NRRCT BOARD BIO's

Jeff Kasal

Jeff  has been a board member with North Riverside for about 5 years. He has been in several shows with the group over the years, including Guys and Dolls The Music Man and Bye Bye Birdie. Jeff believes the success of the group is its inherent "soul." The people in the North Riverside theater group, both actors and production staff are friendly and supportive, and rarely come with attitude. We don't like to be up on the stage with prima donnas, and the various directors we have had have successfully weeded most of them out. I hope to be with the group for many more years.

Sue Matulionis

It was in 1999, when she took that first step to audition for NRRCT’s  fall production , Nunsense. Little did she know how much it would change her life!   In the four years since, Sue has played a variety of roles both on stage as Sr. Leo of the Little Sisters of Hoboken and as the mayor’s wife in Bye, Bye Birdie as well as behind the scenes as stage manager and costumer for many of their other productions .   She’s also worked with other community theater groups, which has broadened her horizons and given her an opportunity to meet a variety of interesting and friendly people.  “I think the best part of doing theatre is the many new connections you make.” This is her first year as a board member, a position she never had considered until she decided to take over organizing the vast array of costumes and props the group had accumulated over the years.  We are lucky to have a good relationship with the NR Public Library, which has provided us with a generous storage space. In doing so, we are able to save money by recycling and renting out many of our materials.

Al Meyer

Al has performed in 5 NRRCT productions, including the NRRCT’s inaugural show, Damn Yankees.  His favorite role was Albert Peterson in Bye, Bye Birdie.  Of late, he has been involved in show finances, stagecraft and assorted production activities.  What has been particularly fun is that 3 generations of his family have been involved with NRRCT, including his father-in-law, George Zdarsky, who has been in almost every NRRCT show and his daughter, Katie, who has been in more shows than her Dad!

Nancy Rotunno

Nancy has been with NRRCT almost from the beginning working on-stage in several productions including Music Man, Nunsense, Mame, Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up, and a host of others. She has also worked as an assistant director and helped out in various areas of production. She has always had a love a theater -- she was in her first production when she was only 10 years old. Born and raised in North Riverside, Nancy now resides in LaGrange with her son, Nicholas, a 20 year old college student at University of Iowa. In her "real" life, Nancy is the Executive Director of the Culinary Division at Robert Morris College

Cheryl Silver

Cheryl was thrilled to discover a thriving community theater in the area. She joined the NRRCT group during the 2000 production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. She’s played the role of Rosie in Bye Bye Birdie and Chiffon in Little Shop of Horrors in NRRCT’s 2001-2002 season. She also played Lucy in NRRCT’s fall 2003 production of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. While many of Cheryl’s nights are devoted to theater, her days are spent chasing after her toddler, Noah, consulting for Purple Monkey Studios, and developing Silver Screen Productions, her home video editing business.

Jim Votava

Jim has been a resident of North Riverside with his wife, Eileen, since 1961. He served as Village President from 1981-1985 and is currently a Village Trustee. He serves as an Elder in the N.R. Community Church, and owns ABET Industries, an Electrical Discharge Machining production job shop. Jim has been on the NRRCT Board since 1994. He especially enjoys being with the Community Theater people who are the "greatest" -- they are fun to be with. Jim has appeared in thirteen NRRCT productions thru the years and has enjoyed every moment during rehearsals and on the stage.

Frank M Petrovic

Frank joined NRRCT as a follow spot operator for Moon Over Buffalo in the fall of 2004, and has enjoyed being part of the group ever since. He stage managed the next 3 productions as well as worked on sets and various other tasks, and joined the board in the fall of 2005. He made a cameo appearance in Godspell, but his real on stage debut with NRRCT was Dinner and a Murder, the murder/mystery fundraiser, where he played the restaurant manager. Frank has been involved with theatre ever since high school (more than 35 years ago) working in every facet of theatre except the orchestra. During the late 70’s through the early 80’s Frank worked with West Wind Theatre, where he learned his love of stage management and front office administration. He has also stage managed for Oak Park Village Players and The Community House Players in Hinsdale. A particular highlight was in November 2006, when he had his first paying job in professional Equity theatre working as an electrician at Marriott Lincolnshire. Frank has been a lifelong resident of North Riverside, but looks forward to retirement and moving away from snow. For now, by day he works in the customer service area at TotalWorks, a digital prepress house. His dream is to one day be an Equity Stage Manager.