PROGRAM: DOYC Odyssey

SAT / A PR 20 / 2:30P M

BEN

MOORE

AND

KELLE Y

R O U R K E'S

O R I G I N A L M U S I C BY B E N M O O R E O R I G I N A L L I B R E T T O BY K E L L E Y R O U R K E

A P R I L 2 0, 2 0 2 4 D E T R O I T O P E R A YO U T H C H O R U S

CONDUCTOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jane Panikkar DIRECTOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sarah Hawkins Rusk

SCENIC / PROP DESIGN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ryan McGettigan COSTUME DESIGN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Erik Teague ADDITIONAL COSTUMES

used by permission of MetLiveArts.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sophie S. Schneider LIGHTING DESIGN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mario Raymond HAIR / MAKEUP DESIGN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elizabeth Geck SOUND DESIGN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chris Baker STAGE MANAGER.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nan Luchini SUPERTITLES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dee Dorsey COSTUME COORDINATOR.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Suzanne Hanna

This production was originally commissioned by The Glimmerglass Festival.

NO PHOTOGR APHY OR VIDEO DURING THE PERFORMANCE I S A L LOW E D. P L E A S E S I L E N C E A L L P H O N E S .

D U R AT I O N : 1 H O U R , N O I N T E R M I S S I O N

Cast Bard 1

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Bard 2

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Odysseus Penelope

Viraj Tathavadekar (Jonathan Crane) Lana Lanzanas (Paula Casillas-López) Harrison Hunger (Cooper Bush)

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Olivia Emanuele (Violet Procunier)

Ithacan Girl 1

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Ithacan Girl 2

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Ithacan Girl 3

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Sailor 5

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Circe Siren

Rosaleigh Wyman

Mark Panikkar (Sofie Warburton)

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Ty Edwards (Brody Reynhout)

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Varun Brijesh (Caitlin Juip)

Paula Casillas-López (Lillian Fellows)

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Suitor

Christine Thomas

Ruhi Balaji (Madeline Taylor-Schirmang)

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Poseidon

Abigail Verok

Madeline Taylor-Schirmang

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Cyclops Aeolus

Oliver Strickfaden (Abigail Verok)

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Sailor 6 Athena

Jonathan Crane (Abigail Verok)

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Sailor 4

Rucha Joshi

Isabella Edmonds-Hogan (Rosaleigh Wyman)

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Sailor 3

Laila Robleh

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First Mate Sailor 2

Violet Procunier

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Ithacan Girl 4 Sailor 1

Lillian Fellows

Lillian Fellows (Violet Procunier)

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Brody Reynhout (Allan Grigsby) (Understudy)

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PREPARATORY CHORUS

Natalie Attard

Hamza Alshakarna

Ruhi Balaji

Meagan Bell

Jamie Boyle

Molly Boufford

Varun Brijesh

Leah Dekutoski

Paula Casillas-López

Elisa Delogu

Jonathan Crane

Zoey Dobrota

Addison Danke

Vera Khoreva

Isabella Edmonds-Hogan

David Lemons

Ty Edwards

Ava Mallett

Olivia Emanuele

Cristión Matthews

Lillian Fellows

Norah Procunier

Allan Grigsby

James Rea

Harrison Hunger

Sarah Rea

Aya Ibarisha

Tatyanna Rodgers

Rucha Joshi

Hunter Rogers

Caitlin Juip

Gracie Ross

Reed Koesel

Paige Roth

Lana Lanzanas

Millie Sorenson

Nora Mason

Zion Stewart

Sophia Mason Isaac Ovando Osorio Mark Panikkar Quentin Pierre Violet Procunier Brody Reynhout Laila Robleh Riley Roth Oliver Strickfaden Viraj Tathavadekar Madeline Taylor-Schirmang Christine Thomas Cordelia Thomas Abigail Verok Sofie Warburton Rosaleigh Wyman D E T R OI T O P ER A 3

C A S T / P R O D U C T IO N

PRINCIPAL CHORUS

ORCHESTRA Joseph Jackson, Piano Laura Larson*, Flute Benjamin Maxwell*, Cello David Taylor, Percussion

PRODUCTION Technical & Design Staff Jeff Beyersdorf, Technical Director Brodrick Whittley, Assistant Technical Director Moníka Essen, Property Master

Costumes Suzanne Hanna, Costume Director Michaela Tanskley, Wardrobe Supervisor Patricia Sova Jr, First Hand Mary Ellen Shuffett, Fitting Assistant Maureen Abele, Dylan McBride, Paul Moran, Rachael Parrott, Lupe Vazquez, Stitchers

Wigs & Makeup Vanessa Cassidy, Kristine Clifton-Higgins, Kaitlyn Denzler, Denise Llombart, Nicole Pangas, Cedasha Randolph, Esther Soto, Carol Taylor

Production Crew Hailli Ridsdale, Assistant Stage Manager Kaila Madison, Assistant Stage Manager

DETROIT OPERA YOUTH CHORUS STAFF Suzanne Mallare Acton, Director Twannette Nash, Chorus Administrator Jane Panikkar, Preparatory Chorus Conductor Joseph Jackson, Preparatory Chorus Accompanist Maria Cimarelli, Preparatory Chorus Accompanist Emily Dunford, Theory Instructor *Detroit Opera Orchestra members Detroit Federation of Musicians, Local #5, of the American Federation of Musicians.

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This performance of Odyssey is presented by

P H O T O BY K A RL I C A D EL / T H E GL I M M E R GL A S S F E S T I VA L

BEN MOORE COMPOSER The songs of American composer Ben Moore have been heard at venues across the world including Carnegie Hall, the Metropolitan Opera, the Kennedy Center, Wigmore Hall in London and the Deutsche Oper in Berlin. His work has been called “brilliant” and “gorgeously lyrical” by the New York Times while Opera News has praised the “easy tunefulness” and “romantic sweep” of his songs. Singers who have performed his work include Deborah Voigt, Susan Graham, Frederica von Stade, Isabel Leonard, Lawrence Brownlee, Nathan Gunn and Audra McDonald. Moore’s work includes opera, musical theater, cabaret, choral music, chamber music and comedy material. Moore composed the scores for three operas including Enemies, a Love Story (libretto by Nahma Sandrow), which premiered at Palm Beach Opera in 2015 and has been called “an important new work that will find its place among those works that audiences will be moved by...” (Fred Plotkin/WQXR).

Odyssey and Robin Hood (librettos by Kelley Rourke) are youth operas commissioned by the Glimmerglass Festival. They have been seen at venues across the country including Seattle Opera, Minnesota Opera, Houston Grand Opera and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. In 2006 the Metropolitan Opera featured two of Ben’s comedy songs in a gala broadcast nationally. Recent events include the premiere of the song cycle And Another Song Comes On (words by Mark Campbell) for the London Song Festival and the premiere of a newly revised version of the choral work, The Wave Rises, for Cantori New York.

Website: mooreart.com

KELLEY ROURKE LIBRETTIST Kelley Rourke is a librettist, translator and dramaturg. She has collaborated with composers including John Glover, Laura Karpman, Ben Moore, Kenji Oh, Kamala Sankaram and Wang Lu on new operas. Her modern English adaptations of numerous standard and not-so-standard operas have been hailed as “crackingly witty” (The Independent, London) and “remarkably well wedded to the music and versification in arias” (New York Times). She has written libretti for four youth operas, with performances across the country. Her work has been commissioned and performed by the Metropolitan Opera, Washington National Opera, English National Opera, Welsh National Opera, San Francisco Conservatory, and Milwaukee Opera Theatre, among others. Kelley is resident dramaturg for the Glimmerglass Festival and Artistic Advisor for Washington National Opera’s American Opera Initiative. Kelley holds degrees in piano performance and arts management, and she is a Certified Critical Response Practitioner. She has studied, practiced and taught yoga and mindfulness for more than two decades, and is a co-developer and trainer for a wellness curriculum that has been implemented in public schools in New York City, Houston, Indianapolis, El Paso and Columbia, SC. Recent and upcoming premieres include The Emissary (Kenji Oh, composer) at Opera Parallèle; right now, an orchestral song cycle with composer John Glover for Chrystal E. Williams, Felipe Hostins, and American Composers Orchestra; Macbeth and the Weïrd Sisters, a rock adaptation of Verdi’s Macbeth featuring Andrew Wilkowske at Theater Latte Da; Songbird at Washington National Opera; and a new adaptation of Hansel and Gretel for Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Instagram: @kelley_rebecca

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Sarah Hawkins Rusk, a native of Indiana, has been working as an actor, director, and educator across the country for the last eighteen years. Hawkins Rusk received her MFA from Wayne State University and BA from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN. As a director, she has worked with such theatres as Open Book Theatre Company, Tipping Point Theatre, Wagon Wheel Theatre, Motor City Youth Theatre and Detroit Mercy Theatre Company, where she garnered national recognition from the Kennedy Center American Theatre Festival in 2021 for her impactful production of Antigone. Her work has also extended to the digital realm, as she directed the DOYC’s first-ever digital opera performance of The Very Last Green Thing in 2020, pushing the boundaries of artistic expression. As a performer, Hawkins Rusk has graced the stages of renowned theaters across the country, from Detroit-area theatre such as Tipping Point Theatre, Planet Ant, and Matrix Theatre to the Commonweal Theatre Company in Lanesboro, MN, CLIMB Theatre in St. Paul, MN, and the prestigious Creede Repertory Theatre in Creede, CO. Hawkins Rusk's dedication to her craft extends to sharing her knowledge and expertise with aspiring artists. As a certified teacher in the transformative Michael Chekhov technique, she teaches at the University of Detroit Mercy, shaping the next generation of theatrical visionaries. Instagram: @sakathharu

JANE ARVIDSON PANIKKAR CONDUCTOR Jane Arvidson Panikkar is conductor of the Detroit Opera Youth Preparatory Chorus. Panikkar is also a professional pianist, trumpeter, vocalist, and teacher. Prior to her position with the Detroit Opera, she was on the music faculty at Concordia University, conducting the Chamber Choir. Currently, Panikkar is a music director at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Ann Arbor and serves as a board member and Vice President of Artistic Affairs for the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra. She is also the high school and middle school choir director for HSC, one of the largest homeschool co-ops in Michigan, and conducts and directs theater productions at Saline High School. Panikkar is in high demand as a collaborative pianist, while maintaining a private voice studio. She holds a master’s degree in choral conducting from Eastern Michigan University, and a bachelor of music degree in trumpet performance from the University of Michigan. Panikkar resides in Saline, Michigan, with her husband, international opera s inger Sean Panikkar, and their four children.

ELIZABETH GECK HAIR / MAKEUP DESIGN Elizabeth Geck has been part of DOYC since its inception. In addition to her work with DOYC, Ms. Geck has worked with a plethora of wig and makeup designers over the course of the last 20 years with Detroit Opera main stage productions. Some of the notable productions Elizabeth has been a part of include: Aida, Cyrano, Margaret Garner, Bliss, Frida, La bohème, and most recently, Ainadamar.

MARIO RAYMOND LIGHTING DESIGN Mario Raymond is a lighting designer based out of Kansas City. He is originally from Louisiana.

He acquired his BFA from University of Louisiana at Lafayette and his MFA from Wayne State University. His recent credits include The Legend of Georgia McBride (Florida Rep) and The Color Purple (HSRT). He is excited to design Fiddler on the Roof (SSMT) this summer.

D E T R OI T O P ER A 7

A R T I S T P R O F ILE S

SARAH HAWKINS RUSK DIRECTOR

RUHI BALAJI ATHENA

Ruhi Balaji is an eighth grader at South Hills Middle School.

Within Ruhi’s 2 years at DOYC, she has been in The Maker of Illusions. She is the AGM National Champion for the vocal classical genre for 2 years in a row. She also plays competitive tennis, piano, and cello.

VARUN BRIJESH AEOLUS

Varun Brijesh is a 7th grader, who is currently doing his first year at DOYC. In addition to singing, he plays cello and is a part of the school orchestra.

PAULA CASILLAS-LÓPEZ CIRCE, BARD 2 UNDERSTUDY

Paula Casillas-López is a sophomore at Huron High School.

In her three years at DOYC, she has played Pied Piper (The Pied Piper) and been a part of the choruses for The Maker of Illusions, La bohème, and upcoming The Cunning Little Vixen.

She enjoys acting in her local theater program and crocheting.

JONATHAN CRANE FIRST MATE, BARD 1 UNDERSTUDY

Jonathan Crane is a 7th grader. Jonathan has enjoyed every moment in his first year with DOYC. He is grateful for everything he learned this season. He is looking forward to playing Pepík in the upcoming mainstage production of The Cunning Little Vixen. He also enjoys playing piano and golf.

ISABELLA EDMONDS-HOGAN SAILOR 1

Isabella Edmonds-Hogan is in 10th grade and excited to sail the seas in Odyssey. This is her third year with DOYC, she is also a member of the UofM Youth Chamber Singers. She dedicates her performance to the memory of her Grammy, Connie Edmonds & her Grandma, Judy Hogan who recently passed.

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POSEIDON

Ty Edwards is a senior attending Southfield High School for the Arts and Technology. Through 7 years in DOYC, they've performed in The Hobbit, H.M.S. Pinafore, The Secret World of Og, and The Very Last Green Thing, and mainstage opera productions Tosca, Hansel and Gretel, and The Summer King.

OLIVIA EMANUELE PENELOPE

Olivia Emanuele is a freshman at Grosse Ile high school.

This is her 2nd year being a chorister with the DOYC. She has been performing in the theater since the age of 6 and is currently also cast in Phantom of the Opera at DYPAC.

LILLIAN FELLOWS SIREN

Lillian Fellows is a high school senior. This is her 5th year and 7th performance with DOYC. She has portrayed many roles on the Detroit Opera stage such as (Zelda) in The Very Last Green Thing and (Queen) in The Maker of Illusions.

HARRISON HUNGER ODYSSEUS

Prior to joining DOYC as Odysseus, Harrison Hunger performed in various community theatre productions, most notably as Gaston in Beauty & the Beast, Jay in Descendants, and Ernst Ludwig in Cabaret. He is currently studying voice with Rolfe Dauz and cello with Jason Charboneau.

RUCHA JOSHI ITHACAN GIRL 4

Rucha Joshi is a seventh grader at Larson Middle school, Troy. She has been with DOYC for 4 years and is playing Ithacan Girl 4 in Odyssey. She has been a part of The Very Last Green Thing (DOYC's first virtual opera). Rucha also enjoys playing the flute.

D E T R OI T O P ER A 9

D O Y C P R O F ILE S

TY EDWARDS

LANA LANZANAS BARD 2

Lana Lanzanas, a sophomore at Troy Athens High School, joined DOYC last August. She will also play the role of Frantík in The Cunning Little Vixen at the Detroit Opera House this May. She loves to sing, plays the piano and guitar and is a singer/songwriter.

MARK PANIKKAR CYCLOPS

Mark Panikkar is in the 7th grade and is thrilled to be the voice and puppeteer of Cyclops. This is his 6th year in DOYC. Mark loves baseball and was selected for the all-star little league team. He studies piano and percussion and enjoys collecting and fixing vintage toys.

VIOLET PROCUNIER ITHACAN GIRL 2, PENELOPY UNDERSTUDY

Violet Procunier is a high school sophomore in her third year with DOYC. Violet portrayed The Girl in The Maker of Illusions; she made her DO premiere in the children's chorus of La bohème. Violet studies piano privately and participates in choir and symphony orchestra with Oakland Homeschool Music.

BRODY REYNHOUT SUITOR

Brody Reynhout is a sophomore at the Warren Consolidated School of Performing Arts. This is his first year with DOYC, and he is looking forward to new experiences within the program.

LAILA ROBLEH ITHACAN GIRL 3

Laila Robleh is a 13-year passionate performer. She is so excited to be in her first Detroit Opera Youth Chorus production. Music has always been where her passions are, and she is extremely grateful that she has the opportunity to do what she loves most with such a wonderful organization.

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SAILOR 2

Oliver Strickfaden makes his debut at Detroit Opera in Odyssey as Sailor 2. A tenor saxophonist with both the Detroit Symphony Youth Jazz Orchestra and Michigan State Youth Jazz Program, Oliver shines as lead trumpet in the Detroit Youth Symphony Band and enjoys flute, piano, and trombone.

VIRAJ TATHAVADEKAR BARD 1

Viraj Tathavadekar is an eight grader at Larson Middle School. In his six years at DOYC, he has made performed various chorus roles and played The Genie in The Maker of Illusions. He has participated in the DO’s La bohème and will perform The Cunning Little Vixen in May.

CHRISTINE THOMAS SAILOR 4

Christina Thomas is in 7th grade at Larsen Middle School.

She has been a member of DOYC for 4 years. She started singing at the age of 3. She is very passionate about singing and plans to continue in her music journey thru the invaluable coaching at DOYC.

ABIGAIL VEROK SAILOR 3, FIRST MATE AND SAILOR 2 UNDERSTUDY

Abigail Verok is an 8th grader at Scripps Middle School. This is her first year with the DOYC. She also played the lead role of David in Horror Movie 101, David & Delaney in Perfectly Nifty Prom; Mm’Beth in Beth McBeth. Both were lead rolls.

She also enjoys playing the piano, theater, and musicals.

ROSALEIGH WYMAN SAILOR 6, SAILOR 1 UNDERSTUDY

Rosaleigh Wyman is a freshman at Lamphere High School.

She has always had an interest in singing and acting. She started with DOYC in 2018. She was in the Virtual Very Last Green Thing in 2020. She is very excited to be part of another production with this amazing group.

D E T R OI T O P ER A 11

D O Y C P R O F ILE S

OLIVER STRICKFADEN

COOPER BUSH ODYSSEUS UNDERSTUDY Cooper Bush is a DOYC alumni (2018-2020). He is a sophomore at Saline High School. In addition to DOYC shows he was Gherardino (Gianni Schicchi) and Winfield Joad (The Grapes of Wrath) with Detroit Opera. He is a member of the SHS Chamber Choir.

ALLAN GRIGSBY SUITOR UNDERSTUDY Allan Grigsby is a sophomore at Martin Luther King High School. He has been a member of DOYC sing 2019. He enjoys singing and playing football.

CAITLIN JUIP AEOLUS UNDERSTUDY Caitlin Juip, a freshman at Liggett, is performing in her 4th year with DOYC. From the narrator in DOYC’s The Pied Piper to Mary Poppins and Glinda in community theatre, she loves seeing hard work become a fantastic performance.

Catie is grateful for family and friends, and hopes you enjoy the show!

MADELINE TAYLOR-SCHIRMANG ATHENA UNDERSTUDY Madeline Taylor-Schirmang has been in shows since she was seven. In her first show, she played Dr. Frankenstein in the Monster Musical. Later on she took on the Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland, she has been in Big Fish, The Maker of Illusions, and various sketch comedy performances.

SOFIE WARBURTON CYCLOPS UNDERSTUDY Sofie Warburton is a sophomore at Troy High School. She is in her second year with DOYC. Shen has performed with Meadowbrook Theatre and plays piano and viola.

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P H O T O BY C I N DI J O N E S P H O T O G R A P H Y

DOYC

Audition Workshop M ONDAY, A PR IL 22 @ 6:00PM, DE TROIT OPER A HOUSE

Detroit Opera Youth Chorus will hold auditions for the 2024-2025 season on May 4 and May 18. Additional dates will be announced for June. Please email TNash@detroitopera.org to sign up.

We will be holding a free audition preparation workshop on Monday, April 22 at 6:00pm at the Detroit Opera House. If you want to learn more about DOYC and how to prepare for your audition, please join us.

bit.ly/DOYC-audition-workshop