The Forge Sings
Disney!
Back by popular demand!
Join The Forge Sings Crew for THEIR 5TH YEar Of unforgettable performances of your favorite Disney songs.
when:
SATURDAY, JUNE 8th @ 6pm
Sunday, June 9th @ 3pm
*Special Princess meet & greet starting ONE HOUR BEFORE SHOWTIME with fairytale entertainment!
performances by:
Teagan Earley
Peyton SCHOENHOFER
elise meyer
Michael potsic
kara Rivera
jack zabilka
molly dibble
Leighton TANTILLO
brooke heilmann
billy zabilka
WITH ARRANGEMENTS by
Justin Akira Kono
band
kelly calpin
kara o’lander
benjamin heppner
Hosted by
Frankie Zabilka
Tianna Cohen
meet the
creative team
Frankie returns to The Forge for his 5th year hosting The Forge Sings Disney! He is an actor and host primarily based in Los Angeles but always enjoys returning to his Chicago theatre roots.
On TV, you may have seen him alongside Katey Sagal in “Rebel” on ABC or in the Disney+ film, “Chang Can Dunk”. Frankie also recently co-starred in a national campaign alongside Will Arnett. On stage, he appeared in the national tour of “Rudolph…” (Hermey) and regionally in “Something Rotten!” (Nigel), “Newsies” (Davey), “Cinderella” (Jean-Michel), “Fiddler on the Roof” (Motel), and most recently the world premiere musical adaption of “Grumpy Monkey” at the 2023 Tony Award-winning Pasadena Playhouse. Love to Tianna and his family.
For Erica. @frankiezabilka
Contact: fzabilka@gmail.com
Producer/Host
Tianna is an actor, host, and producer hailing from Ventura, CA. Select regional credits include THE SOUND OF MUSIC at McCoy/Rigby, MAMMA MIA (Sophie), CARRIE (Carrie), and THE STRANGER THINGS: LA EXPERIENCE (Eleven). In addition to her work on stage, Tianna is the Associate Producer for Broadway @ the Bourbon Room - A monthly cabaret featuring show-stopping performances by Broadway + LA’s best.
Most recently, she has been touring the states as the Host and Pit Reporter for Monster Jam. @tiannalouisecohen
Contact: tiannalcohen@gmail.com
Producer/Host
meet the
band
Originally from Scranton, PA, Kelley Calpin has performed as a professional singer, actor, choral artist, and voice instructor for over 25 years. Kelley has performed Off-Broadway, in national tours, and with major orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, NJSO, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Royal Philharmonic. Most recently, Kelley was a member of the Lakeside Singers and is currently an inaugural member of WithOneVoice. She holds a B.A. in Music from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ and an M.M. in Voice Performance from Northern Illinois University. She is currently the Director of Music Ministry for First Congregational UCC in Downers Grove, an adjunct instructor of Musical Theatre Voice at North Central College, and private vocal coach
A graduate of Northern Illinois University, Ben Heppner is a classically trained percussionist who blends his backgrounds in drum set performance, singer songwriting and percussion studies into one artistic voice.
Whether composing, teaching or performing, Ben lets his deep connection with and passion for music drive his artistic vision
A multi-instrumentalist and composer, Kara can be found playing both musical theater and live shows with artists around the city. Most recently seen at House of Blues, she’s excited to bring the bass to The Forge! Much love to Kelan!
Justin Akira Kono is a percussionist, pianist, conductor, and orchestrator. He is honored to be returning to Music Theater Works after having music directed Zorro last season. Recent credits include Spring Awakening, Broadway in your Backyard (Porchlight Music Theater, music director), Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Ladies, Cabaret, Billy Elliot the Musical (Porchlight Music Theater, drums and percussion), Legends of the 50s and 60s, Mamma Mia!, Irving Berlin’sWhite Christmas (Music Theater Works, drums and keyboard), Kiss Me Kate (The Marriott Theater, drums), and Elf and A Chorus Line (Drury Lane Theater, sub drums). He has also music directed at The Chicago College of Performing Arts and played in the house band for the 2022 Equity Jeff Awards.
IG: @jamwithjustin
meet the
cast
Teagan Earley is a Chicago-based storyteller, ecstatically to be back at the Forge! Favorite credits include Ilse in the ASL-Integrated production of Spring Awakening at Skylight Music Theatre, Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar (Stadium Concert Tour), Connie in Come Blow Your Horn (at the New Theatre alongside Sally Struthers and Hal Linden), Sing Out! & Queer Eye (at Second City), Chicago Shakespeare’s Parks touring company, and playing Athena on the #2 Billboards Charts Album of EPIC the Musical. She has also been seen onscreen in Chicago Fire, as well as in a variety of independent films. She just released her debut solo EP, titled MOTHER, under the stage name TE/MO. For more information, go to www.teaganearley.com
From Rockford Illinois, Peyton is thrilled to be a part of his first production here at The Forge. He would like to thank his family and friends for their constant support as well as all of those in attendance. Enjoy the show!
Elise is so excited to be performing again in the Forge’s Disney night! Elise is no stranger to the stage, as she has performed in many shows since the age of 4. Her favorite role to date is playing Ariel in “The Little Mermaid.” In her spare time, Elise also enjoys singing at weddings in the Chicago land area. When she is not busy singing, she is a full-time pediatric speech-language pathologist who lives in downtown Chicago with her husband. Special thanks to Frankie and Tianna for another great year at the Forge! Enjoy!
Michael Potsic is a Chicago based performer and writer. He has appeared in productions of Floyd Collins (Boho Theatre), Parade (Boho Theatre, Writers Theatre), Assassins (Kokandy Productions), Rent (Paramount Theatre) and most recently The Music Man (Marriott Theatre) As a composer and lyricist, Michael’s work has been featured with Alphabet Soup Productions, Second City Training Center, the independent film BREAK, and his musical Flight, based on the Greek myth The Flight of Icarus, received its sold out world premier in May of 2019 and continues its development. Michael is also known as Michael’s Music Machine, a children’s pop recording artist with two albums available on all streaming platforms. IG: @michaelsmusicmachine @simplypotsic
Kara Rivera (she/her) is delighted to return to The Forge Sings Disney. Previous credits include The Music Man in Concert (Metropolis), The Sound of Music (Paramount Theatre), Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus (Limestone Stage), Roulette (Stage 773), Six Characters in Search of an Author (Voice of the City), and Thoroughly Modern Millie, Jr. (Meilley-Swallow Hall). She will be seen in the
upcoming Anastasia The Musical this July at The Yellow Box Theater Auditorium. She has been performing in various theatrical and independent film productions
in the Chicagoland area since she was eight. She is represented by the Gray Talent Group.
Jack could not be more excited to be returning on stage for the Forge Sings Disney performing alongside his brothers Frank and Billy! Jack has been performing in musical theater since the 2nd grade and has made many lifelong friends and memories through these performances. Jack worked at the ropes course here at the Forge for four summers, and to this day views it as one of his favorite work experiences. He would like to thank Frank and Tianna for all their hard work in producing this show and his family for their constant love and support. Enjoy the show!
Molly Dibble is a 13-year-old triple threat who has been performing since she was young. She has been seen in many commercials and TV and recently made her debut at Drury Lane with 24 shows performing in 2 different roles Bielke/Schprintze in Fiddler on the Roof. Other theatre credits include Ensemble at Big Noise Theatre in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Little Red in Into the Woods, and Little Girl in Ragtime at Music Theatre Works. We would like to thank The Forge for this opportunity and hope you enjoy the show.
LEIGHTON TANTILLO is thrilled to be a part of The Forge Sings Disney! Credits include Peter Cratchit/Boy Scrooge in A Christmas Carol (Goodman Theatre), Lawrence in School of Rock (Paramount Theatre) and Archie in 13, Jr. The Musical (Ovation Academy of the Arts). He is a pianist and gold medal recipient of the North Shore Teachers Music Association Sonata-Sonatina Festival. He is represented by Stewart Talent Chicago.
Brooke is 13 years old and has enjoyed performing in musicals since she was four. Her favorite stage is the Erica Heilmann Theatre, named after her mom. Favorite roles include Annie in Annie, Brooke in Legally Blonde, Jasmine in Aladdin and JoJo in Seussical and any time she can bow after her sister and brothers. Brooke also enjoys competitive dance, volleyball, basketball and soccer. Special thanks to Tianna and Frankie for this wonderful invitation to sing at The Forge. Hi to Dad, Natalie, Joey, Mikey, and Nane. For mom, always.
Billy is 13 years old and is so excited to be back for The Forge Sings Disney. Billy has been performing since he was 7 months old. His favorite roles include Michael Hobbs in Elf the Musical, Les in Newsies, and Bert Healy in Annie. Catch Billy this summer performing as John Darling in Peter Pan with Little Mountain Community Theatre. Special thanks to his two older brothers for letting him be a part of the show! Now Sit back relax and enjoy The Forge Sings Disney!
LITTLE MOUNTAIN
THEATRE
Since 2013, Little Mountain Community Theatre has been bringing staff, cast and crew of all ages and abilities together around one idea: to create engaging performances the entire community can enjoy.
July 19th - 21st
Lemont High School
FAIRYTALE
ENTERTAINMENT
At Fairytale Entertainment, we know how special birthday party entertainment can be to you, that is why we're proud to be one of the highest-rated live character entertainment companies around. We are the party characters for hire specialists located right in your community.We bring the kids party characters to your home, venue or event. Wherever you are, we bring the magic to you!
