The Music Man | Program Notes

2015/16 Season Colorado Symphony Pops Series presented by Arrow Electronics

POPS • 2015-2016 MEREDITH WILLSON’S “THE MUSIC MAN” COLORADO SYMPHONY CHRISTOPHER DRAGON, conductor COLORADO SYMPHONY CHORUS, MARY LOUISE BURKE, associate director This Weekend’s concert is gratefully dedicated to Kenneth King Foundation​.

Sunday’s concert is gratefully dedicated to Tony and Nancy Accetta.

Saturday, Sept 26, 2015 at 7:30 pm Sunday, September 27, 2015 1:00 pm Boettcher Concert Hall

MEREDITH WILLSON

The Music Man Time: July 1912 Place: River City, Iowa

Harold Hill - GABRIEL PREISSER Marian Paroo - SARAH LAWRENCE Mrs. Paroo - DEBORAH CURTIS Winthrop Paroo - REED HAYMONS Marcellus Washburn - THADD KRUEGER Mayor Shinn/Salesman - NATHAN STITH Eulalie Shinn - TRACY KAUFMAN Jacey Squires/Salesman MICHAEL HOFFMAN Ewart Dunlop/Salesman - ADAM EWING Oliver Hix/Salesman - JAMES HELD Olin Britt/Salesman - LUKE WILLIAMS Alma Hix - HEATHER LACY Maud Dunlop - AMALIA DOBBINS Mrs. Squires - SAMANTHA STAGGS Ethel Toffelmier - LAUREN DENNIS

Charlie Cowell/Townsperson BENJAMIN WOOD Salesman/Townsperson TIMOTHY KENNEDY Amaryllis - CAITLIN BRIDGE Dancers - MICHELLE SERGEEFF, CHRISTOPHER SERGEEFF

PRODUCTION STAFF Robert Neu, Stage Director Michelle Sergeeff, Choreographer Sharon Milliken Hale, Costume Designer Mel Springer, Set and Props Designer Bryanna Meloni, Stage Manager Erin Joy Swank, Assistant Stage Manager Nikki Harrison, Costume Assistant Kevin Kennedy, Rehearsal Accompanist

SOUNDINGS 2015-2016 | COLORADOSYMPHONY.ORG PROGRAM 1

POPS BIOGRAPHIES CHRISTOPHER DRAGON, conductor Australian conductor Christopher Dragon begins his appointment as Associate Conductor of the Colorado Symphony in the 2015/16 season.

In 2013 he was appointed the inaugural Assistant Conductor of the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, a title he holds until the end of 2015.

This role provided him with the opportunity to work closely with Principal Conductor Asher Fisch in addition to numerous other engagements. In April of 2015 Christopher made his debut at the Sydney Opera House conducting the Sydney Symphony Orchestra with Australian singer/ songwriter Josh Pyke. In 2016 he will be making his debut with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Christopher is a member of the prestigious Symphony Services International Conductor Development Program through which he has worked with orchestras in Australia and New Zealand under the guidance of Christopher Seaman and the orchestras’ Principal Conductors. In 2014 Christopher was invited to conduct the Princess Galyani Vadhana Youth Orchestra in Thailand and earlier that year participated in the Jarvi Winter Academy in Estonia where he was awarded the Orchestra’s Favourite Conductor Prize. Christopher has also studied with numerous distinguished conductors including Paavo and Neeme Jarvi at the Jarvi Summer Festival, Fabio Luisi at the Pacific Music Festival in Japan, and conducting pedagogue Jorma Panula.

MARY LOUISE BURKE, associate director Mary Louise Burke is in her 22nd season as Associate Chorus Director of the Colorado Symphony Chorus. In addition to assisting Chorus Director Duain Wolfe, she also prepares the chorus for various Colorado Symphony pops concerts and special chorus projects. She is also Associate Director of the Colorado Children’s Chorale, conducting the Concert Choir and acting as vocal coach for the Chorale. With an expertise in vocal technique, Burke frequently does seminars in vocal and choral techniques for area church and community choirs. She is the Assistant Music Minister at Montview Presbyterian Church and has taught classes in “Find Your Authentic Voice” at the University of Denver. She has a Doctorate in Voice Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Colorado.

ROBERT NEU, stage director Robert Neu has directed over seventy productions of operas, musicals and plays throughout the country. Robert’s recent productions include Bernstein’s Mass, Peer Gynt (also adaptation), La Traviata, The Magic Flute and Carousel for the Minnesota Orchestra; Hansel and Gretel with both the Minnesota Orchestra and Colorado Symphony; Tosca for Colorado Symphony; Don Pasquale, Carmen and The Face on the Barroom Floor for Lyric Opera of the North; Art and Death of a Salesman for Bloomington Civic Theater; The Marriage of Figaro for Bellevue Opera; Ayn Rand in Love for Chameleon Theater; The Laramie Project, Godspell and Blithe Spirit for Lyric Arts Theater; and On the Town, The Fantasticks, Candide and Putting It Together for Skylark Opera. Upcoming: La Boheme for Gulf Coast Symphony, On the Twentieth Century for Skylark PROGRAM 2 SOUNDINGS 2015-2016 | COLORADOSYMPHONY.ORG

POPS BIOGRAPHIES Opera, Hansel and Gretel for Jacksonville Symphony, and A Soldier’s Tale for Minneapolis Music Company. Neu teaches masterclasses in audition techniques for the University of Minnesota’s opera department, and he is a Resident Director at Lyric Arts Theater. He is a graduate of The Juilliard School and is the co-founder of Angels & Demons Entertainment, a production and arts consultancy organization.

GABRIEL PREISSER, Harold Hill Praised for his “matinee idol charm and charisma,” “a beautiful, luscious baritone,” and “a compelling, commanding stage presence” by publications such as Opera News, Minneapolis Star Tribune, and the Houston Chronicle, Gabriel Preisser received rave reviews for his performance of Lt. Gordon in the world premiere of Kevin Puts’ Pulitzer Prize-winning Silent Night with Minnesota Opera. He has since taken his portrayal of Lt. Gordon to Opera Philadelphia and most recently, Cincinnati Opera in 2014. This season, he sings Malatesta in Don Pasquale with Associacao Minaz de Cultura in Brazil; Tommy in Brigadoon with Gulf Shore Opera, and Guglielmo in Cosi fan tutte, Marchese in La traviata and Masetto in Don Giovanni at Opera Tampa. Next season, he makes his debut with Michigan Opera Theater. Highlights of recent seasons include Falke in Die Fledemaus with Minnesota Orchestra, Silvio in Pagliacci with Opera Naples, Mercutio in Roméo et Juliette with St. Petersburg Opera, Belcore in L’elisir d’amore with Shreveport Opera, Sam in Trouble in Tahiti with Florida Opera Theatre, Baron Douphol in La traviata with Orlando Philharmonic, Billy Bigelow in Carousel with Minnesota Orchestra, Escamillo in Carmen with Lyric Opera of the North, Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia with St. Petersburg Opera, and Farmer Bean in Tobias Picker’s Mr. Fantastic Fox with San Antonio Opera and Odyssey Opera in Boston. Gabriel most recently appeared with the Colorado Symphony in July as the host, baritone and co-creator of Mozart: The Common Man. Please visit GabrielPreisser.com

SARAH LAWRENCE, Marian Paroo Sarah Lawrence was most recently seen in the Guthrie Theater’s production of The Music Man and as Adele in the Minnesota Orchestra’s production of Die Fledermaus. Other recent appearances include Norina in Lyric Opera of the North’s production of Don Pasqualé, and as soloist in Beethoven 9th Symphony with Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra.

Sarah has performed the role of Violetta in La traviata, Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, Frasquita and Micaela in Carmen, and Fiordiligi in Cosi fan tutte, as well as the title role in Handel’s Semele and as Pamina in The Magic Flute. She has appeared with Madison Opera, Skylark Opera, Light Opera Oklahoma and Opera Omaha. A huge fan of Gilbert & Sullivan’s operettas, Sarah has appeared as Rose Maybud in Ruddigore, Angelina in Trial by Jury, Yum-Yum in The Mikado, and Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance. Musical theatre roles include Eliza Doolitte in My Fair Lady, Lily in The Secret Garden, Ivey Smith in On the Town, Eileen in Wonderful Town, and Julie Jordan in Carousel.

Sarah appeared as Christine Daae in the Third National Tour of The Phantom of the Opera and in Phantom: The Vegas Spectacular. Upcoming engagements include Rosina in The Barber of Seville, Messiah with Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, and concerts with Idaho State Civic Symphony and Oshkosh Symphony. Please visit SarahELawrence.com

POPS BIOGRAPHIES COLORADO SYMPHONY CHORUS The 2015/16 Colorado Symphony season marks the 32nd year of the Colorado Symphony Chorus. Founded in 1984 by Duain Wolfe at the request of Gaetano Delogu, then the Music Director of the Colorado Symphony, the chorus has grown over the past three decades into a nationally respected ensemble. This outstanding chorus of 180 volunteers joins the Colorado Symphony for numerous performances (more than 25 this year alone), and radio and television broadcasts. The Chorus has performed at noted music festivals in the Rocky Mountain region, including the Colorado Music Festival, the Grand Teton Music Festival and the Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival, where it has performed with the New York Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Dallas Symphony. For over two decades, the Chorus has been featured at the world-renowned Aspen Music Festival, performing many great masterworks under the baton of notable conductors Lawrence Foster, James Levine, Murry Sidlin, Leonard Slatkin, Robert Spano and David Zinman. The CSO Chorus is featured on a recent Hyperion release of the Vaughan Williams Dona Nobis Pacem and Hough’s Missa Mirabilis. In 2009, in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the chorus, Duain Wolfe conducted the chorus on a three-country, twoweek concert tour of Europe, presenting the Verdi Requiem in Budapest, Vienna, Litomysl and Prague. The Chorus will return to Europe in 2016 for concerts in Paris, Strasbourg and Munich.

The Colorado Symphony continues to be grateful for the excellence and dedication of this remarkable all-volunteer ensemble! For an audition appointment, call 303.308.2483.

Duain Wolfe, Chorus Founder and Director; Mary Louise Burke, Associate Chorus Director Travis Branam, Assistant Chorus Director; Taylor Martin, Staff Conductor Eric Israelson, Chorus Manager; Barbara Porter, Associate Chorus Manager Brian Dukeshier, Danni Snyder, Accompanists Soprano Alto Tenor Bass Laura Dukeshier Jayne Conrad Dusty Davies Grant Carlton Susan Graber Kerry Cote Steve Dixon Robert Drickey Lynnae Hinkley Sheri Daniel Brian Dukeshier Bob Friedlander Angie Hupp Barb Deck Ken Kolm Eric Israelson Shelley Joy Joyce Dominguez Tom Milligan Tom Jirak Lisa Kraft Carol Eslick Ryan Waller Mike Kraft Cathy Look Gabriella Groom Ken Zimmerman Greg Morrison Anne Maupin Esther Gross Russ Skillings Jean O’Nan Deanna Kraft Wil Swanson Barbara Porter Leah Meromy Shirley Rider Ginny Passoth Lori Ropa Lynne Snyer Nancy Sadler Mary Thayer Stephanie Solich Sue Von Roedern Sheri Weinstein

PROGRAM 4 SOUNDINGS 2015-2016 | COLORADOSYMPHONY.ORG

POPS BIOGRAPHIES DEBORAH CURTIS, Mrs. Paroo Deborah Curtis has appeared on nearly every stage in the Denver area. Recent roles include Miss Helen in The Road to Mecca and Veta Louise in Harvey.

Deborah holds an MFA in acting from Penn State University.

REED HAYMONS, Winthrop Paroo Reed Haymons, Regional Tour Choir member with the Colorado Children’s Chorale, is a fifth grader at Cherry Hills Village Elementary School. He has appeared in film and in a number of local productions.

THADD KRUEGER, Marcellus Washburn Thadd Krueger’s Off-Broadway performances include: The Rose Project (Flea Theater), Nerds! (New York Musical Theatre Festival), The Book of the Dun Cow (Prospect Theater), New York: Treaty 321 (FringeNYC) and World’s Away (Producers Club). National Tour: A Christmas Carol. Regional: Arvada Center, Theatre Aspen, Steppenwolf Theatre, Virginia Musical Theatre, Wagon Wheel Theatre, Lone Tree Arts Center, Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center.

NATHAN STITH, Mayor Shinn / Salesman Nathan Stith holds a Ph.D. in theater and teaches at the University of ColoradoBoulder. He has appeared in Macbeth and A Midsummer Night’s Dream with the Colorado Shakespeare Festival, national tours of Romeo and Juliet and Jesus Christ Superstar, as well as numerous Off-Broadway and regional theatres across the country.

TRACY KAUFMAN, Eulalie Shinn Tracy Kaufman is thrilled to be joining the Colorado Symphony for this production. In opera, musical theatre, concert, and jazz, Kaufman has delighted audiences across the US, Canada and Italy. Hailing from Edison, NJ, she holds degrees in music from Boston University and Colorado State University.

MICHAEL HOFFMAN, Jacey Squires / Salesman Michael Hoffman, a native of Minnesota, is completing his Master of Music degree in vocal performance from the University of Colorado-Boulder. Michael’s most recent engagements include Spoletta in Tosca with the Colorado Symphony, and Ferrando in CU Boulder’s Cosi fan tutte.

ADAM EWING, Ewart Dunlop/ Salesman Adam Ewing is excited to join the Colorado Symphony for his orchestral debut.

Favorite roles include the Celebrant (Bernstein’s Mass), Gianni Schicchi, John Brooke (Little Women), and Man 2 (Songs for a New World). Adam will conduct CU Theatre and Dance’s production of Fiddler on the Roof this November.

SOUNDINGS 2015-2016 | COLORADOSYMPHONY.ORG PROGRAM 5

POPS BIOGRAPHIES JAMES HELD, Oliver Hix / Salesman James Held has sung the role of the Sacristan in Colorado Symphony’s Tosca this past season. Other credits include Pirate King in The Pirates of Penzance, Father in Hansel and Gretel, Guglielmo in Così fan tutte (CU-Boulder), Creonte in Cherubini’s Medea, (UW-Madison), Leporello in Don Giovanni and Sid in Albert Herring (Seagle Music Colony).

LUKE WILLIAMS, Olin Britt / Salesman Luke Williams is currently in pursuit of his Doctorate in vocal performance and pedagogy at the University of Colorado in Boulder. Luke’s notable roles include Sciarrone in Tosca with the Colorado Symphony, Lucas in The Student Prince with the Utah Festival Opera, Alfonso in Così fan tutte, Falstaff in The Merry Wives of Windsor, and Figaro in Le nozze di Figaro.

HEATHER LACY, Alma Hix Heather Lacy is thrilled to be making her debut with the Colorado Symphony.

Heather’s credits include A Man of No Importance, The Archbishop’s Ceiling, Harvey, Camelot, Blithe Spirit ( The Arvada Center), Big River, Guys and Dolls ( Lone Tree Arts Center), The Doyle and Debbie Show and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (Denver Center for the Performing Arts).

AMALIA DOBBINS, Maud Dunlop Amalia Dobbins’ recent music theater roles include Bloody Mary in South Pacific and General Cartwright in Guys and Dolls. Oratorio soloist appearances include Durufle Requiem, Mendelssohn Elijah and Verdi Requiem. She has a master’s degree from San Francisco Conservatory and teaches at Colorado Springs Conservatory.

SAMANTHA STAGGS, Mrs. Squires A Colorado native and graduate of DePaul School of Music and Lamont School of Music, Samantha Staggs has performed internationally and locally, most recently as Fiordiligi in Cosi fan tutte with Narnia Music Festival in Italy, and Dora Bailey/Miss Dinsmore in Singin’ in the Rain at Candlelight Dinner Playhouse.

LAUREN DENNIS, Ethel Toffelmier A Colorado native, Lauren graduated from NYU’s Tisch School for the Arts. She has previously appeared with the Colorado Symphony as a soloist under the baton of Marvin Hamlisch in an evening of music by Lerner and Loewe.

PROGRAM 6 SOUNDINGS 2015-2016 | COLORADOSYMPHONY.ORG

POPS BIOGRAPHIES BENJAMIN WOOD, Charlie Cowell / Townsperson Benjamin Wood is an opera singer, music theatre actor, and music director.

He has performed with the Arvada Center, Creede Repertory Theatre, Opera Colorado, Central City Opera, Loveland Opera Theatre and Boulder Opera, and served as music director for the Wolf Theatre Academy, Aurora Fox, BDT Stage and Denver Children’s Theatre.

TIMOTHY KENNEDY, Salesman / Townsperson Timothy Kennedy is a performer, stage director and choral conductor. He has performed with the Amarillo Symphony, Graz Music Festival, Linz Choral Festival, Loveland Opera, Pensacola Opera, Mobile Opera, New Opera Festival di Roma, Natchez Opera, Town Hall Arts Center, Southern Colorado Repertory Theatre, Depot Theatre and Mac-Haydn Theatre.

CAITLIN BRIDGE, Amaryllis Caitlin Bridge, National Tour Choir member with the Colorado Children’s Chorale, is a seventh grader at Deer Creek Middle School. She has appeared in several productions around the metro area.

MICHELLE SERGEEFF, dancer & choreographer Michelle Sergeeff is thrilled to perform with the Colorado Symphony. Michelle has a BA in music theater from UNC and has performed at the Garner Galleria, Arvada Center, Country Dinner Playhouse, Boulder Dinner Theatre and Candlelight Dinner Playhouse.

CHRISTOPHER SERGEEFF, dancer Christopher Sergeeff’s credits include the National Tour of Mamma Mia!, the 50th anniversary tour of West Side Story, Adriana Lecouvreur at the Metropolitan Opera, Carnival at the Kennedy Center, Hello Dolly at Ogunquit Playhouse, Beauty and the Beast at the Ordway Center and Les Miserables at Arvada Center. TV appearances include the role of Brian Teague on Law and Order.

DENVER YOUNG ARTISTS ORCHESTRA (DYAO) The mission of the DYAO is to provide the finest possible youth orchestra programs, inspiring and educating young musicians through the performance of great works of music, and offering valuable cultural opportunities to the community. For thirty-eight years, DYAO has nurtured the talents of the Rocky Mountain region’s finest young musicians as an integral part of their musical education. River City Boys Band members: Caden Sader, Rahul Krishnan, Ben Garcia, Maddy Newhouse, Evan Long, Brendan Connors, Neil Kay, Ethan Hale, Mandy Leander, Elias Colburn and Alex Blair.

SOUNDINGS 2015-2016 | COLORADOSYMPHONY.ORG PROGRAM 7

POPS BIOGRAPHIES SHARON MILLIKEN HALE, costume designer Sharon Milliken Hale’s credits include work at Donald O’Connor Theatre, Avenue Theatre, American Clock Repertory Theater, Lake Okoboji Theater and Denver Center Theater Company. She also did pre-production work for the National Tours of The Lion King, The Book of Mormon and Pippin, and was Assistant Wardrobe Supervisor for Disney’s High School Musical.

MEL SPRINGER, set designer/ props Mel Springer has recently moved with his family to Denver from the Twin Cities where he was Master Props Craftsperson for 13 years at the Guthrie Theater. He is currently a Master Carpenter at Hunter Douglas.

BRYANNA MELONI, stage manager Bryanna Meloni is pleased to be returning to Boettcher Concert Hall after having stage managed Colorado Symphony’s production of Tosca. She obtained her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Michigan State University and has worked on several national tours and Broadway’s Wicked. She has lived in New York and Chicago and now resides in Denver.

ERIN JOY SWANK, assistant stage manager Erin Joy Swank recently worked on A Journey of the Human Spirit, a collaboration with Wonderbound and Central City Opera, and she is a staff stage manager at Central City Opera. Additional credits include Lone Tree Arts Center, Curious Theatre, Colorado Ballet and five seasons touring with the Radio City Christmas Spectacular.