News

CAST

Stella Hoyt, Homewood-Flossmoor High School - Agnes Evans

Mia Wetzler, Oak Park & River Forest High School - Tilly Evans

Nathan Borgens, Lincoln-Way East High School - Chuck Biggs

Lin Gilbertz, Centennial High School - Lilith

Melodi Magluyan, Lake Zurich High School - Kaliope

Keagan Greer, Collinsville High School - Orcus

Alex Day, Adlai E Stevenson High School - Miles

Cydney Thomas, Bolingbrook High School - Vera (Agnes Understudy)

Graham Carlson, Lockport Township High School - Steve (Orcus Understudy)

Taylor Ross, Lake Forest High School - Farrah (Tilly Understudy)

Amélie Villaseñor, Mother Macauley High School - Evil Gabbi (Lilith Understudy)

London Shannon-Muscolino, Lyons Township High School - Evil Tina (Kaliope Understudy)

John McBeth III, Thorton Fractional South - Narrator (Nonsinging Ensemble)

Mary Kate Schoessling, St. Charles East High School - Ensemble (Singing 1 - Evil Tina Understudy)

Nathan Ruger, Walter Payton College Prep - Ensemble (Singing 1)

Matthew Lipien, Naperville North High School - Ensemble (Singing 1)

Kylie Steinhauser, Lincoln-Way East High School - Ensemble (Singing 1 - Vera Understudy)

Natalie Brodsky, Harold L Richards High School - Ensemble (Singing 2)

Camryn Leibfried, Carl Sandburg High School - Ensemble (Singing 2 - Evil Tina Understudy)

Maxwell Churma, Downers Grove North High School - 2 Ensemble (Singing 2)

Zachary Barnvos, Huntley High School - Ensemble (Singing 2 - Miles Understudy)

Bryce Stewart, Homewood Flossmoor High School - Ensemble (Nonsinging - Steve Understudy)

Micah Gabriel, Joliet Central High School - Ensemble (Nonsinging - Chuck Understudy)

Onora Kirpanos, Neuqua Valley High School - Ensemble (Nonsinging - Narrator Understudy)

Lindsay McCormack, Warren Township High School - Ensemble (Nonsinging)

CREW

Alexandra Holubowicz, East Leyden High School - Costumes

Anastasia "Stazi" Showerman, Urbana High School - Carpentry

Anna Bella Perez, Burlington Central High School - Carpentry

Anna Hill, Edwardsville High School -  Carpentry

Aurora Pilkington, Edwardsville High School - Hair & Makeup

Breanna "Bee" Crawford, Glenbard South High School - Carpentry

Brooke McDermott, Bolingbrook High School - Costume

Caitlyn Kopera, Crystal Lake South High School - Assistant Stage Manager

Cameron Dominick, Riverside-Brookfield High School - Lighting

Charli Blasius, Lakes Community High School - Painting

Charlotte Panek, James B. Conant High School - Costumes

Chloe Kovacevich, East Leyden High School - Costumes

Demettri Rohn, Harry D. Jacobs High School - Carpentry

Ela Pananon, Edwardsville High School -  Carpentry

Eleanor Holmes, Downers Grove North High School - Carpentry

Ellen Krivak, Riverside-Brookfield High School - Sound

Emma Jenkins, Nequa Valley High School - Video

Emma Madsen, Lakes Community High School - Carpentry

Emma Wagner, Crystal Lake South High School - Costumes

Emmy Buckley, Maine South High School - Painting

Evelyn Mahler, Prairie Ridge High School - Props

Gianna Nascimento, Glenbard North High School - Sound

Ilex Rosen, Adlai E. Stevenson High School - Stage Manager

Isabella Dodd, Glenbard South High School - Hair & Makeup

Jessica Pfeifer, James B. Conant High School - Painting

Jonathan Protus, Vernon Hills High School - Carpentry

Kaitlyn Theusch, Glenbard East High School - Carpentry

Kaitlyn Urbanowicz, Glenbard South High School - Assistant Director

Kaylee Finazzo, Edwardsville High School - Props

Kennedy McCarten, Lakes Community High School - Assistant Director

Korneliusz Kopera, West Leyden High School - Carpentry

Lauren Gullo, Oak Park & River Forest High School - Props

Len Zielinski, Bolingbrook High School - Carpentry

Lizzy Koppel, Bolingbrook High School - Sound

Lucy Mulloy, Lake Forest High School - Lighting

Macy Golob, Walter Payton College Prep - Props

Madison Vitolka, Homewood-Flossmoor High School -  Video 

Martyna Lipski, East Leyden High School - Carpentry

Milo Bak, Lakes Community High School -  Props

Naysa Rangai, Warren Township High School - Video

Nicole Sanborn, Burlington Central High School - Carpentry

Nikolai Gadomski, Downers Grove South High School - Carpentry

Norah Bott, James B. Conant High School - Lighting

Rex Ehman, Lincoln-Way East High School - Stage Manager

Robert Johnson, Oak Park & River Forest High School - Sound

Ruby Konopacki, Downers Grove North High School - Carpentry

Saffron Kim, Oak Park & River Forest High School - Hair & Makeup

Sam Greenstein, Adlai E. Stevenson High School - Lighting

Sean McNicholas, Grayslake North High School - Lighting

Tiana Mansour, Amos Alonzo Stagg High School - Costumes

Wilson Hacke, Maine South High School - Lighting

ORCHESTRA

Alexander Romera, Oswego East High School - Flute

Ashley Rokosz, Vernon Hills High School - Trombone

David Burnham, Streamwood High School - Clarinet

Fiona Guzniczak, Rosary High School - Cello

Luke Johnson, Lakes Community High School - Percussion

Phia Marino, Urbana High School - Bass Guitar

Sarah Ballenger, Streamwood High School - Violin 2

Aldre Santos, Mundelein High School - Trumpet

OFFICERS

President - Carmel DeStefano

Vice President - Mark Begovich

Treasurer - Dennis Anastasopoulos

DEI Director - Samuel Carrington

President-Elect - Judy Klingner

Member at Large - Kathy Missel, Promila Kumar, Andrew Rosenphalt

DIVISION REPRESENTATIVES

Community Theatre - Dawn Farrell, Alka Sharma

Creative Drama & Theatre for Young Audiences - Chris Holling

College/University Theatre - Steven House, Rebel Mickelson

Professional Theatre - Tracy Nunnally, Paul Stancato

Secondary School Theatre - Michelle Bayer, Ryan Lambert

IHSTF Executive Director - Hector Hernandez

ILLINOIS THEATRE ASSOCIATION​ BOARD OF DIRECTORS​

ELECTION SLATE 2023-2025

President Elect :Judy Klingner

First Vice-President: Mark Begovich

Secretary: No Nominee

DEIC Director: Samuel Carrington

Division Representatives​

Community Theatre: Alka Sharma and Promila Kumar

Creative Drama & Theatre for Young Audiences: No Nominee

College/University Theatre: Rebel Mickelson

Professional Theatre: Tracy Nunnally

Secondary School Theatre: Ryan Lamber​t

PLEASE NOTE: Upon receipt of the Nomination Committee Slate, additional nominations may be offered by an ITA Member in writing and must be received by the Secretary one month prior to the annual general membership meeting, August 26, 2023. Association member nominations must be signed by at least six bona fide Association members affiliated with the particular Division or Interest Area for which the nomination is being made, including the nominee.

Board Slate Posting.pdf

• President - Carmel DeStefano
• 2nd Vice-president - Open
• Treasurer - Dennis Anastasopoulos
• DEI Director - Open
• College & University Representative Representative - Rebel Mickelson
• Creative Drama & Theatre for Young Audiences Representative - Chris Hollig
• Secondary School Theatre Representative - Michelle Bayer

If interested in being placed on the slate, contact Carmel DeStefano at president@illinoistheatre.org.

Cast

Luke Ahlquist Oswego East High School Pied Piper

Elena Akerberg Prairie Ridge High School Fiona

Ella Anello Addison Trail High School Dragon/Fairy Tale Character

Julia Aragon East Leyden High School Dulocian/Tap Dancer

Grace Arnett Carterville High School Dulocian

Kaitlyn Bavirsha Lincoln-Way West High School Happy Person

Fiona Bilkey Glenbard East High School Happy Person

Joshua Bonds Oak Park and River Forest High School Donkey

Nevaeh Bos Lake Zurich High School Dulocian

Natalie Brodsky Harold L. Richards High School Dulocian/Tap Dancer

Mitchell Brown Carbondale Community High School Farquaad

Stephen Byers Jr. Coal City High School Dulocian/Tap Dancer

Camani Campbell Romeoville High School Happy Person

Juliana Canastra Deerfield High School Dulocian/Tap Dancer

Derek Carlson Coal City High School Captain of the Guard/Dulocian

Graham Carlson Lockport Township High School Baby Shrek/Baby Bear

Sallee Collins Pinckneyville High School Happy Person

Molly Czechanski Lincoln-Way East High School Happy Person; Teen Fiona Understudy

Alex Day Adlai E. Stevenson High School Pinocchio

Blake Donalson Oak Park and River Forest High School Dulocian/Tap Dancer

Violet Easley Farmington Central High School Happy Person

Bryson Edwards Carterville High School Thelonius/Dulocian/Tap Dancer

Brayden Follett Jacobs High School Knight 1/Happy Person

Lilly Fujioka Adlai E Stevenson High School Happy Person

Armani Gennell West Leyden High School Pig 1

Charles Howerton Carterville High School Papa Bear/Papa Ogre; Shrek Understudy

Stella Hoyt Homewood Flossmoor High School Dulocian/Tap Dancer

Victoria Hutson Oak Park and River Forest High School Blind Mouse- Fairy Tale Character

Josh Jaffe Mundelein High School Shrek

Claire Jansen Prairie Ridge High School Sugar Plum/Gingy

Jersie Joniak Lockport Township High School Humpty Dumpty

Justin Katin Adlai E Stevenson High School Wolf; Farquaad Understudy

Olivia Konstantelos Naperville North High School Elf

Felisa Lascano Hampshire High School Happy Person

James Leonardi Fenwick High School Pig 3

Ameriah Lockett Urbana High School Happy Person

Lily Mace Adlai E Stevenson High School Dulocian/Tap Dancer

Melodi Magluyan Lake Zurich High School Happy Person

Katie McCormick Lake Zurich High School Greeter/Happy Person

Gabriel McKinney Homewood Flossmoor High School Ugly Duckling; Donkey Understudy

Athiana Moran East Leyden High School Tweedle Dum

Jayla Morgan Glenbard South High School Tweedle Dee

Daniel Moshi West Leyden High School Pig 2

Mason Natyshok Coal City High School Speaking Guard/ Dulocian/Tap Dancer

Maren Nazar Maine South High School Peter Pan

Jonathan Protus Vernon Hills High School Knight 3/Dwarf/ Happy Person

Finley Pullano Maine South High School Dulocian/Tap Dancer

Dylan Rhodes Amos Alonzo Stagg High School Queen Lillian/Happy Person

Kaitlyn Rose Kankakee High School Blind Mouse- Fairy Tale Character

Abigail Sanford Lockport Township High School Blind Mouse/Bluebird; Fiona Understudy

Mary Kate Schoessling St. Charles East High School Mama Ogre/Mama Bear

Tyler Schorsch Palatine High School Knight 4/Happy Person

Andrew Schulien Warren Township High School Dulocian/Tap Dancer

Arjun Shah Hinsdale Central High School Bishop/Happy Person

McKenna Sharkey Cary Grove High School Dulocian/Tap Dancer

Teagan Sharkey Cary Grove High School Dulocian/Tap Dancer

Zoe Shores-Navata Wheaton North High School Dulocian

Cydney Thomas Bolingbrook High School Fairy Godmother

Samuel Tichenor Edwardsville High School Knight 2/King Harold/Happy Person

Joseph Timberlake Crystal Lake South High School Dulocian/Tap Dancer

Cameren Truelove Oak Park River and Forest High School Dulocian

Zach Ulmer Huntley High School Mad Hatter; Pinocchio Understudy

Audrey Wagner Hampshire High School Teen Fiona/Fairy Tale Character

Amy Wang Neuqua Valley High School Dulocian/Tap Dancer

Jack Winkelhake Burlington Central High School White Rabbit

Jessica Wolthusen Oak Park and River Forest High School Wicked Witch

Roya Zaucha Bolingbrook High School Dulocian/Tap Dancer

Crew

Drew Bagby Edwardsville High School

Joseph Begley Deerfield High School

Robby Boucher Downers Grove North High School

Chelsea Broeker Edwardsville High School

McKenzie Bruce Streator TownshipHigh School

Rachel Burton Burlington Central High School

Caidyn Crouch Edwardsville High School

Eric Curran Mother Mcauley Liberal Arts High School

Jenna DuMelle Burlington Central High School

Rory Dwyer Grayslake North High School

Oliver Fisher-Rohde Deerfield High School

Natasha Fugate Downers Grove North High School

Nikolai Gadomski Downers Grove South High School

Hannah Garmon University High School

Graham Gatewood Grayslake North High School

Eduardo Hernandez Reavis High School

Maggie Hershey Maine South High School

Julia Howard Deerfield High School

Addison Kamilis Grayslake North High School

Ian Kedrowski Oak Park and River Forest High School

Chloe Kovacevich East Leyden High School

Ellen Krivak Riverside Brookfield High School

Talia Lasky Maine East High School

Victoria Liokumovich Adlai E. Stevenson High School

Sean McNicholas Grayslake North High School

Charlie O'Connor Deerfield High School

Zoe Petro Downers Grove North High School

Ava Petrowski Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School

Rachel Pfeil Neuqua Valley High School

Ilex Rosen Adlai E.Stevenson High School

Keegan Sampey Addison Trail High School

Vera Soberg Walter Payton College Prep

Megan Sowa Addison Trail High School

Elizabeth Steele Glenbard South High School

Jannelle Steger Nazareth Academy

Zach Stutland Deerfield High School

Emma Swiersz Huntley High School

Samuel Tichenor Edwardsville High School

Michelle Torishnyak Lake Zurich High School

Rodolfo Torres West Leyden High School

Kaitlyn Urbanowicz Glenbard South High School

Olivia Virgilio Lake Zurich High School

Aurora Wilke Edwardsville High School

Isabella Wilson Bolingbrook High School

Orchestra

Sarah Ballenger Streamwood High School Violin

Stanica Butnariu Reavis High School Clarinet/Bass Clarinet

Ciara Carroll Lake Forest High School Drum Set

Kayla Connelly Coal City High School Alto Saxophone

Analisa Cress Warren Township High School Horn

Allison Dennison Harrisburg High School Tenor/Bari Sax

Trini Feng Crystal Lake High School Keyboard

Tawney Kellogg Oswego High School Flute/Picc.

Matthew Kohl Glenbard South High School Keyboard

Gabriel Koppel Bolingbrook High School Percussion

Ananya Maddulapalli James B. Conant High School Clarinet

Addison Paunan Buffalo Grove High School Violin

Sam Rutledge West Chicago High School Flute

Sarah Walser Bartlett High School Bass

Blake Whattcott Bolingbrook High School Trombone

Guitar 1 TBD

Guitar 2 TBD

Cello TBD

Trumpet TBD

Production

Michelle Bayer Director Oak Park and River Forest High School

Tom Skobel Co-Producer Lake Zurich High School

Katherine Apperson-Skobel Co-Producer James B. Conant High School

Connor Cornelius Choreographer

Oak Park and River Forest High School/Intuit Dance and Momenta Dance

Hannah Drake Vocal Music Director Harrisburg High School

Lisa Garza Pit Director Bolingbrook High School

Jack Micetich Costumes Coal City High School

Hunter Evans Scenic Designer Downers Grove South High School

Ron Bowden Jr. Technical Director Grayslake North High School

Michael Clack Asst. Techincal Director Deerfield High School

Hector Hernandez Properties Streamwood High School

Anthony Bartucci Sound Design AB Production Associates

Ian Garrett Sound Design AB Production Associates

Noah Record Light Design Protolight

Teslen Sadowski Asst. Light Design Leyden High School

Alex Holod Special Effects Designer Addison Trail High School

Sue Aldridge Local Arrangements Centennial (Retired)

Lou Williams UIUC Production Coordinator UIUC

Jimmy Chrismon ISU Intern Coordinator Illinois State University

Lorelei Wernecke ISU Intern ISU

Hailey Bonk ISU Intern ISU

2021-2023 Slate of Nominees for Illinois Theatre Association Board of Directors

• 1st Vice-president - Mark Begovich
• Professional Theatre Rep. - Tracy Nunnally
• Community Theatre Rep. - Alka Sharma
• College/University Rep. - Richard Arnold
• Secondary School Rep. - Deena Cassady
• Creative Drama Rep. - David Downing
• Positions still opened:
• TYA Representative
• Professional Theatre Representative

If interested in being placed on the slate, contact Carmel DeStefano at president@illinoistheatre.org.

The Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Culture (DEI & C) Committee of the Illinois Theatre Association held a series of listening sessions with members who volunteered to participate. Before the series of three sessions were held, the Committee sent a survey to all members about their feelings of diversity, equity, inclusion, and culture within the ITA. From these three listening sessions, we learned that:

• Email communication from the ITA in general can be overwhelming.
• Our members sometimes don’t fully understand the mission of the ITA and are not always feeling informed about who is in leadership.
• Members feel there is sometimes a lack of opportunity to connect across divisions.
• Sometimes there is confusion between the work we do and other arts organizations across the state.
• Members would like information sessions so they can learn about ITA and the Board.
• Past leaders of the ITA would like to stay involved as sounding boards to continue to support the work of the ITA.
• Those who participated enjoyed learning about the work of the DEI & C committee.
• We need to rework our website to be more functional and user-friendly.
• Finances need to be made available for additional training for the Board and all ITA Members.
• The DEI and C Committee will be taking this information and using it to inform decision making within the committee, plan future sessions and panel series, and report to the Board on ITA member needs beyond the scope of this committee to encourage action and changes to better serve the members.

Thanks to those who completed the survey and participated in our first round of listening sessions.