Gilbert & Sullivan's The Yeomen of the Guard 2017 - Lamplighters Music Theatre
Coming up next...
Sunday, October 15, 2017
Silent Auction at 3pm • Performance at 4pm
Herbst Theatre, San Francisco Tickets: 415-392-4400 • cityboxoffice.com
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater, SF
February 2-4, 2018
Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek
February 9-11, 2018
Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts
February 17-18, 2018
A pair of handsome gondoliers suddenly become kings and humor and exuberance abound as they attempt to adjust to their new social status. Set by the sun-dappled waters of the Grand Canal, this joyful operetta allows Gilbert to skewer issues of social equality and class with his usual brilliant wit and groundbreaking lyrics, alongside Sullivan’s lovely, lilting score.
Every Lamplighters Gala is a unique event – more fun-raiser than fundraiser – with up-to-the-minute hilarious parodies lampooning current events, crazes, fashions and fads––an original, full-length, and fully-staged satire set (mostly) to the music of Arthur Sullivan, with a nod to W.S. Gilbert. This year we will be taking on the format of a certain Emmy-award winning sketch comedy show –Saturday Night Live! You’ll also have the opportunity to support the Lamplighters at a silent auction, raffle and brief fund-a-need live auction, and to join the costumed performers after the show for a free champagne reception!
“We just saw the Lamplighter's annual Gala show … a mashup of two pop culture icons… the event was a lot of fun…had a great time.” Yelp reviewer
Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek
March 24, 2018 at 7.30pm
Taube Atrium Theater, San Francisco
March 25, 2018 at 2pm
Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts
April 8, 2018 at 2pm
Featuring a shepherdess the lords all want to marry, her beloved who is half man, half fairy, the tour de force
“Nightmare Song,” and a band of feisty fairies doing battle with a dim-witted Parliament. Lamplighter principals will perform the work in its entirety, bringing the orchestra on stage to join the party. Sing along with any and all parts!
presents
Lyrics: William S. Gilbert
Music: Arthur Sullivan
Director: Jane Erwin Hammett
Music Director/Conductor: Baker Peeples
Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek • August 4-6, 2017
Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts • August 12-13, 2017
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater, San Francisco • August 18-20, 2017
Bankhead Theater, Livermore • August 26-27, 2017
SIR RICHARD CHOLMONDELEY ...................................................................... Charles Martin / Daniel Yoder*
COLONEL FAIRFAX .......................................................................................... Samuel Faustine / Patrick Hagen
LEONARD MERYLL ..............................................................................................
Ron Houk* / Carmello Tringali
JACK POINT ...................................................................................................... Jacob Botha / F. Lawrence Ewing
WILFRED SHADBOLT .............................................................................................. Charles Martin / John Melis
FIRST YEOMAN ................................................................................................................................ Paul Hogarth
SECOND YEOMAN ...................................................................................................................... Pete Shoemaker
ELSIE MAYNARD ............................................................................................. Julia Mulholland* / Patricia Westley
KATE ..................................................................................................................... Gabrielle Haigh / Kristen Tansey
Chorus of Yeomen of the Guard and Townspeople
Amanda Renee Baines, Jeffrey Beaudoin, Elijah Berry, Lily Bobrick*, Tricia Callero, Danielle Cheiken*, Nicholas Dahlman, Giovanni de Leon, Peter de Vries, Robert Dorsett, Beau Dream*, Christopher Focht, Andrew Gustafson, Judy Jackson, Jennifer Kiernan, Camille Lake, Rachel Levin*, Chris Lewis*, Bridget Maguire-Colton*, Nick Main*, Gregory Martin*†, Margaret Martin*†, Charles Monson, Alasdair Payten*, Colin Raab†, Beebe Reisman*, Alan Roberts, Asia Roos*, Tara Scown†, Andrew Serrano, Brianna Stutzman, Francis Upton, Layla Wallerstein†, Luana Zapata*, Rachel Zawilski*. Headsman - George Ashworth, Thomas Tarn*.
* Lamplighters debut
† Gilbert & Sullivan Scenes Program Graduates
The Lamplighters Orchestra
Violin I: Pamela Carey (CM), Lynn Oakley, Josepha Fath, Yasushi Ogura; Violin II: Laurien Jones, Gregory Sykes; Viola: Stacey Bauer, Jason Totzke; Cello: Gwyneth Davis; Bass: Carl Stanley; Flute: Lucy Schoening; Flute/Piccolo: Mary Hargrove; Oboe: Kathleen Conner; Clarinet: Diana Dorman, Michael Wirgler; Bassoon: Kathleen Johannessen; French Horn: Katharine Dennis, William Harrington; Cornet: William Harvey; Trombone: Kurt Patzner; Percussion: Norman Peck.
Many thanks to Karl Pister for his yeoman work on the Yeomen scores
Production & Technical Staff
Stage Director: Jane Erwin Hammett; Music Director/Conductor: Baker Peeples; Production Manager: Nicolas Aliaga; Scenic Design: Peter Crompton; Original Costume Design: John Gilkerson; Lead Costumer: Jackquelin Pedota; Assistant Costumers: Judy Jackson, Miriam Lewis; Costume Crew: Leonora-Grace Huynh, Aureolus Stetzel, Kinsey Anne Thomas, Hannah Velichko; Shop Manager: Melissa Wortman; Lighting Design: Ellen Brooks; Makeup Design: David Kirby; Wig & Hair Design: Kerry Rider-Kuhn; Stage Manager: Elisabeth Reeves; Properties Manager: Frances Silcox; Rehearsal Accompanist: Paul McCurdy; Supertitles Manager: Joe Giammarco; Supertitles Operators: Nancy Benson, Sarah Vardigans; Graphic Design: Tim Dunn, Dunn@Dunn Graphic Design, Joanne Kay; Photography: David Allen; Publicity/Media Contacts: Joanne Kay, Sarah Vardigans.
David L. Ratner
Gerald & Eve Reaven
Marian Rees
Paul & Kay Regan
Bill & Ray Riess
Virgil Rittenhouse
Marion & Jim Robertson - In Memory of John Vlahos+
Jillian C. Robinson
Patricia Rosenburg In Memory of John Vlahos+
Michelle & Eliezer Rosengaus
Robert Ryon In Memory of Irene Baker
Gordon Sakaue & Betty Fisher
Lois G. Salem
Ruth & Edwin Satterthwaite, Jr.
Janine Scancarelli
Lucy & John Schoening
Jan Schreiber & Simone Hudson - In Honor of the Faculty of the G&S Scenes Summer Program
James & Patricia Scofield
Carol & Larry Sher - In Memory of Edith & Louis Sher
Pat Simoni - In Memory of Dr. Marshall A. Greene
Montgomery Slatkin & Mary Prout
Bruce Smith
Marilyn Smith
J. Donald Smith
Jane Sokolow*
Don & Anne Solem - In Memory of John Vlahos+
Kristine Soorian
Jonathan Spencer & Victoria Jensen
Leonard & Rita Sperry*
Jane Standing - In Memory of Barry Standing
Dr. & Mrs. Monty C. Stanford+
Susan, Debbie and Lisa Steinberg - In Memory of Dan Steinberg
Sally Stevens
John & Romer Stevenson
Margie Stromberg - In Memory of John Vlahos+
James Suekama & Mary Anne Miller
Sue & Chas Sutton
Elizabeth Sweetow
Beverly & Walter Sykes
Douglas & Ann Taylor - In Memory of John Vlahos+
Kim Kramlich-Taylor & William D. TaylorIn Memory of John J. Vlahos+
Delia Taylor - In Memory of John Vlahos+
Jim Tellefson
Noel & Roberta Thompson
Karen Ho & Wayne Torigoe
Lee & Ginny Turner
Alice Underwood & Matthew Levy
Meri Henriques Vahl
John & Patricia Van Winkle
Luke & Virginia Vania
Robert S. Way - In Memory of Carol Michelsen Way
Carl & Florence Weber
Dr. & Mrs. Eli Weil
Paul & Estelita Weisenburger - In Memory of John Rouse
Wells
& Jack Whitcher
Whitesides - In Memory of Orva Hoskinson & John Vlahos+
Williams & Holly Holter
Wirgler & Nancy Taylor
Wright - In Memory of Buff Wright
Dr. R. P. Yaffe
Jerry & Julie Yaffee Paul Zawilski William Ziebur & Maureen McDarby
The Dragoon Guards
$1 - $99
We also deeply appreciate the members of the Dragoon Guards who have made donations up to $99 this year. Every gift makes a difference. Thank you!
We sincerely regret any omissions or errors. Please contact Sarah Vardigans at (415) 2274797 or svardigans@lamplighters.org if you wish to have a listing corrected or clarified.
* Maybud Club, monthly giving + Donors to the 65th Anniversary Gratitude Campaign, including donors to the Orva Hoskinson Artistic Fund and the John Vlahos Fund for a Strategic Future. To participate in this campaign, please contact us at 415-2274797 or email svardigans@lamplighters.org.
If you want to know who we are...
The mission of Lamplighters Music Theatre is to share our enthusiasm and love for the works of W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan through productions of their comic operas and of other works of comparable wit, literacy and musical merit. Our company strives to enrich the lives of current and future theatre-goers with productions of the highest artistic quality, and to offer performance opportunities in the unique style of classic music theatre to established and emerging artists alike. Through youth training, programs in schools and community outreach, the Lamplighters aspire to develop young talent and encourage people of all ages to explore the comic appeal and deep musical rewards of this repertoire.
Board of Trustees
James MacIlvaine, President; F. Lawrence Ewing, Vice President; Mark Fuller, Treasurer; Laura Oliphant: Secretary; Richard Drossler, Anson B. Moran, Baker Peeples, Matthew Wartenbe, Trustees; Chris Uzelac: Company Representative.
Honorary Trustees
Ann Pool Mac Nab, Orva Hoskinson ✝, Co-Founders; J. Geoffrey Colton, Keith Doerge, Gini Stephens Frings, Jill R. Thompson, David Barry Whitehead. ✝ In Memoriam: Spencer S. Beman, Dr. Ronald Cape, Jerry D. Gere, Read Gilmore, John Martin Kahl, Dr. Richard E. LeBlond, Adrian McNamara, Gilbert P. Russak, June Wilkins Searcy, Daniel E. Stone, John J. Vlahos, Bernard E. Witkin.
Staff
Dennis Lickteig, Artistic Director; Baker Peeples, Resident Music Director; Barbara Heroux, Artistic Director Emeritus; Sarah Vardigans, Managing Director; Joanne Kay, Operations Manager; Melissa Wortman, Costume Shop Manager; Phil Lowery, Production Coordinator; Ellen Kerrigan, Education Director; Diana Dorman, Music Librarian; Kissa Mercado, Development Assistant.
Our administrative offices are located at 469 Bryant Street, San Francisco, CA 94107 Phone: 415-227-4797 h Fax: 415-896-2844 h info@lamplighters.org h www.lamplighters.org
& Sandra Knudson
Richard & Paola Kulp
Camille & Tim Lake+
Michael Lamm
Beverly Lane - In Memory of Jim Lane
Paul & Kathleen LarsonIn Honor of the Baker Peeples Family
James P. Laumond - In Memory of Arthur J. Sullivan
Marguerite Lawrence
Ann Lawson
Jack Leibman+
Miriam Lewis & Douglas Mandell
Marilyn Lindsey
Ralph & Antonia Lozon
Susan L. McCreary
Elizabeth McMahon & Chuck Ehrlich
Jananne & Mike Mead+
David E. Meders
Mark Mitchell & Shefali Rajamannar
Rod & Freda Motto
Joseph C. Najpaver & Deana Logan
Bill & Barbara Nexsen
James Nichols - In Memory of John Vlahos+
Susan O’Neill - In Memory of John Vlahos+
Kathleen & Bill Owen*
Miriam & Charles Palm -
In Memory of John & Martha Willits
Grace & Mark Popple
Ben Porter
Rom Portwood
James Ross & Elizabeth Tough
Colin & Cecile SchlesingerIn Memory of John & Val Gloyn
David Schweisguth & Penelope Chua
Bob & Edie Shaheen
Eileen Sharkey & James Darling
Renee M. Shepherd* In Honor of David Morgenstern
Kirstine Schaeffer & John Skalicky+
The Schnittmeister Band - In Memory of John Vlahos+
Katharine Snyder & Michael Howard
Ronald L. Sparks
Bob & Mary Jane Steiner - In Memory of John Vlahos+
Tracy & Charles Stephenson
Daniel E. Stone
James P. Sullivan+
Andrew Taines
Gwen Davis Toso
Karen & Leon TraisterIn Memory of Edward & Marjorie Jones
Juliana Versteeg & John Howes
Jonathan Vlahos - in Memory of John Vlahos+
Jennifer Vlahos Kessler & Gabriel Kessler* -
In Memory of John J. Vlahos+
John Wallace & Ellen Rashbaum*
William Werner
Peter & Ann Whitehead*
George & Betsy Young
Al Zemsky
Carolynn & Robert Zuparko
Ned & Merryl Zuparko
The Minstrels
$100 - $249
Anonymous x 7
Janet & William Abraham
Rebecca Adams & Dr. James Nestor
In Memory of Madeleine Babin
George Westfall & Susan Adamson
Raymond & Pamela Aguilar*
Sandra J. Ahn
Alder
Gerald L. Alexanderson
Matt & Marcia Allen
Diane & Ben Anderson In Memory of Cecilia Hobin
Donald Andreini & Steven F. Crabiel
Abraham & Alice Aronow
Susan Barkan
Thomas Barrett+
Anna & Robert Bauman
Noriko & Roger Bazeley
Robert S. Beach
Jeffrey Beaudoin
Michael & Pearl Bender
Louise & Charles Benjamin
Laurie Bennett
Harriet Benson - In Memory of Susan Eastwood
George & Dorian Bikle
Ms Blazin - In Memory of John Rouse
Dr. & Mrs. Melvin Brown*
Tim & Peggy Brown
Miguel & Sandy Buchwald
Nora-Lee & Alfred Buckingham
Cecile Burfeind
Peter M. Buzanski - In Memory of Christie H. Buzanski
Ann Moller Caen - In Honor of Anson Moran
James Campbell
Harry Carlson
J. Martin & Barbara B. CarovanoIn Memory of John J. Vlahos+
Henry H. CarreyIn Memory of Orva Hoskinson & John Vlahos+
Jacqueline Carroll
Jeffrey Chu & Tara Mochizuki - In Memory of John Vlahos+
Natalie Churchill & William Wanagaitis
Victoria Coad & Sandra Douglass
Mike & Sandy Cook
Robert Cook & Blanca L. Haendler
Barbara Cornet - In Memory of John Vlahos+
Robert J. Cortez - In Honor of Ann Pool Mac Nab, & In Memory of Orva Hoskinson & Jean Ziaja+
Jan Crago+
Patricia Crawford - In Memory of John Vlahos+
Gwen Davis
Margaret De Jong
Marge & Jim Dean
Kathleen Dederian
Joan Dedo
Jane Z. Delahanty - In Honor of Ellen Brooks
Nina & John Dickerson
Jan Dolan
Robert F. Domergue, Jr.
Jack & Merrilee Dowty
Ellen Duffy
Judith & Peter Duncan
Shirley Ebbe In Memory of John J. Vlahos+
Dan Eisenstein
Gretchen Elliott
EMD Millipore Corporation
The Faculty at Wildwood School In Memory of John Vlahos+
Patrick & Betty Farrell
M. M. Feldman & Rick Morris
Katherine Feller+
Jacquelyn Fetrow & Brian KellIn Honor of Kelly Powers & Chris Shuford
Chris Focht & Janet Parker
Louise Frankel
Francis Garcia - In Memory of George Silva
Leo & Jane Gaspardone - In Memory of John Vlahos+
Les & Louise Gill
Patricia Gillette - In Memory of John Vlahos+
David Gilson & Marcia Settle
Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence Gordon
Judy & Tom Gorman
William & Karen Gourdin
Harold Graboske
Alice L. Graham
Kate & David Gross
Fred Hanes III
John & Isabelle Harper
Anne Harvey
Daniel Hersh
John Higgins
Maren Hitz
Mrs. David Hodgson
Karen S. & Robert A. Holtermann - In Memory of John Vlahos+
Roderick Hong
Len & Sue Horowitz In Memory of Marshall Greene, MD
Joanne Howard
Leigh Hurst
Beatrice Isaacs
Shelley Lynn Johnson*
Reese & Margaret JonesIn Honor of Oliver & Hannah Jones
Rosalind Joseph - In Memory of Elliott Joseph
Clint Joste
Shirley & Paul Kadden
Robert & Kathleen Kaiser
Shirley Kalgaard
Herbert & Lee C. Kanner
Michael & Christine Kasman
Bruce & Nancy Kaufman
Joanne Kay - In Memory of John Rouse+
Susan Kelley DeGrado & Bill DeGrado
Sheila & Mark Kenney
Ketcham Family Fund
Harvey & Perla Kohs
Richard Ledon
Lawrence & Narcinda Lerner
Ann & Michael Lesk
Marlene Levenson - In Memory of Dr. Marshall Greene
Daniel & Eilat Levitan - In Honor of Talia Levitan
Beverly Liberale - In Memory of Orva Hoskinson, Dave Lujan & Tom McEachern+
Carol Lloyd
Sally Lopez - In Memory of John Vlahos+
Annette & Gilbert Lyle
Chris Macomber
Gary Mansfield & Sue Koopman+
Michele Mantynen
Molly Marion
Sally Martin
Janet & Paul McGhee
Margaret L. McKinnon
Joseph McMahon
Judith Miller
Rebecca Miller
Susan & Larry Miller
Jack & Sue Molinari - In Honor of David Whitehead
John & Barbara Moore
Ruth Moran
Sabella Moreno
Larry Morgan
Mike & Sharon Morris
Gordon Mullin
Nancy J. Newman - In Honor of John Vlahos+
Jeff Nigh - In Memory of Orva Hoskinson+
Paul Nocero*
Jeff Noll
Judith Norberg
Mr. & Mrs. D. Warner North
Paul & Kirby Ortiz de Montellano
Mr. & Mrs. E. James Owens
Patricia Pallas
Barbara M. & Sterling Parks*
Kurt Patzner & Carla Picchi
MaryAnne & Stephen Peck In Memory of John Vlahos+
Richard Peeples - In Honor of Baker Peeples
Neil & Elsa Pering
Don & Judy Person
Helen & Tom Phillips
Helene Pier
Fran Pillsbury
David & Barbara Plum
Fred & Judy Porta
Rich Pryor
Matt Wartenbe+
Daniel & Louise Weiler*
Paul Werner & Patricia Smith+
Musical Numbers
Overture .............................................................................................................................. The Lamplighters Orchestra
Act I
When maiden loves, she sits and sighs ........................................................................................................ Phoebe
Tower warders, under orders ...................................................................................... Sergeant Meryll and Chorus
When our gallant Norman foes ............................................................................ Dame Carruthers and Yeomen
Alas! I waver to and fro ............................................................................. Phoebe, Leonard and Sergeant Meryll
Is life a boon? Fairfax
Here’s a man of jollity .............................................................................................. Chorus, Elsie and Jack Point
I have a song to sing, O! .................................................................................... Elsie and Jack Point, with Chorus
How say you, maiden, will you wed .................................................................. Elsie, Jack Point and Lieutenant
I’ve jibe and joke ............................................................................................................................................. Jack Point
‘Tis done! I am a bride! ... Elsie
Were I thy bride ....................................................................................................................................... Phoebe
Oh, Sergeant Meryll, is it true? (Finale Act I) Ensemble
twenty minute intermission
Act II
Night has spread her pall once more ....................................................................... Dame Carruthers and Chorus
Oh! a private buffoon is a light-hearted loon ...................................................................................... Jack Point
Hereupon we’re both agreed ............................................................................................. Jack Point and Wilfred
Free from his fetters grim ......................................................................................................................... Fairfax
Strange adventure ................................................................. Kate, Dame Carruthers, Fairfax and Sergeant Meryll
Hark! What was that, sir? .......................................................................... Jack Point and Wilfred, with Ensemble
A man who would woo a fair maid ............................................................................... Elsie, Phoebe and Fairfax
When a wooer goes a-wooing .............................................................................. Elsie, Phoebe, Fairfax and Point Rapture, rapture! ....................................................................................... Dame Carruthers and Sergeant Meryll
Comes the pretty young bride (Finale Act II) ....................................................................................... Ensemble
Listening Aid Devices are available - please see the House Manager
Mervin Giacomini In Memory of John Vlahos+
Bonnie K. Gibson - In Memory of John J. Vlahos+
Diane Gilfether - In Memory of John Vlahos+
Sean Randolph
Ned & Joanne Rankin
Calvaleigh Rasmussen
This performance is dedicated to the Memory of John Rouse
Director's Notes
by Jane Erwin Hammett
The Yeomen of the Guard is set in a world marked by corruption, secrets and lies, and events spiral out of control rapidly. It is a perfect storm of about twelve events; absent a single one, the tragic outcome would never happen. Characters make choices out of desperation, and then must live with the consequences. Emotions roll like ocean waves with peaks and troughs that would sink many a vessel, and the stakes are always very high.
I have spent many years as a devotee of The Yeomen of the Guard for its heady blend of plot and music. My introduction to it was as an actor portraying Elsie Maynard, and in the years since my two turns as Elsie with the Lamplighters I have remained an enormous fan, not the least for the discussion and even argument its nuances provoke. As I happily undertook this year to direct it for the first time, I found myself falling deeper and deeper into its intrigues. This is a story not unlike an M.C. Escher drawing. Just when you think you have a linear grasp of the story, up pops another question, changing the landscape. What does this or that character know, and when? (I have discovered recently that seasoned Yeomen aficionados cannot always answer this question.) Why has Jack Point never spoken to Elsie of his feelings for her? Why does Colonel Fairfax resort to tactics in his lovemaking that are insensitive at best and cruel at worst?
In countless hours pondering the mysteries of this story, one primary theme has emerged, represented by the love triangle of Jack Point, Elsie Maynard and Colonel Fairfax. Gilbert asks us to consider the value of humor in our lives. The man who makes us laugh, reflects our foibles back to us and makes life bearable loses out to the handsome and gallant soldier. In Yeomen, it is the military hero – indeed, one who fearlessly wields his own sword of wry bravado – and not the funny man who wins the symbolic heart of the nation (as personified by Elsie). The tragedy of Jack Point is that despite his talent for revealing the truth of the world around him, he cannot speak his own. The cost to him is nothing short of everything.
Glossary
With thanks to The Gilbert & Sullivan Lexicon by Harry Benford, here’s a little help with some of the more obscure Victorian references you’ll hear in The Yeomen of the Guard. Mr. Benford’s lexicon is on sale at the Lamplighters store in the lobby along with other fun stuff.
Ample clover: Economic Security.
Blunderbore: The giant in the folk tale Jack the Giant Killer.
Cock and bull: A boastful bit of fiction.
Cockatrice: Legendary creature with the hind legs and tail of a dragon and cockerel’s head.
Crowns (“an hundred crowns”): The equivalent of about $40 - probably about what Jack and Elsie might ordinarily earn in a year.
D.D. (“comes a bishop, maybe, or a solemn D.D.”): Doctor of Divinity.
Derring-do: Reckless daring.
Electuary: A medicine compounded with honey or syrup to disguise the taste.
Fain: Willingly, gladly.
Follify: A word of Gilbert’s invention, demanding that Jack Point immediately produce some examples of his wit.
Fortalice: Fortress (archaic).
Gainsay: Contradict.
Gimlet: Hand tool for boring small holes.
Grim old king: Death.
Gyves: Manacles or leg irons or handcuffs.
Halbert: A medievel weapon combining an ax blade and spear.
In thy teeth: Right back at you.
Jerry-jailing: “Jerry” is used here as a prefix to denote poor workmanship or shoddy material. We still use it, as in “jerry-rigged.”
Lime: To cover with a sticky substance in order to ensnare birds.
Little Ease: A narrow place of confinement.
Lucky bag: A grab bag containing small prizes, usually for children.
Marks (“a thousand marks”): A mark was a medieval English coin worth 2/3 of a pound.
Marry: (“Marry, sir, I have a pretty wit”) Derived from an old oath, essentially just meaning “indeed”.
Mickle: An old Scots word meaning small.
The Pirate Kings
$5,000 - $9,999
The Al Garren Fund
The Bernard Osher Foundation
David Cole & Emily Gladstone Cole+
Gini & Philipp Frings -
In Memory of John Vlahos+
Marguerite E. Griffith Trust
The Dean & Margaret Lesher Foundation
Ellen & Barry Levine+
Anson & Anita Moran+
Marion & Emmett Stanton
The Grand Dukes
Mark Blattel
$2,500 - $4,999
Edith Carlston & Perry Carlston
F. Lawrence Ewing - In Memory of Orva Hoskinson & John Vlahos+
Edith Gladstone, The Gladstone Family Fund for Artistic Excellence+
Google Inc.
Fred & Judith Lothrop+
Gus Manning & Rena Kirkpatrick+
Adam & Christina Richards
Arthur & Toni Rembe Rock
Cary Ann Rosko & Matthew Hancher+
Silicon Valley Bank Foundation
Alan J. Smith & Helen Lew
John Tichenor+
Martha Vlahos - In Memory of Orva Hoskinson & John Vlahos+
Marguerite & Gerald Wallace+
Ods bodikins: An oath, literally, “God’s little body.”
Panoply: Complete protective covering.
Peerly: In the manner of a peer (nobleman).
Polity: Reigning.
Popinjay, bravely born: Vain, empty-headed high-born man.
Privity: Privacy, seclusion, single bliss.
Quiddity: A trifling nicety of speech.
Racks: Torture instruments that stretched the victim by the arms and legs.
Slyboots: A sly person.
Stocks: Instrument of punishment consisting of a wooden framework with holes for the ankles (and sometimes wrists) so as to expose the offender to public ridicule and abuse.
Thumbscrews: Torture instruments used to compress a thumb until the joint was crushed.
Allen & Shirley Ginzburg+
Scott & Kitty Hayes
John F. Heil
Charles & Ethel Hopkins*
Charmly & Tucker InghamIn Memory of Orva Hoskinson+
Intel Corporation
Julie Jaeger - In Memory of John Vlahos+
Paul S. Jones
Jon W. Kirchanski* - In Memory of Jaymes Mark Williams
Bruce Kirkpatrick+
Korbholz-Ring Family Fund of Silicon Valley
Community Foundation+
Mr. Lorrin G. Kroska -
In Honor of Sarah Vardigans
Mr. John Lee+
Martin Lewis & Steve Siegelman - In Memory of John Vlahos & Orva Hoskinson+
Russell & Karen Merritt -
In Memory of David Shepard
Laura & Steve Oliphant+
Jim & Marilyn Palmer
Baker Peeples & Ellen Kerrigan+
Louise M. Pescetta
Kent Rasmussen Winery
George & Diana Rhinebeck
Alan Galitz & Kathy Rosner-Galitz*+
John D. Rouse, M.D.
Nina D. Schwartz, M.D.In Honor of Mrs. Bunnie Finkelstein
Lynn & Joan Seppala - In Honor of John Smyth
Sing for America Foundation
Britta Singer - In Honor of Arie Singer
Michael & Deborah Sosebee
Ian E. Stockdale & Ruth Leibig
Robby Stafford+
Alan Stewart & Frank J. Kelly
David & Rene WhiteheadIn Memory of John Vlahos+
The Major-Generals
$1,000 - $2,499
Anonymous - In Memory of Dan & Yvonne Koshland
Mr. & Mrs. David J. Allard*
Claire & Kendall Allphin
Willa B. & Henry Anderson+
Alvin & Linda Arata
Mr. & Mrs. Steve Bauman
Katie Bauman
Nancy Benson+
Dr. Barbara L. Bessey+
Bill Brice - In Memory of Lee & Max Brice
Lanice Clark - In Memory of David Clark
Gretchen & John Clatworthy*
The Estate of Alice Constantian
D. Michael Cullivan
Peter, Shelly & Sophia de Vries*
DeFrancis Family Trust
Drexler Estate Fund
Dick Drossler*+
Lawrence & Helene Edelman+
Barbara & Leslie Edwards+
Lois Carroll Feller & Roland Feller+
Deborah Finch & Martin Isaacs -
In Memory of Mel Gladstone
Bunnie Finkelstein*In Memory of Art Finkelstein
Jonathan & Regina Faustine
Spencer & Rena Fulweiler*
Maureen & Donald Gardner*
Michele Garside - In Memory of
Orva Hoskinson & John Vlahos+
Joseph Giammarco & Claire Kelm+
Carla X. Gladstone
Joel Greene - In Memory of Dr. Marshall A. Greene
Laura Hill & Neil Wilhelm
William & Leticia Jarvis
Peg Kaplan* - In Memory of Bill Kaplan
David Kirby
Ernest & Julie Knell
Yvonne C. Koshland - In Memory of
William A. Cyr & Daniel E. Koshland, Jr.
Ronald & Sharon Krauss
Mary Kroninger - In Memory of Robert Kroninger
Marston & Anne Leigh
Jesse M. Levy
William A. & Carol D. Loden
Philip R. Lowery & Kelcey J. Poe+
Jim MacIlvaine
Paul McCurdy
Elizabeth R. Milano
Patricia Minger* Anon Y. Mouse
Jack G. Nixon
Thomas O’Brien
Ron & Fran Oremland
Martin & Mary Ratner
Carla & Philip Reed
Owen P. Reid, Jr.
Andrew Rudiak & Enid Sanders
Letitia Sanders & Donn Downing*
Peggy Satterlee
Adrienne & Ted Savetnick
Will & Linda Schieber
Jennifer Shaw
Konstantin & Natalia Shchuka
David H. Shepard
John Emery Smyth+
Chris Sunseri*
Maggie Thompson
Chris Uzelac
Barbara Waldeck+
Jean & Jeff Wieler+
Ron & Melanie Wilensky
Xilinx Community Fund
John Ziaja - In Memory of Jean C. Ziaja
The Fairy Queens
$500 - $999
Anonymous x 3
Becky Andersen
David & Barbara Anger
Jim & Judy Bangsund
Connie BarnettIn Honor of Everyone at Lamplighters
Jim Beatty
Linda Blum - In Honor of Sarah Vardigans
Kathi & David Brotemarkle
Ellen & Howard Brown
John Paul Carobus II*
Gordon B. Chamberlain
Vicki Coe & Scott Mitchell
J. Geoffrey Colton & Dana L. Gordon
Philip & Dorothea Conserva
Marilyn Berg Cooper
Jim Cotton
Barbara S. Cox
Mr. Copley Crosby
Mary & John Cumberpatch
Diane & Christopher Davies
Charlotte Davis* - In Memory of Harold B. Davis
Reg & Marianne Steer
Dorothy Stivers
The Fred Terman and Nan Borreson Fund of the Community Foundation for Monterey County C. L. Thomas
Daniel L. Rabinowitz & Ann F. Thomas
Jill R. Thompson
Paul Toulmin
Sarah Vardigans - In Memory of John Vlahos+ Veeva Systems
Anne Ver Steeg-Anderson
Jan & Mark Volkert
Autumn Wagner* - In Memory of Jean Ziaja, Will Connolly & Orva Hoskinson+
Arthur & Susan WalentaIn Memory of John Vlahos+
Christopher Walkey
Ed & Patti White+
John R. Williams
Cheryl & Steve Wilske* - In Honor of Jean Williams & Norman Gibbons
Mike Zimmerman* - In Memory of John Vlahos+
$250 - $499
Anonymous x 3
Judy & Lou Alley - In Memory of John Vlahos+
Robert C. Anderson
Nick Tarlson
Trow: Suppose.
Debra & Mark Fuller+
Laura Ehrlich
LAYLA WALLERSTEIN (‘16) Chorus. Layla, 13, first performed with the Lamplighters in their 2016 production of Ruddygore, and has been participating in the Gilbert and Sullivan Scenes summer program since 2014. She studies voice with Jane Erwin Hammett, and from 2011-2014 was a member of the SF Community Music Center children’s chorus.
PATRICIA WESTLEY (’16) Elsie. Patricia, a New ZealandAmerican soprano, is delighted to be returning to the Lamplighters after her debut in The (new) Mikado Patricia spent the past season as a Resident Artist with Shreveport Opera where she performed three main stage roles, Musetta (La bohème), Hodel (Fiddler on the roof), Despina (Così fan tutte). Favorite roles include Adina (L’elisir d’amore), Zerlina (Don Giovanni), Sandrina (La finta giardiniera), Laurie (The Tender Land), and Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro). Patricia holds degrees from Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Oklahoma.
MICHAEL WIRGLER (’79) Clarinet. Michael is a retired music teacher from Oakland Public Schools where he taught for more than 30 years.He is currently conductor of The Golden Gate Park Band and the Alameda Community Band. He joined the Lamplighters as a clarinetist in 1979, and it has been an important part of his life ever since.
MELISSA WORTMAN (’80) Costume Shop Manager. In addition to designing 30+ shows for the Lamplighters, Melissa has designed costumes for ACT, Circus Circus, KITKA, Abydos Theater, Dance Through Time, Marin Ballet, and numerous private clients. She is the resident costume designer for Bracebridge Dinner Theater in Yosemite.
DANIEL YODER (Debut) Leonard. Native-American bassbaritone Daniel is pleased to be singing with the venerable Lamplighters! He has been priveleged to perform with Diablo Symphony, Sacramento Opera, Fresno Grand, Sacramento Choral Society, and Pocket Opera, as well as seemingly countless solo and choral engagements throughout Northern CA! Daniel’s roles include Zurga in Bizet’s The Pearl Fishers, the Doctor and Baron in Verdi’s La Traviata, Leporello and Masetto in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Betto in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, Gugliermo in Mozart’s Così fan Tutte, Seneca in Monteverdi’s L’Incoronazione di Poppea, Claudius in Handel’s Agrippina, and Omar in Weber’s Abu Hassan. In concert, he has performed the Requiems of Fauré, Duruflé, Mozart, and Malcolm Archer. A lifetime fan of Bach, he has soloed in the Durchlauchster Leopold (BWV 173a) and Herr, wie du willt, so schicks mit mir (BWV 73) cantatas.
LUANA ZAPATA (Debut) Chorus. Born in Peru and raised in Brasil, Luana holds a BA in Music (Emphasis on Choral Conducting) and moved to the Bay Area in 2012. She has worked with choirs since she was 16 and enjoyed performing Verdi’s Requiem, Bach’s St Matthew Passion and Mozart’s Requiem. After a hiatus of four years from the stage, she started studying voice with Jane Erwin Hammett and taking classes at ACT. Luana is excited to be in her first show with the Lamplighters!
RACHEL ZAWILSKI (Debut) Chorus. Rachel is a senior at Aragon HS in San Mateo. There, she takes part in three choral ensembles, including female a cappella. She was previously in The Sound of Music and La Périchole at Lyric Theatre, and also enjoys reading and writing. She would like to thank her mom, Jen Kiernan - also in the chorus - for all her support and enthusiasm during Rachel’s first show at Lamplighters!
Contributors To The Lamplighters
The Lamplighters are deeply grateful to our many donors. This list reflects gifts made in the 12 month period ending June 30, 2017. We regret any errors or omissions; please contact us if you have questions or wish to make a change to your listing.
Lamplighters Music Theatre is sponsored in part by generous grants from:
The Illuminators
The Illuminators are those individuals and families who have demonstrated their belief in the value of the Lamplighters for future generations by making a gift to the Endowment Fund or by including the Lamplighters in their estate plans.
Connie Barnett
Tom Barrett
Barbara L. Bessey & Kevin J. Gilmartin
Bill Brice
Melvin & Anna Brown
Dr. & Mrs. Ronald Cape & Family
Bruce Carlton & Richard McCall
Peter & Shelly de Vries
Joan P. Dedo
Michele Garside
Barbara E. Heroux
Daniel B. Howard
Michael C. Huckins
William and Margaret Kaplan
Jon W. Kirchanski
Karl Pister and Roger Renn
Rich Pryor
Theodore Savetnick
Renee Shepherd
Andrew Taines
Jill R. Thompson
Sarah Vardigans
John & Martha Vlahos
Autumn Wagner
Marguerite & Gerry Wallace
Rick Williams & Judith Dara Epstein
John & Jean Cardin Ziaja
The Mikados
$10,000+
Keith Doerge - In Memory of John Vlahos+
The Fieldwood Fund
San Francisco Grants for the Arts
Adrian & Ann Pool Mac Nab - In Memory of Orva Hoskinson & John Vlahos+
Joan & David O’Reilly
The Estate of John Vlahos+
Rick Williams & Judith Dara Epstein - In Memory of Orva Hoskinson & John Vlahos+
Background Notes
W.S. Gilbert’s libretto says that The Yeomen of the Guard takes place in the sixteenth century. This production moves the action forward to the mid-seventeenth century, during the reign of Charles I. Why?
Gilbert of course lived in the time of Queen Victoria. The British Empire was strong; Victoria had reigned for decades; peace and prosperity were the norm. Speaking in the broadest of generalizations, that was also the case during Elizabethan times, when Yeomen is often set. What happens if we move the action to a period of war and turmoil? An era when the country is bitterly divided, when religious fundamentalists are gaining power, when civil rights are being eroded - how does the story of Yeomen look when viewed through that prism?
The 1640s were a time of terrible turmoil in England. Charles I had been crowned in 1625. Like his father James I, he was an autocratic ruler who believed he reigned by divine right, and had a tendency to scorn or ignore Parliament. But the landed gentry and emerging merchant and professional classes, and their representatives in Parliament, were gaining in wealth - and wealth meant power then, just as it does now. Charles had imperiously dissolved Parliament in 1628, and ruled without a Parliament for eleven years.
Religion was also huge source of conflict. The Anglican Church was the official Church of England. Only Anglicans could hold public office, and the Anglican Book of Common Prayer was the only legal prayer book. The Puritans led the criticism of this level of state control over religious practice, and when Charles attempted to force the Book of Common Prayer on the Calvinist Scots, open revolt ensued. When the rebellious Scots invaded in 1639, Charles was forced to convene a Parliament to raise money to finance the war.
In 1642, civil war was declared, with the forces of Parliament and the Puritans (the “Roundheads”) on one side, led by Oliver Cromwell, and those loyal to the king (the “Cavaliers”) on the other. By the mid-1640s, London was firmly in the Roundheads’ camp, and the Tower would have been an island of Royalist sympathizers within a hostile city. Charles I was a captive of Parliament. While, of course, the characters in Yeomen cannot know this, he will be tried for treason and beheaded in January 1649. This will mark the first time in European history that a public authority executed a king, showing how strong the non-noble classes had become and also showing - if anyone really needs proof - how powerful a political force religion can be.
So how does this all affect Yeomen?
What we are trying to convey, rather than a fairy-tale land of happy peasants and soldiers in pretty red uniforms, is a world turned upside down. Everyone is paranoid. No one is to be trusted. Both Parliament and the Crown have a vast network of spies and secret police. Civil rights no longer exist. Mistakes are often fatal. This show is in many ways about secrets, and about constantly looking over one’s shoulder. And into all this come two strolling players, Jack Point and Elsie Maynard. They’re artists; they don’t care much about politics, they’re just trying to sing their songs and make a living. But suddenly they are swept up into the secrets and intrigue surrounding a political prisoner, Colonel Fairfax – and their lives will never be the same.
Meet The Lamplighters
NICOLAS ALIAGA (’98) Production Manager. Nicolas has worked at Pocket Opera for over ten years as Production Manager and Stage Director, and was recently named their Associate Artistic Director. He was the Assistant Director for Les Pêcheurs de Perles at Michigan Opera Theatre and has worked as an Assistant Director at San Francisco Opera Center and Opera San Jose. In 2013 he directed Gianni Schicchi for Sacramento Opera, and recently worked as assistant director on three productions at San Diego Opera: Madama Butterfly, Cenerentola, and the new Jake Heggie opera, Great Scott
AMANDA RENEE BAINES (’12) Chorus. Amanda is thrilled to add The Yeomen of the Guard to her growing list of G&S shows performed. She graduated from San Diego State University with a BM in Professional Studios in 2009. She thanks her family and friends for their continued support and for always cheering her on.
STACEY BAUER (’09) Viola. Stacey has been performing with the Lamplighters since three Mikados ago. She enjoys the creativity and diversity each new cast and band brings to the stage. A native of California, Stacey has played with orchestras throughout the state and works diligently to bring up the next wave of musicians through teaching and coaching young musicians.
JEFFREY BEAUDOIN (‘87) Chorus. Jeff has sung in all the G&S operas plus Merry Widow, La Perichole, Where’s Charley? and many Galas. He appeared with us as Yvan (Die Fledermaus), Notary (Sorcerer), Max (Gala ‘94), Dances With Weasels (Gala ‘96) and Scynthius in our awardwinning Princess Ida in England. Jeff was Giorgio (Gondoliers) in NYC, Lane (Importance of Being Earnest) in SF and in Mame in Petaluma.
ELIJAH BERRY (’15) Chorus. Elijah is back with a vengeance! Recent sightings include Donizetti’s Daughter of the Regiment (Pocket) Weill’s Mahagonny (Redwood Symphony) and Souza’s El Capitan (Lyric). Elijah is also an itinerant artist and film preservation associate, holding a BFA from East TN State University. Viewer discretion is advised.
LILY BOBRICK (Debut) Chorus. Lily is currently a sophomore at Ruth Asawa School of the Arts High School in San Francisco. She majors in classical voice at school and studies opera/ musical theatre in outside programs. This is her first full opera production and she hopes to continue her career as an opera singer for many more years to come.
JACOB BOTHA (‘16) Jack Point. Jacob is a South African born baritone from the United Kingdom who now lives in the United States (so generally confused!). He has worked in theatre in South Africa, Asia, Europe and the UK for the last 16 years and has been fortunate enough to be part of many interesting projects. Favorite roles include Anatoly in Chess, Joe Cable in South Pacific, Lumière in Beauty And The Beast, Cat in Honk! and Cinderella’s Prince in Into The Woods. Favorite tours include Jesus Christ Superstar in Athens and South Korea for The Really Useful Group and Arts Asia Pacific. Jacob made his debut with Lamplighters in February 2017 in Patience where he portrayed the role of Archibald Grosvenor.
ELLEN BROOKS (‘00) Lighting Designer. Ellen has over 250 regional credits in lighting design. Her work has been seen at the Marine’s Memorial, the Herbst, Alcazar, and Yerba Buena Center Theater in San Francisco, the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek, Livermore Center for the Performing Arts, Mountain View CPA and Napa Valley Opera House as well as on tour. In 2015 she received Theatre Bay Area’s Best Lighting Design for Journey’s End, directed by James Dunn, and, previously, a Dean Goodman award for Entire Season with the Marin Shakespeare Company.
KEITH BUCHER (’77) French Horn. Keith studied at Northwestern University, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and started his musical career in the US Marine Band. From 1978 to 1987 he was a fixture in the pit orchestras for major San Francisco musical theatre productions and is currently a freelance musician who performs with organizations from the Bay Area to Sacramento.
TRICIA CALLERO (’16) Chorus. Tricia is thrilled to be performing in her second show with the Lamplighters. A Bay Area native, and former Miss Pacifica, she has performed with several regional theaters, most recently Lamplighters’ Patience and Her Majesty’s Royal Opera with The Dickens Fair. Favorite roles include Princess Winifred in Once Upon A Mattress, Rapunzel in Into the Woods, and Guenivere in Camelot. She also shares her love of singing with several churches and community functions.
PAMELA CAREY (’91) Violin I/Concertmaster. Pamela is Director of Music at Saint Hilary Parish where she also teaches music in their elementary school. She is on the faculty at Dominican University. Pamela is a freelance violinist performing throughout the Bay Area. She has several dogs and 2 cats named Gilbert and Sullivan.
DANIELLE CHEIKEN (Debut) Chorus. Danielle is thrilled to be making her Lamplighters debut! Recent roles include Winnie Winslow in No, No, Nanette (42nd Street Moon) and the title role in L’Incoronazione di Poppea (Opera Theater Unlimited). She holds a Master of Music from San Francisco Conservatory of Music and a Bachelor of Music from Oberlin Conservatory. Danielle is looking forward to performing in 42nd Street with Bay Area Musicals this November & December.
KATHLEEN CONNER (’73) Oboe. Kathleen has performed with Monterey, Santa Rosa, Berkeley and Napa Symphonies and Pocket Opera. She coaches woodwind ensembles at Benjamin Franklin Middle School and is artist-in-residence at School of the Arts. She is on the faculty at both the Capp St. and Richmond branches of the Community Music Center.
NICHOLAS DAHLMAN (’12) Chorus. Nicholas has played a role in sixteen of the last twenty Lamplighters productions, most recently as the Solicitor in Patience and Nick Elendime (the new security guard) in the 2016 Gala. In March, he also featured in Pocket Opera’s The Doctor In Spite of Himself. He lives and works in Walnut Creek.
of Penzance), Melissa (Princess Ida), Cousin Hebe (HMS Pinafore), and Paquette (Candide). Michele received her Bachelor of Music at SF State University where she performed the role of Dorabella (Così fan tutte). In 2012 she attended BASOTI where she performed La Zia Principessa (Suor Angelica), and opera scenes as Dame Quickly (Falstaff), Angelina (La Cenerentola), and Carmen (Carmen).
TARA SCOWN (‘16) Chorus. Tara is a San Francisco native and graduate of UC Berkeley. She has enjoyed singing in the US premiere of Karl Jenkins’ The Bards of Wales at Carnegie Hall, performing Beethoven’s 9th under the direction of Gustavo Dudamel, and singing solos in a number of UC Berkeley ensembles. Tara joined Lamplighters last summer and is thrilled to be back for her second show with the company!
ANDREW SERRANO (‘16) Chorus. Andy is very happily joining the tenor chorus in his 4th show with Lamplighters. He has been seen in Bay Area theaters including Hillbarn, Pacifica Spindrift, Los Altos Music Theater, and Curtain Call. Andy will be celebrating his 5th season with Her Majesty’s Royal Opera at the Great Dickens Christmas Fair this holiday season. He has also performed professionally with the comedy trio Culture Clash as well as Academy award nominee Lourdes Portillo.
PETE SHOEMAKER (‘14) Second Yeoman. Pete has had a diverse theatrical career that includes leading roles in plays, musicals and ballets. This is his fourth show with the Lamplighters, starting with The Pirates of Penzance in 2014.
JONATHAN SPENCER (‘90) Sergeant Meryll. Jonathan most recently appeared as Sir Arthur Sullivan in A Song to Sing,O! With this production he is beginning his 28th season with Lamplighters. Favorite roles include the Major General/ Pirate King (Pirates of Penzance), Pooh-Bah (The Mikado), Learned Judge (Trial by Jury), Mr. Lindquist (A Little Night Music), The Playwright (Enter the Guardsman), and numerous Galas. You can also see him every Christmas as Squire Bracebridge in The Bracebridge Dinners at Yosemite. Other favorites: George in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Bay Area Stage – Arty Award nom.), Gutman in Maltese Falcon (B8 Theatre – Shellie Award nom.), Signor Naccarelli in Light in the Piazza (Willows – Shellie Award nom.), and Father in Ragtime (ACLO). He wants to dedicate this performance to the late John Rouse.
ROBBY STAFFORD (‘09) Sergeant Meryll. A San Francisco native, Robby’s favorite roles have included Don Pasquale with Sonoma City Opera, Mozart’s Figaro with Livermore Valley Opera, the Four Villains in Les contes d’Hoffmann with West Bay Opera, and Pooh-Bah in The Mikado with Lamplighters. Robby has enjoyed singing Bach, Handel, and Monteverdi with many leading Baroque orchestras, and directed a performance of Guillaume de Machaut’s Messe de Nostre Dame at Notre Dame des Victoires in SF, where he is Cantor and Director of Music Liturgy.
CARL STANLEY (’73) Bass. Carl performs professionally with orchestras and theater groups throughout the Bay Area. He first played bass with the Lamplighters Orchestra in the mid 1970s, served as Orchestra Personnel Manager and Education Coordinator for the Oakland Symphony, and was an instrumental music teacher in the Berkeley Unified School District for many years.
BRIANNA STUTZMAN (’14) Chorus. Brianna is a graduate of Westmont College with a BA in Music. She was a participant at the American Institute of Musical Studies summer opera studio program in Graz, Austria, and a scholarship recipient at the Berkshire Choral Festival in Massachusetts. Most recently, she appeared in West Bay Opera’s production of Die Zauberflöte She would like to thank her family for all of their support, and her grandparents for first taking her to see Lamplighters shows.
GREGORY SYKES (’93) Violin II. Gregory has been studying violin in the Bay Area since elementary school. He holds a Bachelor’s in Music from UC Berkeley and studied privately with Mariko Smiley, Charles Meacham and Elizabeth Gibson, and voice with Erin Neff. Gregory has performed with Berkeley, Napa, Oakland East Bay, Santa Rosa and Vallejo Symphonies and has played in the pit for numerous musical theater productions, most especially the Lamplighters! Thanks for all the memories!
KRISTEN TANSEY (‘15) Kate. Kristen is thrilled to be playing the part of Kate in the Lamplighter’s production of The Yeomen of the Guard! She received her Bachelor of Music degree from UC Santa Barbara in 2013 and has been performing with Lamplighters for the past two years. In addition to Lamplighters productions, past shows range from musicals to operas; favorites include Thoroughly Modern Millie (Miss Dorothy), Poppea (Damigella), and Le Nozze di Figaro (Susanna).
JASON TOTZKE (‘07) Viola. Jason has performed in solo and chamber music recitals in the US, Canada, Switzerland and France, and has appeared as soloist with the Pro Arte Chamber Ensemble of South Florida and the Boston Chamber Ensemble. A recipient of the Doctor of Musical Arts from Eastman School of Music, he has taught viola at the University of Rochester and at Rochester’s Hochstein Music School where he was a founding member of the Hochstein String Quartet.
CARMELLO TRINGALI (‘12) Leonard. Carmello is excited to be returning to the Lamplighter stage in his first role with the company. He has performed a number of roles across the G&S spectrum including: Frederick, Grosvenor, Ko-Ko, Fitzbattleaxe, Grand Duke and Ralph. Other favorite roles include: Rodolfo, Faust, Lensky, Pinkerton, Candide, Henrik, Don Ottavio, Basilio and Signor Pirelli. He is also a guitarist and composer.
FRANCIS UPTON V (’15) Chorus. Francis is studying at CSU East Bay and will achieve a BA in Music. He has been in many productions including The Threepenny Opera (Mr. Peachum), Sweeney Todd (Mr. Fogg/ensemble), and Beauty and the Beast (Mon. D’Arque). This is Francis’ eighth show with the Lamplighters and he’s thrilled to be a part of it.
SARAH VARDIGANS (’06) Managing Director. For 27 years Sarah worked as Company and Touring Manager for numerous performing artists from all over the world, including Luciano Pavarotti, Boston Ballet and Rudolf Nureyev, the Bolshoi Ballet, the Moscow Circus, Astor Piazzolla, and 10 years with San Francisco Ballet. She has also managed international touring Broadway productions of A Chorus Line, Evita, Bob Fosse’s Dancin’, and The American Dance Machine. After 11 years with her beloved Lamplighters, Sarah will be embarking on a new adventure next year as she joins the Peace Corps in Senegal.
LYNN OAKLEY (’80) Violin I. Lynn and her husband Roy are founders of the Villa Sinfonia Foundation, a non-profit music organization for students of all ages and abilities. The Villa Sinfonia has performed at New York’s Carnegie Hall (twice,) the Washington DC Kennedy Center, and toured Europe and Hawaii. They have won municipal awards and were presented with the Governor’s Award at the 2001 Grammy Awards. In the summers, the Villa Sinfonia Zephyr Chamber Music Camp takes place at Lake Tahoe.
YASUSHI OGURA (’09) Violin. Yasushi is concertmaster of the Napa Valley Symphony and Pocket Opera. He often performs for Broadway shows in San Francisco, and acts as guest concertmaster with various regional orchestras. He was concertmaster/soloist with Diablo Ballet and is frequently called to record film soundtracks at Skywalker Studios and other recording venues. Yasushi has been working as head coach of the Napa Valley Youth Symphony since its inception and is a tireless educator.
ALASDAIR PAYTEN (Debut) Chorus. Alasdair, from San Francisco, attends Ruth Asawa School of the Arts. The Yeomen of The Guard is his first show with the Lamplighters and he is very excited to start his performing career with them. In the future, Alasdair hopes to go on to becoming a professional operatic tenor.
KURT PATZNER (’77) Trombone. Originally from Palm Springs, Kurt has performed with every major orchestra in the Bay Area, is currently a member of the Santa Rosa, Berkeley, and Marin Symphonies, and is on the faculty at The College Preparatory School in Oakland. He has a wife and three sons, all of whom are musicians.
NORMAN PECK (’77) Percussion. Norman currently holds the Principal Percussion Chair with the Santa Cruz Symphony and West Bay Opera. He plays jazz with a big band every Monday night when he is not working, teaches a large class of private students, and provides instrumental contracting services to a variety of clients. Norman is passionately fond of science fiction, cooking and his cat Alex.
JACKIE PEDOTA (‘16) Costumer. At San Francisco State University Jackie found her niche in costuming while working on The Seagull, In The Next Room and designing Chicago. She was drawn into the world of Gilbert & Sullivan to join the costume team for The (new) Mikado and looks forward to many future projects with the Lamplighters. She loves making anyone who will listen laugh so, besides her time in the costume shop, she’s also a comedian, actress and tour guide.
BAKER PEEPLES (’75) Music Director/Conductor. Baker has sung almost all the G&S tenor leads, as well as Eisenstein/Alfred (Fledermaus), Tassilo (Countess Maritza), Paris (La belle Hélène), Karl Franz (Student Prince), and the Defendant in our KQED Trial. Baker has conducted every Gala since 1986, as well as hundreds of performances of G&S and other operettas and musicals. He sang onstage with SF Ballet in Balanchine’s Liebeslieder Walzer. A favorite of Pocket Opera audiences, he has also appeared with numerous other Bay Area opera companies, symphonies, ballets, and choral groups. Baker was voted best male singer in the 1995 and 1997 International G&S Festivals for his portrayals of Hilarion and Alexis. Baker and his wife Ellen
Kerrigan oversee the SF Opera Guild’s Opera à la Carte program, which takes live opera to 130 Bay Area schools. He is music director for the Lamplighters/SF Conservatory G&S scenes program, and maintains an active voice studio in San Francisco.
COLIN RAAB (‘16) Chorus. Colin participated in the G&S Scenes Program between 2013-2016, and debuted in The (new) Mikado chorus last summer. Past shows include the Stanford Savoyards productions of H.M.S. Pinafore, The Sorcerer, and The Mikado, plus The Mystery of Edwin Drood and Avenue Q at Menlo School, where he is a rising junior.
ELISABETH REEVES (’13) Stage Manager. Elisabeth works as an Associate Consultant with Celerity Consulting in Walnut Creek, sings with the Vocal Art Ensemble in Davis, CA, and participates in both the Renaissance Faire and the Great Dickens Christmas Faire. She has worked on several shows with Lamplighters Music Theatre - in particular Die Fledermaus (‘14), Candide (‘15), Ruddygore (‘16), The (new) Mikado (’16), and A Song to Sing, O! (‘17), and hopes to eventually stage manage the complete Gilbert and Sullivan canon.
BEEBE REISMAN (Debut) Chorus. Beebe is thrilled to be performing with Lamplighters! She earned a BFA in Acting from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, before settling in San Francisco. Favorite past roles include Ophelia in Hamlet & Rod Serling in The Twilight Zone. Thanks to Colin, Emily, Saul and Pursey.
ALAN ROBERTS (’12) Chorus. Alan sang his first solo at age ten. He has been involved with multiple musical theatre troupes and performed in productions of The Mikado (his Lamplighters debut in 2012), Amahl and the Night Visitors, Die Fledermaus, Three Penny Opera, Les Mamelles de Tirésias, and Princess Ida, to name a few
ASIA ROOS (Debut) Chorus. Asia Roos is a coloratura soprano currently living and working in the San Francisco Bay Area. She has performed with several local opera companies and is a graduate of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music’s vocal program. She studies with Jane Randolph.
DEBORAH ROSENGAUS (’14) Dame Carruthers. Deborah has performed in: Tokyo’s Santori Hall, Disney Hall, Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. Last November she was a featured soloist at the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing. Deborah has given recitals in Mexico, Europe and across the US and is a member of chamber ensemble Camerata Sospiro. She performs with many local Opera companies and holds a BM from USC and an MM from the Manhattan School of Music.
LUCY SCHOENING (’74) Flute. Lucy was principal flute for the Artea Chamber Orchestra and performed with the San Francisco Symphony, Pocket Opera, San Francisco Chamber Players, Oakland Opera and many chamber music groups. She teaches fifth grade and is the mother of two sons.
MICHELE SCHROEDER (’09) Phoebe. Mezzo-soprano
Michele is excited to play her favorite G&S role Phoebe Meryll this summer. Other performances with Lamplighters include Lady Saphir (Patience), Pizzi (The [new] Mikado), Lisa (The Grand Duke), the title role in Iolanthe, Edith (The Pirates
GWYNETH DAVIS (’88) Cello. Gwyneth has played with most of the regional orchestras and opera companies in the Bay Area, and, as a member of the Eloquence String Quartet, provided music for hundreds of weddings in the Napa and Sonoma valleys. She lives in Sebastopol with her partner and Labradoodle. A former pastry chef, she now enjoys performing on viola da gamba and baroque cello with her early music group, the Alphabet Baroque Club.
GIOVANNI DE LEON (‘14) Chorus. Giovanni joined his first stage role at age six, and has continued developing his performance skills throughout the years. After graduating from SF SOTA, he joined the international cast of The Journey, touring America, Mexico and Europe. He currently attends the California Jazz Conservatory. This is his third production with Lamplighters.
PETER DE VRIES (’97) Chorus. Initially brought up by his mum in the ways of G&S, Peter joined the Lamplighters as a Padawan in 1997. He has previously performed in eleven Lamplighter productions: Yeomen (’97), Ruddygore (’00), The Mikado (’08), Patience (’10 & ‘17), Trial by Jury (’11), Princess Ida (’12), The Sorcerer (‘13), Ruddygore (’16) and two Galas (‘14 and ‘15). His wife Shelly has duly become his equal (two there always are); both are true Savoy Knights. May the Schwenck be with you!
KATHARINE DENNIS (Debut) French Horn. Katie enjoyed a busy career in New York for 27 years, performing with New York Chamber Symphony, Mostly Mozart, Opera Orchestra of NY, New York Pops, and many other groups. She has held positions in more than a dozen Broadway shows, including a 10-year stint at The Lion King. She toured and recorded with Barbara Streisand, Rod Stewart, Joni Mitchell and Audra MacDonald. Katie holds a Master of Music degree from the Manhattan School of Music.
DIANA DORMAN (‘72) Clarinet/Orchestra Contractor. Since joining us for Ernest in Love, Diana has played principal clarinet in all of our productions. She also performs with the SF Opera Center Orchestra and Pocket Opera and has performed with SF Opera, including the video recording of R. Strauss’ Capriccio for London/Decca, Berkeley Symphony and toured nationally with Western Opera Theater. As librarian Diana restored the Broadway orchestra parts for our 2008 production of The Secret Garden.
ROBERT DORSETT (’95) Chorus. A 3rd generation SF performer, Robert has appeared with Berkeley Opera, Diablo Light Opera, Donald Pippin’s Pocket Opera, Altarena Playhouse, and Stanford Savoyards. Lamplighter roles include Major Shelley in The Secret Garden (2009), David in Company, Major Murgatroyd in Patience, Jean Luc En-Garde in the Star Trek Gala, and Doctor in Of Thee I Sing.
BEAU DREAM (Debut) Chorus. Beau has a long history in instrumental performance and teaching, only recently delving into musical theatre last year as Ewart Dunlop in The Music Man, Stephano in The Merchant of Venice, and Jamie in My Fair Lady. Beau studied viola at SFSU and piano at the University of Maryland and the SF Conservatory of Music. Special thanks to his voice and acting teacher Cheryl Blalock, and to the United Church of Hayward for their love and support.
F. LAWRENCE EWING (’89) Jack Point. Over 28 years with Lamplighters, Lawrence has had the opportunity to play many roles – several in multiple productions. Favorites include Bunthorne (Patience), Coco (The [New} Mikado), Lord Chancellor (Iolanthe), Sir Joseph Porter (HMS Pinafore), Major-General Stanley (The Pirates of Penzance), Robin Oakapple (Ruddygore), Jack Point (The Yeomen of the Guard), Cornelius Hackl (Hello Dolly!), Charley (Where’s Charley?), and the Dowager Countess in Gala 2013 (Upside-Downton Abbey). As a dancer, Lawrence toured for twelve years with Dance Through Time. He set choreography at ACT, Marin Theatre Company, Pocket Opera, SF Opera’s Opera à la Carte, and for several Lamplighter productions. Lawrence also enjoys performing as part of Lamplighters’ Education Outreach program, Get On Board, which provides assembly performances in schools throughout the Bay Area. Lawrence serves as Vice President of the Lamplighter Board of Trustees, and is the Executive Director of Marin Ballet.
JOSEPHA FATH (’90) Violin I. Josepha is so happy (Modified rapture!) to be a violinist with the Lamplighters since the 1990’s. She currently performs with the California Symphony, SF Opera’s Merola, and can be seen and heard in many other symphony orchestras in and around the Bay Area. Josepha teaches at both the SF Community Music Center and the French American International School. She is an avid chamber music player, with both the Fath Chamber Players, and the Liberty Street Trio.
SAMUEL FAUSTINE (‘14) Fairfax. Samuel, a San Francisco native, performs a variety of genres ranging from baroque opera to modern musical theater. Sam has recently performed the roles of Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors (Ray of Light Theatre) and Curly in Oklahoma (Broadway by the Bay). His favorite Lamplighters credits include Candide in Candide, Robin Oakapple in Ruddygore, and Frederic in The Pirates of Penzance. Sam is an active member of the Bay Area’s choral and sacred music communities, most notably performing with Volti, Gaude, and Grace Cathedral where he sings counter-tenor in addition to tenor. Sam would like to dedicate his performance to the memory of mentor, friend, beloved Fairfax, and worthy ‘words with friends’ opponent, Dr. John Rouse.
CHRISTOPHER FOCHT (‘67) Chorus. Chris was in 4th grade when he saw his first Lamplighters show. After joining as a teenager, he is now into his 50th year and has performed in every G&S show multiple times. Over the years, Chris has been seen as Francisco (Gondoliers), St. Brioche (Merry Widow), Sir Rupert (Ruddygore), Toni (Student Prince), as well as playing a variety of zany roles in our annual Gala productions. Professionally, Chris is a Doctor of Audiology and teaches at SF State University.
SONIA GARIAEFF (‘03) Dame Carruthers. Sonia made her Lamplighters company debut in 2003 as the title role in Iolanthe. Since then, she has performed extensively throughout the Bay Area and United States. Other Lamplighters roles include Little Buttercup, The Duchess of Plaza-Toro, Katisha and the Fairy Queen. Additional career highlights include the role of Nicklausse with Virginia Opera, her Young Artist Apprenticeship with Portland Opera, and her Bay Area professional opera debut as a roller-skating Cherubino with Berkeley Opera. She was a three time Metropolitan Opera Regional Finalist.
ANDREW GUSTAFSON (’10) Chorus. The Lamplighters have made the risky decision of letting Andrew loose on the stage. Again. And he is very thankful for the opportunity! He debuted as chorus member #24 in The Pirates of Penzance, and has since enjoyed being chorus member #25, #26 and #29 in HMS Pinafore, Iolanthe and The Sorcerer. #Chorus4life
PATRICK HAGEN (’16) Fairfax. Patrick, a lyric tenor originally from New Jersey, received a Bachelor’s of Music with Honors from the Pennsylvania State University and his Masters at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Patrick has been seen in a multitude of operatic productions, including Menotti’s The Consul (The Magician) Puccini’s La Bohème (Rodolfo) and Tosca (Spoletta), Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro (Don Basilio), Copland’s The Tender Land (Martin), Britten’s Albert Herring (Albert), and Bellini’s I Capuleti e i Montecchi (Tebaldo). Patrick was also recently seen on the Lamplighters’ stage in the ensemble of A Song to Sing, O!, and as Niccolù in The (new) Mikado and is very excited to be returning to the company.
GABRIELLE HAIGH (’16) Kate. Gabrielle recently sang Angel (Handel’s Joshua) with Philharmonia Baroque. She earned her Bachelor’s from Cambridge University, where she sang solos in Bach’s St. John Passion and Handel’s Birthday Ode to Queen Anne with the EU Baroque Orchestra. Favorite roles include Mabel (The Pirates of Penzance) and Julia (The Grand Duke). She will earn her Masters from SF Conservatory in 2018.
JANE ERWIN HAMMETT (’83) Stage Director. Jane was last seen on our stage as Sari Linden in Noel Coward’s Bitter Sweet. She is thrilled to direct Yeomen, having recently remounted Ruddygore, Pirates, Patience and Iolanthe, which she also directed for the G&S Festival in England. Other Lamplighters directorial assignments: The Mikado, HMS Pinafore, The Gondoliers, The Secret Garden and several Galas. Elsewhere: The Marriage of Figaro, Orpheus in the Underworld and Roberto Devereux for Pocket Opera, plus Pirates, Elixir of Love and Daughter of the Regiment for SF Opera Guild’s Education Outreach program. Since her Lamplighter debut as Mabel, Jane has sung nearly every heroine in the canon, many other leading ladies, plus numerous roles for WBO and Pocket Opera. For nearly four years she performed across the US with The Phantom of the Opera (directed by Harold Prince). Her performances have been recognized with two BATCC Awards and a Drama-Logue Award for Rose Maybud (Ruddygore), Vampira (The Phantom of the Operetta), and Eliza Doolittle (My Fair Lady). She is on the faculties of Sonoma State University and ACT. She holds a Masters in Integrative Health from the California Institute of Integral Studies, as well as certifications in Guided Imagery, Wellness Coaching, and Sound, Voice and Music Healing.
PAUL HOGARTH (’15) First Yeoman. Paul is on his third Lamplighters production, after Patience and Ruddygore. Born in London, he saw many G&S musicals as a child—Yeomen was the only one he disliked. He is excited to rediscover the show 30 years later. A lawyer who works for the liberal blog Daily Kos, Paul performs regularly in musical theater. Credits include Sound of Music, West Side Story, Chess, Company, Beauty & the Beast, Hair and the upcoming Bay Area premier of Bullets Over Broadway
RON HOUK (Debut) Leonard. Ron is thrilled to make his Lamplighters debut. Favorite roles include Chris in Miss Saigon, Tateh in Ragtime, Jimmy in Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Pirate King in The Pirates of Penzance, Grantaire in Les Misérables, Benny Southstreet in Guys & Dolls, Bill Sykes in Oliver, and the mostly-dead Beast in Beauty and the Beast. Ron became active in Bay Area theatre 10 years ago when he arrived in the East Bay after escaping from prison in Texas, otherwise known as graduate school in chemistry. When not entertaining, Ron spends his time commuting...oh, and working for a technology company in Santa Clara.
JUDY JACKSON (’71) Chorus. Judy joined the company while attending high school and has managed to do a little bit of everything, from performing in all the G&S shows, to costume and makeup design, including designing the costumes for our recent productions of Ruddygore and Pinafore. She is thrilled to be back onstage for the first time in 6 years. By day, Judy teaches costuming and fashion design at numerous Bay Area colleges.
KATHLEEN JOHANNESSEN (’77) Bassoon. A Bay Area native, Kathleen is a freelance musician. She received a BA in Music from College of Notre Dame and an MA in Musical Performance from CSU Humboldt. Her interest in Gilbert & Sullivan began when she saw her piano teacher as Ruth in The Pirates of Penzance.
LAURIEN JONES (‘90) Violin II. Laurien has performed with Diablo Ballet, Pocket Opera, Western Opera, Masterworks Chorale, San Francisco Chamber Orchestra, and California Symphony. She is a chamber musician and soloist.
MARY HARGROVE (‘90) Flute/Piccolo. Mary is principal flute with Nederlander Broadway productions in San Jose as well as the Masterworks and Stanford Chorales. She plays flute and piccolo for Opera San Jose, Ballet San Jose, and the San Francisco Opera Merola program.
WILLIAM HARVEY (’95) Cornet. William has been tootling with the Lamplighters for two decades. He also serves as Principal Trumpet with both Oakland Symphony and Opera San Jose, and is an adjunct faculty member at the University of California, Berkeley. William lives in Oakland with his wife, fellow Lamplighters musician Josepha Fath and their little cat Charlie. Much of his time is enjoyably spent on home renovations.
JENNIFER KIERNAN (‘88) Chorus. Jen attended Lamplighters shows as a child in the 1970s, and joined the company as soon as she was able, as a dresser, a makeup artist/designer, and eventually as a member of the cast. She sings with the choir at the Unitarian Universalists of San Mateo, and spends as much time as she can with her awesome teenagers, Ben, Rachel, and LJ.
DAVID KIRBY (‘98) Makeup Designer. David paints faces (and sometimes bodies) for several theatre and opera companies in the Bay Area, most recently Salome with West Bay Opera, Gianni Schicchi & Trial by Jury with Lyric Theatre of San Jose, and A Song to Sing, O! with the Lamplighters. During the day, he sells whoopee cushions.
CAMILLE LAKE (’16) Chorus. Camille has been studying music for the last thirteen years, starting with local Jazz performances before moving on to musical theater. She is happy to be in her fourth production with the Lamplighters.
RACHEL LEVIN (Debut) Chorus. Rachel is a lifelong student of music and singing. She graduated from Lowell High School in San Francisco in 2014 and is now heading into her Junior year at Sonoma State University to pursue a bachelor of Music degree.
CHRIS LEWIS (Debut) Chorus. After a five-year hiatus from theater, Chris recently appeared in The Producers with Broadway by the Bay and is thrilled to continue the streak with Yeomen, his first production with Lamplighters. Off stage, Chris proudly directs the Fog City Singers, an SF-based men’s barbershop chorus. Enjoy the show!
DENNIS LICKTEIG (’17) Artistic Director. Dennis has been a successful and popular stage director around the Bay Area since moving here in 1991. He has directed numerous musicals and dramas for various Bay Area theaters including New Conservatory Theatre Center, Broadway By The Bay, Hillbarn Theater, Contra Costa Musical Theatre, 42nd Street Moon, and many others. At the Lamplighters, he directed our 2008 production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel. Other professional career experience includes Event and Audience Service Manager at the Lesher Center for the Arts, Artistic Director/Production Manager for the Peninsula Center Stage and he currently is the Director of Operations for TicketWeb (Ticket Master).
PHIL LOWERY (’94) Production Coordinator. Phil has enjoyed a decades-long affiliation with the Lamplighters variously as director, performer, stage manager, production manager, G&S Scenes program coach, and Lord High Janitor. Favorite projects include directing A Little Night Music, Candide (twice), and our TBA award-winning HMS Pinafore
BRIDGET MAGUIRE-COLTON (Debut) Chorus. Bridget is thrilled to be making her Lamplighters debut in the chorus of Yeomen. She was most recently seen in WVLO’s Irene and Lyric Theatre’s The Mountebanks. If you’re thinking her name looks familiar, Bridget married the eldest son of Lamplighters alum Geoffrey Colton, thus continuing the family tradition.
NICK MAIN (Debut) Chorus. Nick studies classical voice under Sam Faustine. In addition to his vocal studies, Nick studies music composition with Matthew Cmiel through Crowden’s John Adams’ Young Composers’ Program. His music has been performed by the Friction Quartet, Wild Rumpus, and members of Ensemble Dal Niente, as well as Formerly Known as Classical, a student new music ensemble which he directs.
CHARLES MARTIN (‘97) Wilfred, Leonard. Charles first appeared with the Lamplighters as Pish-Tush in our 1997 Mikado, and has since performed many bassbaritone roles with the company including Private Willis, Arac, Senator Jones, Horseman War, Sir Despard Murgatroyd, Dick Deadeye, the Mikado, the Sergeant of Police, Jigger Craigin, the Pirate King, the Usher, and the Zombie Rapper in our 2010 Gala. He has also appeared with CCMT and Pocket Opera. Charles studies voice with Baker Peeples, moonlights as a software engineer, and enjoys the romance of travel and the occasional extreme athletic event.
GREGORY MARTIN (Debut) Chorus. A twelve-year alumnus of the Pacific Boychoir Academy and three-time participant in the Gilbert & Sullivan Scenes program, Gregory Martin is excited to be joining the Lamplighters for his first production with this company.
MARGARET MARTIN (Debut) Chorus. Margaret is a 10-year alumna of the SF Girls Chorus, with whom she has performed at venues such as the Lincoln Center and Kennedy Center. She has performed in Carmen with SF Opera, in Cavalleria Rusticana and The Magic Flute with Pocket Opera, and is thrilled to be performing with Lamplighters for the first time.
JOHN MELIS (’05) Wilfred. A native of San Mateo, John is thrilled to return to the Lamplighters as Wilfred. He previously appeared as Strephon in Iolanthe and Pish-Tush in The Mikado. John attended Northwestern University, where he received a Bachelor of Music in Voice and Opera, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. While at Northwestern, he performed in numerous productions, including Benjamin Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream as King Theseus and Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro as Dr. Bartolo. Recently, John appeared with Broadway by the Bay as Jud Fry in Oklahoma! and Gaston in Beauty and the Beast When not on stage, he is an attorney who helps clients implement solutions for ending homelessness in the greater Bay Area.
CHARLES MONSON (’17) Chorus. Charles gleefully returns to the Lamplighters as a rowdy townsman, and you’ll easily recognize him as the tallest member of the cast. Charles is a Bay Area native with varied interests in the performance arts, from clowning around as ‘Redwood’ in the San Francisco drag scene to studying the classical repertoire as both a singer and pianist.
JULIA MULHOLLAND (Debut) Elsie. Philadelphia-born soprano Julia is thrilled to be making her Lamplighters debut as Elsie Maynard. She has appeared in numerous opera productions, concerts and recitals throughout the East Coast, Midwest and Bay Area. In recent years, she has been seen as Musetta in Puccini’s La Bohème , Miss Pinkerton from Menotti’s The Old Maid and the Thief and as a Teaching Artist with the San Francisco Opera Guild. Her other roles include: Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro), Hannah (The Cousin from Nowhere), Jane (Babes in Toyland), Mabel (The Pirates of Penzance), Zorah (Ruddigore), Adele (Die Fledermaus), Casilda (The Gondoliers), Constance (Dialogues des Carmélites), Dew Fairy (Hänsel und Gretel), Belinda (Dido and Aeneas) and Laetitia (The Old Maid and the Thief). When Julia is not singing she is a stay at home mom to her 2 children ages 3 and 1.
ERIN O’MEALLY (‘15) Phoebe. Hailing from the Jersey Shore, Erin recently earned her Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance from the SF Conservatory of Music. While there, she performed the roles of Drusilla in Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea, Lisa in The New Brain by William Finn, and as a featured soloist in Purcell’s Fairy Queen. Recent engagements include Musetta in Puccini’s La Bohème with Pocket Opera, along with being featured in the Lamplighters’ production of A Song To Sing, O! earlier this season. Erin recently won Third Prize in the James Toland Tier II Vocal Competition. She is currently studying voice with Jane Randolph and is looking forward to returning to Yosemite this winter to add her voice to the annual Bracebridge Dinner performance series at the Majestic Hotel, formerly the Ahwahnee.
