Our Staff

	Linda Klepac
	Owner/Dreamer
	Linda has been performing, directing and teaching theatre for over 20 years. She began her undergraduate training in Communications and Performing Arts at Marquette University and has continued formal training in Improv, Voice, Stage Combat, dance & choreography. As owner of The Wishing Star Theatre, Linda believes that every student, whether 5 or 50, deserves the opportunity to freely express themselves in a safe and comfortable environment. Linda lives in Libertyville with her husband Scotty and 4 children, Charlie, Logan, Christian, and Wesley.

	Steve Heinrich
	Comedy
	Steve holds a B.A. in Communication and Theatre from Miami University and has studied improvisation with Martin de Maat at Second City. He has performed in numerous shows in Chicago and the suburbs, including Little Shop of Horrors (Seymour), Noises Off! (Tim), Rumors (Lenny), Company (Harry), and Little House on the Parody (Willie). He has also directed several shows, including Rumors, Wonder of the World, and a number of one-act plays that he’s written, and he’s performed in over 200 improv shows across the land. Steve has written numerous children’s books for characters such as SpongeBob SquarePants, Winnie-the-Pooh, and Shrek – and has directed numerous voice actors for characters including Cookie Monster and Scooby-Doo. Steve lives in Libertyville with his wife, Amber.

	Katie Papp
	Musical Director
	After appearing in the Wishing Star’s production of Lucky Stiff (Annabel), Katie found herself unable to leave!! Now, she is thrilled to serve as the music director for the theater’s main stage productions. Since entering the theatrical world in high school, Katie has appeared in over fifty musicals (and ONE play that didn’t have any singing!!) in professional and amateur theaters throughout the Midwest. Some of her past credits include: The Music Man (Marian), Cinderella (Cinderella), Anything Goes (Hope), A Little Night Music (Anne), Carousel (Carrie) and Meet Me In St. Louis (Esther). Although she has studied music for over 15 years, Katie holds her degree in Physical Therapy, and spends her days providing therapy within the school system.

	Tim Try
	Conservatory Instructor
	Tim has been with Linda and The Wishing Star from the very beginning. Originally from Libertyville, Tim studied at The Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of Music from where he holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Theatre. Tim has performed regionally at the Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Great Lakes Theatre Festival and The Beck Center for the Arts to name a few. Tim is currently based out of New York but will always make time to come back to his friends at the Wishing Star and teach a class!

	Roxann Ferguson
	Private Voice/Academy Instructor
	Roxann Ferguson, an active performer in opera and music theatre, received a Master of Music degree in Music Theatre: Opera Performance from Arizona State University, and bachelor’s degrees in both Vocal Performance and Anthropology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Recent engagements include the Sandman and Dew Fairy in Humperdinck’s Hansel & Gretel with Village Players Theatre in Oak Park, and Die Fledermaus with Music by the Lake. In Arizona, Roxann performed feature roles in productions ranging from Dialogues of the Carmelites to Oklahoma! Internationally, she performed in Salzburg, Austria, as Sandrina in Mozart’s La Finta Giardiniera and as a soprano soloist in selections from Mozart’s Mass in c minor and Requiem, as well as appearing in concerts in Urbania, Italy. Roxann has received awards from the Bel Canto Italian Opera Contest in Chicago and Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity, in addition to a Monticello Archaeological Scholarship from the Thomas Jefferson Foundation. Cu

	Wade Schaff
	Dance
	Wade hails from the Chicago area and graduated cumme laude from Northern Illinois University with a BFA in theater arts (emphasis dance performance). During his extensive professional career Wade has danced for such companies as the Ohio Ballet, State Street Ballet Santa Barbara, The Omaha Theater Ballet, Norwegian Cruise Lines, and most recently River North Chicago Dance Company. He has had the privilege of working with such choreographers as Septime Weber, Stephen Mills, Kennet Oberly, Bill Soleau, Frank Chavez, and Laurie Stallings. He has set his own work on the Omaha Theater Ballet, Groundwork Dance Company, and the student company at the School of Performing Arts. He is also in the process of completing Pilates certification through Power Pilates at Body Endeavors Chicago.

	Vanessa O’Brien
	Academy Instructor
	Vanessa is currently in her third year at the College of Santa Fe, receiving a BFA in Theatre with an emphasis in Acting and Dance. Some of her favorite show’s that she has appeared in include, Crimes of the Heart, Apple Tree (College of Santa Fe), Pippin (LHS), and Wizard of Oz (Clackamas High School). Most recently Vanessa assisted directed Bugsy Malone at the Wishing Star Theatre over the summer. She is pleased to be back at the Wishing Star for her fourth year, and looks forward to many more adventures there.

	Jim Shedd
	Conservatory Instructor
	Jim has been working in theatre since the age of seven. He has performed in countless plays & musicals throughout Illinois. He has studied acting for film, acting for the stage, and improvisation under Val Murray. He has also studied dance under Karyn Fowler. Jim decided in high school to go into theatre production focusing on stage management and directing. He has since worked with ArtReach Educational Theatre, Schaumburg On Stage, HOTT Productions, Morraine Valley College, Best of the Best Theatre Co., Spotlite Theatrix & 507 Theatre. In 2009 Jim is producing and starring in a production of DOG SEES GOD: CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BLOCKHEAD and hopes to work with Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago. He is thrilled to be a part of Wishing Star's remarkable staff.

	Bruce Meadows
	Technical Director
	Bruce has been involved with theatre in Illinois since moving here from New York in 1996. He enjoys the craft of acting, having performed in many shows throughout Lake County. In addition to acting, he has enjoyed the technical aspect of theatre, having done set design & construction, lighting design & light board operation, rigging fly work and scenic painting as well as Stage Management. Bruce has worked for theatres such as: Chicago Opera Theatre, American Theatre, About Face Theatre, Apple Tree Theatre, Bowen Park Theatre and Opera Company, The Urban League, Green Belt Cultural Center, The Improv Playhouse, The David Adler Cultural Center as well as school districts in Lake County. He is currently the resident Technical Director at The Wishing Star Theatre and Stage 48 Productions in Libertyville. He sends love to his wife, Julie.