (Jeff Nomination/Best Production). Other Chicago credits include: Death and the Maiden, The Lady from Havana, Charley’s Aunt and The Importance of Being Earnest. She currently can be seen as the Flamenco Dancer in Halcyon Theatre’s Lorca in a Green Dress.
	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 McClain is happy to be part of Circle's wonderful family. Circle performances include Dear World, Meet Me in St. Louis and the upcoming Little Women. Laura has also worked with Bohemian Theatre Ensemble, Bailiwick Repertory, Apple Tree Theatre, Metropolis Performing Arts Centre and Blue Moon Studio Theatre, among others. In 2009, Laura received a Non-Equity Jeff Award nomination for Leading Actress in a Musical for her performance in The Christmas Schooner at Bailiwick Repertory. She was also profiled in a 2008 Chicago Tribune article entitled "Hot New Faces of the Chicago Stage." Laura is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with degrees in theatre and English.
	Jeremy Myers Jeremy Myers has been a proud member of Circle Theatre since 2007. On Circle's stage, he as been seen in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Can-Can, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Tommy, and Little Women. Through the CTEYA program, Jeremy directed High School Musical 2. Other Chicago credits include The Mikado, Bittersweet (Light Opera Works), My Favorite Year (Bailiwick Rep.), and Bitty Bear's Matinee (American Girl Place Theatre). Jeremy holds a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre from The Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University.
	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 and Enchanted April. Most recently she appeared in A Perfect Wedding. 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) The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Noble Fool Theatricals) and Six Years (New Leaf). Next she is tackling a six hour performance of the theatre adaptation of Wagner’s The Ring Cycle. 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. 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 work with About Face Theatre and Thunder & Lightning Ensemble and has appeared in the films, Halfway Home and Expiation.
	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 loves being a part of the Circle family. Currently Rachel is working on Macabaret at Porchlight Theatre. Recently she was Jeff Nominated for her work as Lorelei Lee in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Some past shows at Circle include The Who's Tommy (Minister's Wife, Dance Captain), Can-Can (Claudine), Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Milly, Jeff Nominated) and Mack and Mabel. Rachel has also worked with the CTEYA program as a choreographer for All Shook Up, Peter Pan and HSM2. She is a graduate of the University of Akron with a B.A. in Theatre Arts.
	Brian Rabinowitz Brian Rabinowitz is a proud company member of Circle, where has performed in Meet Me in St. Louis, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Enchanted April, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, and A Perfect Wedding. Other acting credits include My Favorite Year (Bailiwick), The Hairy Ape (American Theatre Company) and Little Shop of Horrors (Quest Ensemble). Brian has worked as an actor, improviser, teacher and director around the Chicago area for nearly twenty years. Regional credits include Harold Hill in The Music Man, C.C. Showers in The Diviners, and Fagin in Oliver! Brian recently portrayed vaudevillian and suspected Hindenburg saboteur Joseph Spah in When Weather Changed History for The Weather Channel, and played the lead in the Web series, Sexperts. Brian has directed new play development projects for Victory Gardens, American Blues, Chicago Dramatists and Circle Theatre. He has performed with and directed both the Accordion Repair and Swift Kick improv troupes. He is also the proud father of Amanda, Taliana and Bekira, all of whom share his love of the performing arts.
	Patti Roeder Patti Roeder has performed in several Circle productions, most recently Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. She has also worked with Next, Pegasus, Eclipse and Theatre of Western Springs. Favorite roles includes Annie in Misery, Medea and Grandma Kurnitz in Lost in Yonkers. Patti is a costume designer – her first work at Circle is Little Women.
	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.
	Zanny Laird (junior associate) Zanny began acting at age 9 in numerous roles in American Girl’s musical Circle of Friends and American Girl Revue. Zanny first appeared at Circle in Jane Eyre as Adele. She has performed in CTEYA productions of Beauty and the Beast, Into the Woods, and Grease (Patty Simcox), Blood Brothers (Linda), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Millie), All Shook Up (Natalie/ Ed), and the upcoming Les Miserables (Eponine). Other favorite productions include Gypsy at Northwestern University, Sound of Music at Jedlicka Performing Arts, Sophocles Electra (Past) with the Bohemian Theatre Ensemble, The Children’s Hour (Mary Tilford) at Timeline Theatre, and the Chicago premiere of the Pulitzer Prize play August Osage County (Jean- understudy) at Steppenwolf Theatre. Zanny is also active in the Blackfriars Guild at Fenwick High School where she has appeared in three years of variety shows and productions of Footloose (Rusty), How I Survive High School (Julie/ Amy), Love, Death, and the Prom (Barbara). Zanny is a member of the Tri-M Music Honor Society and traveled to Italy in 2008 to perform with her concert choir. She has also received 1^st Place awards for vocal solo and duet performances at IHSA and Northwestern University contests. Zanny is a member of the Screen Actors Guild and has also performed in film, commercial, and radio.
	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!
	Ali Lamacki Ali Lamacki is so happy that she has the opportunity to be further involved at Circle Theatre. She began at Circle in the CTEYA program as a Follies Girl in Crazy For You in 2005, and has been in 17 consecutive shows as of 2009. She has played memorable roles such as Little Becky Two Shoes in Urinetown, Constable Dogberry in Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, Mayor Matilda in All Shook Up, Kelsi Nielson in High School Musical 2 and Helena in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Ali has also been a dance captain for several shows. Circle Theatre has been a second home and the company has been a second family to her. Ali thanks her first family for all of the love and support throughout the years. She looks forward to more laughs, memories, and fantastic shows at Circle in the years to come.
	Nick Lindmark Nick is honored to be a Junior Company Member at Circle. From starting here when he was eight to now, Nick has enjoyed and loved every experience of every show he has been a part of. From playing Sohovik in Damn Yankees to Trevor Graydon the Third in Throughly Modern Millie, to Enjorlas in Les Mis and many many more. Nick was also a part of Circle Theatre's The Who's Tommy. Nick would like to thank his friends and family for all of their love and support and the members of Circle for this amazing oppotunity to be a part of this theatre.
	Heather Zurowski (junior associate) Heather enjoys being involved as a junior company member at Circle. She’s been fondly attached to Circle Theatre since her first CTEYA show – Joseph and the Amazing Technocolor Dreamcoat, when she was 10. She has been in numerous CTEYA performances since then and has been on stage since she was 8 years old. Recent Circle Theatre roles include Flute in A Midsummer Nights Dream, Dock Madam and Soloist in Les Miserables and Sylvia in All Shook Up. Heather is a sophomore at OPRF High School where she recently performed in Fame, Slow Dance on the Killing Ground, Beauty and the Beast and Godspell. Other memorable roles include Mrs. Hannagan in Annie and Violet in Charlie Brown. Heather sings in the Chorale, Six Chicks, an a cappella group, and in Madrigals at OPRFHS. Heather looks on all her CTEYA directors and past junior associates as mentors and has made many enduring friendships at Circle. She is looking forward to her future with Circle Theatre.
	Marek Zurowski (junior associate) Marek is very proud to be a part of this wonderful company. He has enjoyed the CTEYA program since he played the notorious Bill Sykes in Oliver when he was 12. Marek became a Junior Company member in the spring of 2006. Recent roles include Nick Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Marius in Les Miserable, Chad in All Shook Up and J. Pierpont Finch in How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Other favorite roles at Circle include Troy Bolton in High School Musical, Jimmy Smith in Thoroughly Modern Millie, Pippin in Pippin, Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast, Doody in Grease, Cinderella’s Prince in Into the Woods, Fiyedka in Fiddler on the Roof, and Evelyn Oakleigh in Anything Goes. Marek is a senior at Oak Park River Forest High School where he is cast as Nick Piazza in Fame. He has entertained the crowds as Gaston in Beauty and the Beast, Willie Conklin in Ragtime, and Professor Harold Hill in Music Man at OPRFHS. Marek sings in the A Cappella Choir, Take Five (small group) and Singers a cappella group at OPRFHS. He also plays the position of Offensive Guard on the Huskies Varsity Football team. He would like to thank his whole family for their inspiration and support.

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