Bruce Adolphe (Composer) is well known to Chicago families through Witches, Wizards, Spells and Elves: The Magic of Shakespeare—a co-commission of CCM and CST (previously performed at Chicago Shakespeare in 2003 and 2007); the Grammy-nominated Little Red Riding Hood (performed at Chicago Shakespeare in 2006); and Tyrannosaurus Sue: A Cretaceous Concerto—a co-commission of CCM and the Field Museum for the unveiling of Sue in 2000. He is Director of Family Concerts for the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and his works for young people have been performed by over 70 orchestras and ensembles.

Matt Schwader (Director) directed Witches, Wizards, Spells & Elves at Chicago Shakespeare Theater in 2007. Other directing credits include Typographer's Dream (5th Floor Productions); Pinter's The Lover (independent production); Romeo and Juliet (American Players Theatre Apprentice Co.) and a number of readings. Mr. Schwader has acted on stage with Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Goodman Theatre, Court Theatre, Marriott Theater, Remy Bumppo Theatre Company, and Northlight Theatre. He holds an MFA from the University of Delaware's Professional Theatre Training Program and is a company member with American Players Theatre in Spring Green, WI.

Emily Tarleton (Costume Coordinator) Chicago Credits: Venus, Animals out of Paper (Steppenwolf Theatre Company); Under the Blue Sky (Steep Theatre Company); The Odyssey (Wheaton College); Jungalbook, The Edge of Peace, Peribañez and the Commander of Ocaña, You're A Good Man Charlie Brown, Air Guitar High, The American Pilot, Orlando (Northwestern University). Education: MFA in costume design from Northwestern University. www.emily-tarleton.com

Melissa Veal (Wig and Makeup Designer) CST: Elizabeth Rex, Follies, The Madness of George III (Jeff Award), As You Like it, Private Lives, The Taming of the Shrew, Richard III, Twelfth Night, Amadeus, Funk it Up About Nothin', The Comedy of Errors, Othello, Troilus and Cressida, Much Ado About Nothing, A Little Night Music, multiple Short Shakespeare! productions. Canada: Stratford Festival, Tarragon Theatre, Mirvish Productions, The Grand Theatre. Education: Sheridan College and Fanshaw College. Awards: four Tyrone Guthrie Awards and the 2007 Hurckes Award.

Gary C. Echelmeyer (Lighting Designer) CST: The Taming of The Shrew (assistant lighting designer), Short Shakespeare! Macbeth (tour electrician). Chicago: Provision Theater, Circle Theatre, The Factory Theater, The Gift Theatre Company, Genesis Theatrical Productions, Porchlight Music Theatre, Polarity Ensemble Theatre, Theatre Seven of Chicago. Regional: Texas Repertory Theatre, Clinton Area Showboat Theatre, Theatre Under the Stars. Opera: Houston Grand Opera, Opera Illinois, Tulsa Opera. Dance: Chicago Dance Crash. Education: B.S. in Theatre Design & Production at Illinois State University. www.lightingbygce.com

James Savage (Sound Designer) CST design credtis: Murder for Two (Jeff Nomination), The Adventures of Pinocchio, The Emperor's New Clothes, Twelfth Night, Funk It Up About Nothin', Passion, Hamlet, A Flea in Her Ear, Peter Pan, A Little Night Music, Much Ado About Nothing, all six CPS Shakespeare! Production, and multiple Short Shakespeare! productions, among others. Chicago credits: Bernie Salins' Murder in the Cathedral. Regional credits: Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Utah Shakespearean Festival. Education: University of Cincinnati College of Conservatory of Music.

The Chicago Chamber Musicians
Founded in 1986, The Chicago Chamber Musicians (CCM) is a society of musicians and music devotees committed to building an internationally recognized chamber music institution in Chicago. Since its inception, CCM has launched a critically and popularly acclaimed subscription series; an award-winning annual series of contemporary chamber music; a touring program; the annual Family Concerts; and a remarkable set of community service programs. A staunch advocate for new music, CCM has commissioned 17 works, and has received two ASCAP-Chamber Music America Awards for Adventurous Programming. CCM's recordings include previously unrecorded works from composers such as John Harbison, David Diamond and Bruce Adolphe as well as works from the chamber canon including the Grammy-finalist Chamber Works for Winds and Strings by Mozart. Among CCM's numerous awards are the 2006 ABBY Award for Arts Management Excellence and the 2007 Chamber Ensemble of the Year Award from the Illinois Council of Orchestras. Annually CCM shares the joy of chamber music with more than 5,000,000 radio listeners, audience members and students throughout Chicago and beyond. CCM is underwritten in part by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency; the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency; and the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs. CCM's 25th anniversary season is sponsored in part by: Bentley Forbes, MacArthur Fund for Arts and Culture at Prince, a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency; and a CityArts grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events