ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, MUSIC DIRECTOR

kirsten@cityoflightstheare.org

Kirsten Currie Tait has taught and directed musical theatre in the Fox Valley area for more than 25 years. She has taught music in East Aurora School District 131, Holy Angels School, St. Rita’s in Aurora, and currently, St. Pius X Church in Lombard. Kirsten was one of the first musical-theatre majors at University of Michigan back in the mid 1980s where she musically directed and conducted Little Shop of Horrors and Chicago. Since then, she has music-directed over 20 shows for Warrenville Park District and Theatre-on-the-Hill in Bolingbrook combined.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MUSIC DIRECTOR

grace@cityoflightstheatre.org

Grace Currie is a music director, soprano, and marketer specializing in choral music, musical theatre, and storytelling. Grace is a teaching artist at Paramount School of the Arts, where she instructs high school students in music theory and ensemble singing. Grace was Assistant Director of Choirs at West Aurora High School from 2019-2022 and Director of Choirs at LaSalle-Peru High School from 2018-2019. At West Aurora High School, Grace directed three curricular choirs and two a cappella groups, and she received a Certificate of Appreciation in 2020. At LaSalle-Peru, Grace and her students organized a themed benefit concert, incorporating student art, that raised over $3,000 for the local homeless shelter. In 2018, Grace earned a Bachelor of Music degree in choral music education with highest honors from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Some of Grace's favorite roles in community and educational theatre include Mary Poppins (Mary Poppins), Dorothy Gale (The Wizard of Oz), Sandy (Grease), and Hodel (Fiddler on the Roof).

STAGING DIRECTOR

michael@cityoflightstheatre.org

Michael Currie directs with a focus on storytelling through collaboration. His work with City of Lights Theatre & Cabaret began in 2022, staging a series of cabarets including Honeymoon Cabaret, Moonlight Cabaret: Friends and Rivals, Moonlight Cabaret: Turning Points, and Moonlight Cabaret: Dreamscapes - performed in both Aurora and Chicago, as well as multiple Junior Cabarets. He also handles lighting design and videography for these productions, adapting to each venue's capabilities. His directing experience extends back to Augustana College with productions of Katrina, The K-Word and Theresa Rebeck's The Scene, plus multiple plays for the Quad Cities Playwrights' Festival.  Michael also recently performed as Zach in A Chorus Line at Theatre-on-the-Hill.  He lives in Aurora with his wife, Rowan, and daughter, Juliet.

CHOREOGRAPHER

annmarie@cityoflightstheatre.org

Ann Marie Decker is a recently retired Indian Prairie School District #204 elementary school teacher. Between her interest in theatre, reading and teaching, she knows she won’t have too much time to get bored before something new and exciting comes her way. She is also excited about possible travel with the love of her life without having to say, “Sorry, honey, I can’t go. I have to teach.” She is proud to be part of the City of Lights Theatre & Cabaret family since its inception and loves choreographing along with her daughter, Hannah, for this talented group of friends.

SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR, MUSIC DIRECTOR

mary@cityoflightstheatre.org

Mary Currie has expanded her involvement with City of Lights Theatre & Cabaret by performing, managing social media, and music directing for cabarets since 2021. She teaches choir and general music at Arbor Park Middle School and holds a degree in choral music education from the University of Illinois. As a classical soprano, Mary often cantors at church events and gatherings in the Chicago suburbs. She enjoys playing piano, reading, and exploring new creative outlets. She is so proud of her family for their hard work into making City of Lights Theatre & Cabaret the organization it is today.

ASSISTANT CHOREOGRAPHER

Hannah Decker is freshly graduated with her BFA in musical theatre and thrilled to step into the role of assistant choreographer and challenge herself in new ways. Born and raised in North Aurora, Hannah was first introduced to theatre through the Fox Valley Park District's Summer Stage program under the direction of Arlene Hawks, Bonnie Werthmann, and her very own mother, Ann Marie Decker. Recent performances include Teen Girl/Ensemble in Cinderella, Rosaline in Love’s Labor’s Lost, the Musical, and Emma Goldman/Ensemble in Assassins.

MUSIC DIRECTOR

andrew@cityoflightstheatre.org

Andrew Toniolo is a vocal and choral music educator/performer, and he has taught and performed in the Chicagoland area since 2010. He received a Bachelor of Music Education and Certificate of Vocal Performance from Elmhurst University, and he holds a Master of Educational Leadership from Northeastern Illinois University. Andrew has been Director of Choirs at both Glenbrook South High School and, most recently, Metea Valley High School where has taught all choirs, music theory, music production, and was selected for Metea Valley’s Influential Educator Award. Outside of the school day, Andrew has directed vocal jazz ensembles, Chamber Singers, contemporary a cappella groups, and has vocal directed musicals and variety shows. Additionally, he is an in-demand clinician, presenter, and has guest conducted in the ILMEA District Vocal Jazz Festivals. Andrew has performed in a variety of musicals and cabarets over the years and most recently performed with An Octave Above vocal jazz ensemble and the St. Charles Singers.

PROGRAMMING CONSULTANT

rowan@cityoflightstheatre.org

Rowan Currie is a lover of performance, storytelling, and technical design. Though her first love is the stage, she loves the behind-the-scenes process of bringing a story to life. She received her Bachelor of Arts in History and Theater from Augustana College, where she studied voice under Dr. Michelle Crouch. Recently you may have seen her onstage as Cinderella in Into the Woods, Miss Honey in Matilda, or Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls. For the City of Lights cabarets, she has aided in setlist and script creation as well as performing in the group. If she's not onstage, you may be able to find her at her sewing machine, as she also has a history in costume design. She has designed costumes for 15 shows—everything from Shakespeare to Disney—and has designed for director Phil McKinley, director of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark on Broadway. She lives in Aurora with her husband, Michael, and daughter, Juliet.

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

catherine@cityoflightstheatre.org

Catherine Currie is a Footwear Graphics Designer at Nike, Inc. She was previously a multimedia artist at Cynosure Creative Agency and completed an internship in graphic design at Nike, Inc. in August 2023. She studied communication design at Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design (MIAD), graduating in May 2023.

MUSIC DIRECTOR

Liz Hutchinson is a choral music educator and vocalist with nearly fifteen experience of teaching and performing in the Chicago area. She received her Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Illinois and a Master of Music Education with distinction from DePaul University. Liz taught music at West Aurora High School, Wilmette District 39, and currently is Director of Choirs at Glenbard South High School in Glen Ellyn. Liz has performed with the St. Charles Singers, TVK Orchestra, and An Octave Above. Her work regarding Metacognition and Choral Music Education was chosen to be presented at the Illinois Music Education Conference in 2023. Past awards include the Graduate Music Education Scholarship at DePaul University and the Influential Educator Award at West Aurora High School. She lives with her husband, Andrew, and two kids in Naperville.