VCU Opera

Tonight, internationally acclaimed Mezzo-Soprano Delores Ziegler joins VCU Opera for a master class! 3:00 PM in the Recital Hall, it is open to everyone!

Monday we were delighted to host alum Matthew Burns and his wife Anne-Carolyn Bird, both very accomplished opera singers, for a master class with a few of our singers. It was a very exciting class!

Come to the Sonia Vlahcevic Concert hall for a night of laughter and tears. VCU Opera celebrates the birthdays of Verdi, Wagner, and Britten in our annual opera scenes night, come join us for the fun!

Wonder what some alumni are up to? Recent alum, Vanessa Nagdhi, performed this summer as a soloist in a concert sponsored by the Washington Women's Chorus at the Mansion at Strathmore. Over the summer she was cast as Diane Slawyer in the premiere of the new musical "Endangered," performed on the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center. She placed 2nd in the American Prize/Opera Division for University Women, and was awarded a prize from The Friday Morning Music Club D.C. and a scholarship prize from The Shirley Rabb Winston Voice Competition. She is currently at Arizona State University, where she was awarded the top scholarship for incoming female graduate students. There, she has just finished up a production of Offenbach's Périchole as Guadalena. Congrats Vanessa!

Director of Opera Theatre VCU: Melanie Kohn Day

Stage Director and Choreographer: Ralph MacPhail, Jr.

Conductor of The VCU Symphony Orchestra: Daniel Myssyk

Chorusmaster: Thomas A. Williams


The Mikado of Japan: Thomas A. Williams-Guest Artist

Nanki-Poo (His Son, disguised as a wandering minstrel,and in love with Yum-Yum): Jason Connell

Ko-Ko (Lord High Executioner of Titipu): Jim Smith-Parham-VCU Voice Faculty

Pooh-Bah (Lord High Everything Else): Chase Peak

Pish-Tush (A Noble Lord): John Tyndall

Go-To (A Noble Lord): Alex Probst

Yum-Yum: Michele Marin (Saturday), Anna Maples (Sunday)
Pitti-Sing: Nicole LoPiccolo (Saturday), Nicolette Stumpf (Sunday)
Peep-Bo: Lindsay Prather (Saturday), Elise Steenburgh (Sunday)

Katisha (An elderly lady, in love with Nanki-Poo): Jessica Harika (Saturday), Victoria Williams (Sunday)

Ko-Ko’s Axe-Bearer: Seth Austin
The Mikado’s Umbrella-Bearer: Joshua Austin

CHORUS of NOBLES

Erik T. Doctor
David Fielding
Dave Hopkins (guest artist & alumnus)
Jonathan Midgett
Alex Probst
Steven Ralph
Elizer Rios
Calvin Sutton (guest artist & alumnus)
Edward Taylor
Jim Ed Wills

CHORUS of SCHOOL-GIRLS

Stacie Brown
Victoria Crossan
Brittany Davis
Mallory Forbes
Lauren Michelle Giere
Ashley Larson
Meredith Outlaw
Lindsay Prather (Sunday)
Sarah Serge
Elise Steenburgh (Saturday)
Chelsea Temple
Audrey Tillack

Gianni Schicchi: Chase Peak
Lauretta, his daughter: Nicole LoPiccolo
Buoso Donati, newly deceased: James Riley Smith-Parham (VCU Voice faculty)
The Relatives of Buoso Donati:
Zita, called the “Old Woman,” Buoso’s cousin: Alex Gray
Rinuccio, Zita’s nephew-in love with Schicchi’s daughter Lauretta: Jason Connell
Gherardo, Buoso’s nephew: Robert Fix (Guest Artist)
Nella, his wife: Nicolette Stumpf
Gherardino, their son: Kayla Blankenship
Betto of Signa, Buoso’s brother-in-law, poor and of dubious age: Steven Ralph
Simone, Buoso’s cousin and formerly the Mayor of Fucecchio: Colin Porter (VCU Alumnus/Guest Artist)
Marco, his son: John Tyndall
La Ciesca, Marco’s wife: Jessica Harika
Master Spinelloccio, Physician: Neal Shaner
Amantio di Nicolao, Lawyer: Dr. Kenneth Wood (VCU Voice Faculty/Stage Director)
Pinellino, Cobbler: David Hood
Guccio, Tailor: Elizer Rios

Sister Angelica: Anna Maples
The Princess (Sister Angelica’s aunt): Michelle Harman-Gulick (VCU Voice Faculty)
The Abbess: Chelsea Temple
The Monitor: Jessica Harika
The Mistress of the Novices: Alex Gray
Sister Genevieve: Samantha Kinney
Sister Osmina: Abigail Stinnett
Sister Dolcina: Abby Outlaw
The Nursing (Infirmary) Sister: Lindsey Prather
Tourière I: Sarah Serge
Tourière II: Brittany Davis
Novice I: Stephanie Auld
Novice II: Brooke Williamson
Lay Sister I: Vanessa Naghdi
Lay Sister II: Kelsey Snyder
Sisters: Savannah Berry, Erica Brown, Stacie Brown, Maegan Christiano, Katelyn McCarter
The Blessed Virgin Mary: Dr. Sonia Vlahcevic (VCU Music Faculty)
Sister Angelica’s Son: Norborne Alley

Gabriel Eisenstein, a wealthy Austrian: James Taylor (VCU Voice Faculty)
Rosalinde, his wife: Anna Maples
Adele, her maid: Nicole LoPiccolo (Savannah Berry-‘cover’)
Alfred, an Italian tenor and Rosalinde’s former lover: Kenneth Wood (Stage Director and VCU Voice Faculty) (Chappell Lee-‘cover’)
Dr. Falke, a friend of Eisenstein’s: John Tyndall
Prince Orlofsky, a rich Russian: Jessica Harika
Frank, warden of the prison Thomas A. Williams (*Guest Artist)
Dr. Blind, Eisenstein’s attorney: Elizer Rios
Frosch, the jailor: James Smith-Parham (VCU Voice Faculty)
Sally, Adele’s sister and an actress: Abigail Stinnett (Saturday)
Kelsey Snyder (Sunday)
Ivan, Prince Orlofsky’s servant: David Hood


PARTY GUESTS/Chorus

Stephanie Auld
Gianna Barone
Savannah Berry
Hannah Bowles
Stacey Brown
Maegen Christiano
Pamela Eggerton
Hilliary Frame
Emily Martin
Katelyn McCarter
Vanessa Naghdi
Victoria Williams



William Conn
Jason Danby
Jaron Davis
Gus Harika, *Guest Artist
David Hopkins, *Guest Artist
Chappell Lee
Armando Muñoz
Jesse Nunn III
Thomas Peters
Elizer Rios
Zachary Rogers

Co-Directed by
Melanie Kohn Day & Kenneth Wood

Conducted by Daniel Myssyk
Greater Richmond Children’s Choir-Directed by Hope Armstrong Erb

Peter, The Father & a broom-maker: John Tyndall
(cover for Peter: Jason Danby)
Gertrude, The Mother: Kelsey Snyder
(covers for Gertrude: Emily Martin and Amanda Price)
Hansel: Jessica Harika
(covers for Hansel: Vanessa Naghdi and Meredith Outlaw)
Gretel: Gianna Barone
(covers for Gretel: Stephanie Auld and Savannah Berry)
Rosina Dainty-Mouth-The Witch of the Ilsenstein: Chappell Lee (Saturday)
Abigail Stinnett (Sunday)
Sandman (the sleep fairy): Meredith Outlaw (Saturday)
Stephanie Auld (Sunday)
Dew Fairy (the dawn fairy): Savannah Berry (Saturday)
Vanessa Naghdi (Sunday)


Fourteen Angels: Ballet-Pantomime choreographed by Katelyn McCarter
Gabrielle Atkins; Alexa Bratton; Madeline Brisette; Stacie Brown; Deea Chakraborty; Meagan Christiano; Allison Elliott; Courtney English; Taylor Faye; Emily Martin; Katelyn McCarter; Amanda Price; Nicole Savage; Emily Wells

Choreographer for Act I, scene 1 dance-Professor Judith Steele (VCU Department of Dance)

Slominski

Miss Todd: Abigail Stinnett
Laetitia: Savannah Berry (Friday) and Stephanie Auld (Sunday)
Miss Pinkerton: Kelsey Snyder (Alexa Bratton-cover)
Bob: Daniel Pepio (Friday) and Alex Harper (Sunday)

Slominski

Amelia: Vanessa Naghdi (Friday) and Gianna Barone (Sunday)
The Husband: John Tyndall, Guest Artist and Alumnus (2011)
The Lover: Chappell Lee (Friday) and Colby Mullen (Sunday)
The Friend: Kelsey Snyder (Lauren Swisher-cover)
The Police Commissioner: Will Conn (Ryan Blevins-cover)
First Chambermaid: Eve Spielberg
Second Chambermaid: Cassie Machamer
Supernumeries:
Policeman: Colton Raposa
Ambulance Men: Albert Brown and Daniel Hudson

Chorus of Passersby:
Alden Bean
Ryan Blevins
Alexa Bratton
Zarah Brock
Alan Chavez
Megan Ellenberger
Lydia Fisher-Lasky
Chloe Fortin
Hilliary Frame
Aaron Jones
Malcolm Jones
Chappell Lee (Sunday)
Cassie Machamer
Anna Moore
Colby Mullen (Friday)
Daniel Pepio
Paige Reisenfeld
Alexa Rose
Logan Sorese
Eve Spielberg
Erika Straus
Lauren Swisher
Ian Cowcer

Spring 2013, VCU Opera, with the VCU Symphony, presents Mozart's "The Magic Flute."
Directed by Dr. Kenneth Wood and Melanie Kohn Day
Conducted by Daniel Myssyk
Set Designer: Mercedes Shawn
Costume Coordinators: Ivy Austin and Leslie Winn
Light Designer: Curt Blankenship
CAST:
Tamino: Chappell Lee
First Lady: Victoria Nochisaki-Kinney
Second Lady: Cassie Machamer
Third Lady: Abigail Stinnett (Alumni Guest Artist BM 2012)
Papageno: Alex Harper
Queen of the Night: Nichole Savage
Monostatos: Colby Mullen
Pamina: Gianna Barone (Alumni Guest Artist BM 2012)
First Spirit: Zarah Brock
Second Spirit: Eve Spielberg
Third Spirit: Margaret Mayes
First Priest: James Smith-Parham (VCU Voice Faculty)
First Slave: Jaron Davis
Second Slave: Ryan Blevins
Sarastro: Will Conn
Second Priest: Jaron Davis
Thirst Priest: Malcolm Jones
Man in Armor I: Aaron Jones
Man in Armor II: Alan Chavez
Old Woman/Papagena: Megan Ellenberger (Cover: Erika Strauss)

CHORUS:
Alden Bean
Ryan Blevins
Alan Chavez
Evan Coldiron
Ian Thomas Cowcer
Jaron Davis
Paula DeFrancis
Jacob Devol
Chloe Fortin
Forrest Glass
Ciara Hilliard
Aaron Jones
Malcolm Jones
Brenna Miller
Anna Moore
Kaycee Newcomb
Tess Ottinger
Emma Polich
Emily Powers
Kate Rancka
Paige Reisenfeld
DeVonte Saunders
Don Semmens (Guest Artist)
Erika Strauss
DaShae Thomas

Animal Dancers:
Choreographer: Gianna Barone
Chloe Fortin
Emma Polich
Paige Reisenfeld
Erika Strauss