BrightSide Theatre's 2017 Annual Benefit Set for Next Month

The BrightSide Theatre Board of Directors, Artistic Director Jeffrey Cass and Executive Director Julie Ann Kornak announced the BrightSide Theatre's 2017 Annual Benefit on Saturday, September 23 from 7-10 pm at the Theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall, 31 South Ellsworth Street, Naperville, IL 60540.

Led by our Master of Ceremonies, Dolly McCarthy of The Dolly McCarthy Show, this Evening of Song will bring together the voices of actors and actresses from past BrightSide Theatre productions to sing the Songs from Movie Musicals.

Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres will be served while browsing a silent auction. During the evening, The BrightSide Theatre Luminary Award will be presented to The Saints for their support in providing ushers for our performances. The evening is sponsored in part by Cooper's Hawk Winery and Restaurants, Jennie and Spice, My Chef Catering.

All funds raised this evening will help BrightSide Theatre continue to Enlighten, Educate and Entertain our audiences and keep our mission alive and well in Naperville!

Tickets on sale NOW! $38 per person by visiting the website at www.brightsidetheatre.com or calling the BOX OFFICE at 630-447-8497 (TIXS)

This One Night Only performance takes place at the Theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall at North Central College, 31 S. Ellsworth Avenue, Naperville, IL 60540.

About the Artistic Director:

Jeffrey Cass (Director/Artistic Director) a Joseph Jefferson Award Nominee most recently directed BightSide Theatre's: Guys and Dolls, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Monty Python's 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 and also for BrightSide Theatre's Youth Project inaugural production of Disney's Alice in Wonderland, Jr., Disney's The Little Mermaid, Jr., Disney's Aladdin, Jr., Legally Blonde the Musical Jr., andThoroughly Modern Millie Jr. He holds a B.F.A. in Musical Theater Performance from Roosevelt University where he also studied lighting design and stage management. 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 Panand for their New Plays Festivals.

About the Master of Ceremonies:

Award-winning journalist and veteran broadcaster, Dolly McCarthy, is the creator, producer & host of The Dolly McCarthy Show. The radio show is celebrating its third year on the air, and can now be heard on WCKG 1530 AM in Chicago, Blog Talk Radio Network, 1010 News Talk, Touhyville Radio Network and Rivet Radio in Chicago. Dolly is also a News & Traffic Reporter for WGN 720 AM, WBEZ 91.5 FM, WCKG 1530 AM, and WCPT 820 AM in Chicago. Prior to that, Dolly was an anchor for the Tribune Company's CLTV News and Anchor/Reporter for WTVO Channel 17 as well as WQRF Fox 39 in Rockford. Dolly also worked for 6 years as the solo anchor for NCTV17's popular and award-winning news program, Naperville News 17. It was there where Dolly became an instant favorite and trusted journalist in Chicagoland. She began her career at WCIU Chicago where Dolly anchored, produced and wrote for the station's daily 7-hour business news program, The Stock Market Observer.

The Chicago native has nearly 20 years of broadcast experience in radio, TV and cable. Her experience in reporting and anchoring, combined with her strong roots in Chicago (she was born & raised a northwest sider; one of 14 kids) and Naperville have made her one of the area's most well-liked and sought after media personalities. Naperville even proclaimed a day in her honor: March 21, Dolly McCarthy Day. In true Dolly fashion, she turned that day into a day of giving back. A charity fundraiser was held to raise funds to support not-for-profits: Operation Support Our Troops, Naperville Cares, Kidz Kabaret and Bike Bald. Dolly has received numerous awards and recognition. She was recognized by her high school, Mother Guerin, as 2014's Most Distinguished Alum, and honored as Woman of The Year by the AAUW in 2013.

Dolly is actively involved in many charitable organizations and not-for-profits including DuPage P.A.D.S., The Rotary Club, CASA Kane County, Tri City Family Services, Blessings in a Backpack, Operation Support Our Troops America, the West Suburban Irish, Community Career Center and Naper Settlement. McCarthy is also a frequent speaker and emcee at countless events around Chicagoland including Naperville's 9/11 Memorial ceremony, Carol Stream's 9/11 Memorial ceremony, The Jaycee's Last Fling, Operation Support Our Troops, 360 Youth Services, Naperville Independent Film Festival, Rally For Ryan/Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, DuPage Children's Museum, Lustgarten Foundation, Alzheimer's Association, Loaves and Fishes Community Pantry, Naperville Cares and many Chicagoland high school career days.

Dolly graduated from Northern Illinois University with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism; and an A.A. with Honors from Wilbur Wright College in Chicago. She is a proud mom to five children: Jimmy, Shelley, Rachel, Caitlin & Molly.

BrightSide Theatre (Jeffrey Cass, Artistic Director and Julie Ann Kornak, Executive Director) will soon open its 7th season as 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. BrightSide's shows are selected to be a unique blend of award-winners, premieres, modern works and timeless classics meant to reflect upon and inform our community. BrightSide Theatre is partially supported and funded by a generous grant from the City of Naperville. For more information on BrightSide Theatre, please visit www.brightsidetheatre.com.

BrightSide Theatre is partially supported and funded by a generous grant from the City of Naperville.

For more information on BrightSide Theatre, please visit www.brightsidetheatre.com.

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