The
Launch Party
A CABARET FUNDRAISER
Tues Oct 20th 2026 at 7:30PM
Newport Theater
Join us for an evening celebrating Counterpoint Theatre's arrival in Chicago. The event will feature a lineup of some of Chicago's brightest musical theatre talents previewing musical selections from shows in Counterpoint's future. We want to offer audiences an opportunity to learn more about the company's vision and upcoming work, and become part of the community supporting our first season.
MEET THE PERFORMERS
Alicia Berneche
Alicia was the winner of the 2024 Non-Equity Jeff Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for Letitia Primrose in On the Twentieth Century with Blank Theatre Company. She just understudied the soprano in Dr. Seuss Goes to the Opera at Ravinia at the end of August 2026, and next up in the world premiere production of Trick of Threes by Annika Andersson this fall, Alicia gets to try out her purely acting chops in this hour-long, one-woman (and instruments) show with Instrumental Theatre. Notching another world premiere earlier this summer, she completed a run of the new musical Scaramouche at CityLit Theatre in Chicago. In 2025, Alicia had a sold-out and rave-reviewed run of Urinetown as Penelope Pennywise at Theo Ubique Theatre, and a turn as Widow Corney in Oliver! at Metropolis Theatre Arts. In 2024, Alicia performed as the Queen of the Night for Berkeley Repertory Theatre’s Matchbox Magic Flute by Mary Zimmerman. Previous years saw her as Martha Watson in White Christmas, Agnes Gooch in Mame, and Nettie Fowler in Carousel with Music Theater Works. In her life as an opera singer, Alicia starred on stages around the globe, including Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Daisy Buchanan in The Great Gatsby, Helen Niles in Mourning Becomes Elektra, Second Niece in the celebrated Peter Grimes, and Susanna understudy/Bridesmaid for the Dream cast Le Nozze di Figaro, and was on the roster at the MET. She has originated roles in many world premiere operas, including Philip Glass’ and Mary Zimmerman’s Galileo Galilei at the Goodman Theatre, BAM, and the Barbican theater in London. She is now a master teacher of Musical Theater, Crossover, and Operatic vocal technique, teaching professionals all over the country.
Aurora Penepacker
Aurora is a Filipina-American actor, singer, and writer raised and based in Chicago. Credits include Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 (Jeff Award - Best Ensemble) at Writer’s Theatre, Amélie (Jeff Award - Lead Performer) at Kokandy Productions, Father of the Bride and A Christmas Carol at Drury Lane, and The Importance of Being Earnest (Cecily) and Seagulls (Nina) at Oak Park Festival Theatre, where she is a new company member! Rory graduated with a BFA from CCPA at RU, she is represented by Stewart Talent, and she is a member of Actors’ Equity. Thank you for supporting live local theatre!
Brianna Borger
Brianna is a performer, director, and educator who has spent 20 years in the Chicagoland theatre community. Notable performance credits include: Lucille in Parade, The Baker's Wife in Into the Woods, and Petra in A Little Night Music at Writers Theatre; originating the role of Suzanne in Southern Gothic at Windy City Playhouse (World Premiere, Jeff Nomination - Best Ensemble); Anna in The King & I at Porchlight Music Theatre (Jeff Nomination - Best Actress in a Musical); Dead Mum in Billy Elliot and Mrs. MacAfee in Bye Bye Birdie at Drury Lane Oakbrook; Anna in the International Asian Tour of The King & I. She holds an MM in Music Theatre Voice Pedagogy from Carthage College and a BFA in Musical Theatre from Millikin University. Proud AEA member. Brianna is an Academic Advisor and Assistant Professor of Instruction in the Theatre department at Northwestern University and also runs a private voice studio in Evanston.
Brittney Brown
Brittney is a Chicago based actor, director, and casting director. Recent acting credits include: Passion (Blank Theatre, Jeff Nomination – Best Performer in a Principal Role), Poor People (Hell in a Handbag), brother sister cyborg space (Raven Theatre), Merrily We Roll Along (Blank Theatre), Assassins, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and Sweeney Todd (Theo Ubique), Sunday in the Park with George, Sweeney Todd, and Bonnie and Clyde (Kokandy Productions), All That He Was (PrideArts, Jeff Nomination – Best Performer in a Supporting Role), Kelly Girls (Factory Theater, Jeff Nomination – Best Performer in a Principal Role), and Ragtime and Violet (Griffin Theatre). She co-directed Alice by Heart at Kokandy Productions (Jeff Nomination – Director of a Musical) and was the associate director for Marie Antoinette and the Magical Negroes (The Story Theatre), May the Road Rise Up (Factory Theater), and Wolves (Exit 63). She was a featured director in Oil Lamp Theater’s inaugural Ignite New Works Festival, Broken Nose Theatre’s Bechdel Fest 7: Momentum and directed a staged reading of Paul Michael Thomson’s Artemis Books & the Well-Meaning Man for Avalanche Theatre as well as the audio drama Primer for Broken Nose Theatre. Upcoming, she will be the Associate Director for TimeLine Theatre’s production of Merrily We Roll Along.
Eldon Warner-Soriano
Eldon is a Chicago based actor who is ecstatic to help celebrate the launch of Counterpoint Theatre. A University of South Dakota graduate of Vocal Performance where he studied under Dr. Gesteland and Master of Music Performance from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana where he studied with Nathan Gunn. He has been seen in productions at Marriott Theatre (A Little Night Music), Metropolis (Ride the Cyclone), Theo Ubique (The Drowsy Chaperone), Music Theatre Works (Godspell) as well as Blank Theatre (Sweet Charity).
Johanna Mckenzie Miller
Johanna is the Artistic Director of Metropolis Performing Arts Centre. Directing credits include The Play That Goes Wrong and A Christmas Carol at MPAC, Sweet Charity at Blank Theatre, Frozen at Fulton Theatre in Lancaster, PA, Beautiful: The Carol King Musical at Paramount Theater with Jim Corti, The 39 Steps and Steel Magnolias at Drury Lane Theatre, Kiss Me Kate at Marriott Theatre and Cinderella at Metropolis Theatre. Onstage credits include Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Court Theatre, Drury Lane Theatre, First Folio Theatre, Goodman Theatre, Marriott Theatre, Northlight Theatre, Paramount Theatre, and The Ravinia Festival. Ms McKenzie Miller is a proud member of Actors Equity Association, Screen Actors Guild and SDC the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.
Joryhebel Ginorio
Joryhebel is jazzed to be a part of the Counterpoint launch party! She was recently a part of the limited run of Octet at the Goodman Theatre, which first at Raven Theatre! Chicago: Buddy Holly (Drury Lane), The Secret Garden (Theo Ubique, Jeff Nomination), Arthur & Friends, The Snow Queen (The Marriott Theatre), 9 to 5 (Metropolis PAC). Originally from Texas, Joryhebel has been lucky to have found an incredible community in Chicago. She is a proud Boricua blessed to be doing what she loves with the support of God, her family, friends, GTG, her pup Matcha, and of COURSE Elliot :) ¡Voy a ti! @joryhebelginorio
Kaitlin Feely
Kaitlin is currently touring the country as Barbara Maitland in the national tour of Beetlejuice! CHICAGO: Titanique (Broadway In Chicago/Porchlight Music Theatre), She Loves Me (Citadel Theatre). REGIONAL: Xanadu (Skylight Music Theatre), Little Shop of Horrors (Ramsey Theatre Company). BFA in Music Theatre & minor in Mathematics from Illinois Wesleyan. As always, many thanks to her family & friends and DDO Artists Agency. @kaitlinfeely
Kelcy Taylor
Kelcy is a Chicago-based performer. You may remember her as Nickie in Sweet Charity or as Annette Hargrove in Cruel Intentions (Kokandy Productions)! Other credits include Urinetown (Theo Ubique), The Jackie Wilson Story (Black Ensemble), and The Importance of Being Earnest (Strawdog). You can currently catch her in Escape to Margaritaville with Music Theater Works! Insta: @kelcytay
Korey White
Korey originally hails from Pittsburgh, Pa, but celebrated 12 years in Chicago this past September! While in Chicago, Korey has had the honor to be in a number of shows, including She Loves Me, Passion (Blank Theatre Company), Legally Blonde, Annie, The Little Mermaid (Music Theatre Works), Ragtime, Cinderella (Metropolis Performing Arts), Les Mis (Uptown Theatre), Parade, The Full Monty (Theatre Nebula), Planted (Rogue Elephant Productions), If Scrooge Was a Brother (eta Creative Arts), Company, Jesus Christ Superstar (Devonshire Playhouse), 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Music on Stage) as well as others. Korey is grateful and excited to be a part of this event and wishes the newly founded Counterpoint Theatre incredible growth and many sold-out houses.
Luke Nowakowski
Luke is thrilled to join Counterpoint Theatre for its launch party and celebrate a new storefront theater in Chicago among so many incredible Chicagoland artists. He recently played Tony in West Side Story at Music Theater Works. At Theo Ubique, he played Joe Hardy in Damn Yankees and earned a Jeff Award nomination for his performance of Bobby Strong in Urinetown. Other Chicago credits include 42 Balloons and The Lord of the Rings – A Musical Tale (Chicago Shakespeare Theater); The Irish… and How They Got That Way, Titanique, and Anything Goes (Porchlight Music Theatre); and Fun Home, The Sound of Music, and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Paramount Theatre). His regional credits include Dear Jack, Dear Louise and Little Women (Peninsula Players), and he appeared internationally in The Lord of the Rings – A Musical Tale in Auckland, New Zealand. Luke was a national finalist in the NATS Musical Theater Competition in New York City. He also develops new work as a writer and podcaster. He is represented by Gray Talent.
Lydia Burke
Lydia is elated to be a part of the launch of Counterpoint Theatre! Her Chicago theatre credits include Little Shop of Horrors, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, Damn Yankees, Big Fish, The Sound of Music, and Junie B. Jones: The Musical (Marriott Theatre), White Christmas, Come From Away, Frozen, The Full Monty, Beautiful, Billy Elliot, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Little Shop of Horrors, Groundhog Day, and Kinky Boots (Paramount Theatre), Elf, Beautiful, and Matilda: The Musical (Drury Lane Theatre), Sister Act and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (Mercury Theater), and Sophisticated Ladies (Porchlight Music Theatre). @lydialburke
Maisie Rose
Maisie is a Chicago-based actor and the Digital Manager for Counterpoint. She has previously worked at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Drury Lane Theatre, Skylight Music Theatre, Music Theater Works, Blank Theatre Company, and Kokandy Productions. Favorite past roles include Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray, Robin in Lysistrata Jones, and the title role in The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Maisie is a proud graduate of Northwestern University.
Maya Rowe
Maya is honored to be a part of the debut of Counterpoint… a theatre that truly could not be in better hands than those of Rachel and Danny. Most Recent Credits: “Nadine” in The Wild Party at NY City Center (Off-Broadway), “Anne” in Muse (Global Premiere/Edinburgh Fringe), “Audrey” in Little Shop of Horrors (Marriott Theatre) & “Rose” in Titanique (Porchlight/Broadway in Chicago). Other favorites include: Natasha, Pierre… (Writers Theatre), Beauty and the Beast (Chicago Shakes), Cabaret (The Studio Theatre TDS), The Light in the Piazza (AGPA) and more. Film/TV: Chicago Fire (NBC), Tankhouse (AppleTV+). It is people like Rachel and Danny, prioritizing passion over profit and stories over spectacle, that are the reason Chicago theatre is what it is. I cannot wait to watch this theatre grow. Chicago Proud forever and always!
Meghan McCandless
Meghan first performed onstage when she was 5 years old in Medford, Oregon and didn't stop until there was a global pandemic. Locally, she's worked with Griffin Theatre Company, Mercury Theatre Company, and Metropolis Performing Arts Center. Favorite previous roles include The Baker's Wife in Into the Woods and Natalie in Next to Normal, but some of her favorite memories of performing in Chicago have been in cabarets like this one!
Neala Barron
Neala is an award-winning Chicago performer delighted to be spending the evening with Counterpoint! Credits: Octet (Raven Theatre and Goodman Theatre), Fun Home, Sunday in the Park with George, Merrily We Roll Along, A Funny Thing..., Chicago Sings (Porchlight); 1776 (Marriott Theatre); Assassins - Jeff Nomination ("John Wilkes Booth"), Hello Again (Theo); 110 in the Shade - Jeff Nomination ("Lizzie Curry"), Marie Christine (Boho); Botticelli in the Fire (First Floor); 25th Annual... (Music Theatre Works); Queen of the Mist (Firebrand); Ragtime, Titanic (Griffin); Adding Machine (The Hypocrites), and many more.
Rachel Guth
Rachel is an award winning actor who has worked at theaters throughout Chicagoland, including at Marriott Theatre, Northlight Theatre, Theo Ubique, Music Theatre Works, Chicago Musical Theatre Festival, American Music Theatre Project, and Blank Theatre. Some favorite roles include Samantha Brown in The Mad Ones, Clara in Passion (Jeff Nominee), Ilona in She Loves Me (Jeff Nominee), Rose in Ghost Quartet, Olive Ostrovsky in 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and Anne in A Little Night Music. Offstage, she has been featured both singing and speaking on popular podcasts, as well as in a national print campaign. Rachel is a Northwestern graduate, and the Managing Director and Cofounder of Counterpoint Theatre. Lots of love to husband Ryan. See more from her at rachelguth.com and @TheRachelGuth on Instagram.
Rory Schrobilgen
Chicago: Promises, Promises (Jeff Award — Performer in a Principal Role). Northwestern alum.
Ryan Stajmiger
Regional: Paramount; Frozen (Olaf), School of Rock (Ensemble, Dewey U/S). Mercury; Young Frankenstein (Igor), Little Shop of Horrors (Seymour). Theo; Urinetown (Lockstock). Kokandy; Sweeney Todd (Anthony). Skylight; Spelling Bee (Leaf). Outside of acting, Ryan carves pumpkins for his small art business. Love to Allyssa, friends, and family! @Staj_O_Lanterns
Will Koski
Chicago credits include: Iceboy! (Goodman); Follies in Concert (Porchlight); The SpongeBob Musical, Finding Nemo, The Magic School Bus (Marriott); Into the Woods (Paramount); The Secret Garden [Jeff Nom.], Assassins (Theo); Spelling Bee, Carousel (Music Theater Works). TV/FILM: Somebody Somewhere (HBO). Graduate of Millikin University. Represented by Stewart Talent. IG: will_koski
MEET THE BAND
Aaron Kaplan (Cello)
Aaron enjoys a multifaceted musical career as a conductor, Jeff-Award nominated musical director, cellist, music educator, and arranger. Aaron is the artistic director/conductor of the JAM Orchestra, a Chicago-based ensemble dedicated to performing a diverse repertoire of classical, Broadway, swing, and film music. In recent seasons, Aaron has guest conducted the Lake Geneva Symphony Orchestra, Arete Orchestra, North Shore Chamber Orchestra, University of Illinois at Chicago Orchestra and led the Peoria Ballet’s performances of The Nutcracker with the Heartland Festival Orchestra. A dedicated teacher, Aaron is an orchestra director at Glenbrook North and Glenbrook South High Schools. As a passionate advocate for American musical theatre, Aaron has served as music director/conductor for over 100 productions (the majority with original orchestration). His work has been nominated for Outstanding Music Direction 5 times by the Non-Equity Joseph Jefferson Awards, and he has worked at numerous theatre companies including Theo Ubique, Blank Theatre Company, Citadel Theatre, and Metropolis Performing Arts Centre. He earned a master’s degree in orchestral conducting from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign under the tutelage of Donald Schleicher, as well as bachelor’s degrees in cello performance and music education with high honors also from the University of Illinois.
Kevin Zhou (Piano)
Blank: Promises, Promises, On the Twentieth Century. Theo: Diana, Urinetown. Kokandy: Amelie, Sunday in The Park with George. Uptown: Les Mis, Hairspray, Little Mermaid. Metropolis: The Addams Family, The Music Man, Mary Poppins, R&H Cinderella, Oliver!. Runs his own video game jazz band called @kevin_and_the_quicksavers and hosts a monthly jam session. Shoutout ISM we did it. Much love to Aaron Kaplan. @kevpo.zhou