The cast for DON IMBROGLIO includes Nick Dalton as Dante, Arielle Doneson as Angelica, Robert DuSold as Don Imbroglio, Valerie MacCarthy as Donna, Raymond Jaramillo Mcleod as Joey, Vale Rideout as Cesar, and Wayne Schroder as Lascivo, and Erica Schroeder as Chastity.  The ensemble includes Allison Hilliard, Charis Fliermans, Constantine Germanacos, and Duane McDevitt.

 

About the Creative Team

 

Peter Hilliard (Composer) studied voice with John Shirley-Quirk at the Peabody Conservatory, composition with David Conte, and orchestration with Conrad Susa at the San Francisco Conservatory; and received an MFA in Graduate Musical Theatre Writing at NYU.  His choral music has been performed all over the U.S. and by the Berlin Cathedral Choir on their tour of the U.S., and recently won the Grand Prize in the 2005 New Yorkers Chorus Composition Competition.  His "Song for Saint Cecilias Day" (SSATB) was selected recently for a reading session by Matthew Glandorf and the Philadelphia Choral Arts Society sponsored by the American Composers Forum.  Peter has music-directed extensively on both coasts and Off-Broadway.  He lives in Pennsylvania with his wife Allison, and their children Elizabeth, Nicholas and Jonathan.

 

Matt Boresi (Librettist) holds an MFA from the NYU Musical Theatre Writing Program.  He received the Max Dreyfus Award from the ASCAP Foundation and is an Illinois Lincoln Laureate.  Boresi has served as an outreach librettist for City Center Encores!, a contributing lyricist for the Lindemann Young Artist Development Program at the Metropolitan Opera, is an acting and writing instructor for the North Central College Musical Theatre Workshop, and recently conducted  Master Classes at the Northwestern University School of Music and the Midwest Young Artists Summer Program.  His new singing translation of "Quando Men Vo" was featured in Bronx Operas production of La Boheme in May 2005.

 

Hilliard and Boresi recently had excerpts of their chamber opera work performed at the National Opera Association National Convention in NYC, and have appeared as visiting opera lecturers at the Tanglewood Institute.  Together they have written Wonderful Clockwork (NYU); Don Imbroglio (NYU, the Lark Theatre); Eat Your Greens: Verdi by Vegetables (Dixon Place, Open Circle Arts, Great Small Works); The Staten Island Grand Operas Administrative Intern Presents: Tosca (Open Circle, Bad-Ass Clown Productions); The Filthy Habit (Manhattan Opera Theatre, The Tanglewood Institute, 2005 NOA Chamber Opera Competition finalist); and The Brazilian, an opera-bouffe based on the play by Meilhac and Halvy, which premiered in October 2004 as a joint production by Manhattan Opera Theatre and the French Institute Alliance Francaise at Florence Gould Hall.  They are currently at work on an operatic adaptation of the Off-Broadway play An Empty Plate at the Cafe Du Grand-Boeuf  by Michael Hollinger.  Their Musical Live Radio Play The Don Giovanni Radio Hour will receive its World Premiere in NYC in May 2006 as a joint production between Beth Morrison Projects and New Sounds Music Theatre.

 

Jenny Lord (Director) is delighted to be a part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival.  She has directed several operas, including Peter Hilliard and Matt Boresi's The Filthy Habit for Manhattan Opera Theatre; Cosi fan tutte, The Marriage of Figaro,and Beatrice & Benedick for Berkeley Opera; Eugene Onegin, The Daughter of the Regiment, and The Grand Duchess of Gerolstein for Pocket Opera; and Street Scene for San Francisco State University.  Theatrical directing credits include Bee-luther-hatchee for New Century Theatre, A Christmas Carol for Dallas Theater Center, and Rodgers & Hart's By Jupiter for 42^nd Street Moon.  She is a graduate of Yale University.

 

Steven McGhee (Musical Director) works in both the operatic and musical theater spheres as a musical director and coach, as well a recital and cabaret pianist.  He earned his masters' degree in collaborative piano from the University of Michigan, as a student of Martin Katz.  Recent projects have included the musicals The Secret Garden, Assassins, and The Fantasticks, and the operas The Cunning Little Vixen, Xerxes, and Candide (with Frederica von Stade as The Old Lady).

 

About the Cast

 

Nick Dalton (Dante) recently finished a summer of playing Ethan in The Full Monty at Gateway Playhouse, In Person opposite Eli Wallach and Anne Jackson, Hero in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at Mill Mountain Theatre, and Sal in the Pre-Off-Broadway run of 100 Years Into the Heart (NYMF 2004).  NYC/Off-Broadway: The Glory of Richard Rodgers (Lincoln Center) alongside Karen Ziemba and George Dvorsky; Tribute to Adolph Green (Guild Hall) alongside Betty Comden, Melissa Errico and Stephen Bogardus; Love From Judy (Musicals Tonight!); and Soar Like an Eagle (Lion Theatre).  Other Favorites: Hair(European Tour as Berger), Damn Yankees (Joe Hardy), 1776 (Rutledge), and a new ice skating musical called Cold as Ice - produced by Nancy Kerrigan.  Nick is a proud member of AEA, as well as a graduate of Western Michigan University.  Thanks to the peeps at About Artists and the fam for providing genes that make him seem ambiguously Italian/Greek. www.nicholasdalton.org

 

Arielle Doneson (Angelica) got her training at The Interlochen Center for the Arts and the University of Michigan School of Music.  Recentregional credits include Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance, Anne in A Little Night Music, Cunegonde in Candide alongside opera star Frederica Von Stade, Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi, Julia in The Grand Duke, West Side Story, The Mikado, Iolanthe and Fiddler on the Roof.  Internationally, Arielle performed the title role in Donizettis opera Rita throughout the Marche region of Italy.  In May, 2005 Arielle shared the Joes Pub stage with Michael Arden.  Recent film credits include Blood Red, a historical re-enactment to be aired on the Discovery Channel on Halloween 2005 anda supporting role in the festival favorite, Pirates vs. Ninjas by award winning director, Ben Epstein. 

 

Robert DuSold (Don Imbroglio) recently played Ned in the Drama Desk-nominated The Audience, as well as Claude in the NYC Fringe Festivals Mimi le Duck.  Broadway and National Tour credits include Jason Green in The Producers, Javert and Valjean in Les Miserables, Monsieur Andre in Phantom of the Opera, Old Deuteronomy in Cats, Pete in Hal Prince's Showboat, assorted roles in Jekyll and Hyde, Kiss of the Spiderwoman and Chicago.  Regional and Stock credits include Sweeney Todd in Sweeney Todd at Connecticut Rep (Connecticut Critics Circle Award Best Actor nomination), Jules/Bob Greenberg in Sunday in the Park with George at DC's Arena Stage, Benny Southstreet in Guys and Dolls at Papermill Playhouse, Father in Chrysalis at  the Adirondack Theatre Festival, Peron in Evita at California Music Theatre and various shows at the O'Neill Festival, Williamstown Theatre Festival and many others.  Recordings include A Gala for Harold Prince, Sondheim: An Evening in Celebration at Carnegie Hall, the Anastasia soundtrack and others.  Robert is also featured in the new book Making It on Broadway: Actors' Tales of Climbing to the Top published by Allworth Press.

 

Charis Fliermans (Ensemble).  Credits include Soloist in Bernstein's Mass at Carnegie Hall, Dallas Symphony, Colorado Symphony and the Vatican, now out on DVD. Regional credits include Steel Magnolias (Truvy), On the Town (Claire), Into the Woods (Baker's Wife), Guys and Dolls (Adelaide).  Education: Bmus-Wheaton College, MMus-University of Colorado. Rotary Ambassadorial Fellow at the Rossini Conservatory in Pesaro, Italy.  Proud member of AEA.

 

Constantine Germanacos (Ensemble) is thrilled to be a part of such an exciting production and festival!  He has performed in New York with Musicals Tonight! in The Chocolate Soldier and in a gala with Paul Gemignani, Marin Mazzie and Brent Barrett, honoring the composer Jack Lawrence.  Favorite shows/roles: Cinderella (Prince u/s) at NSMT, Brigadoon (Charlie) at MGR Playhouse, A Grand Night for Singing, West Side Story (Tony), Into the Woods (Prince/Wolf) and HMS Pinafore (Ralph).  Training: Manhattan School of Music, CAP21 (NYU) and the Tanglewood Institute.

 

Allison Hilliard (Ensemble) is delighted to be a part of this fabulous piece.  In Philadelphia, she was seen this year in the title role of Snow White and will be making her Walnut Street Theatre debut this summer in Godspell.  California regional credits include: Company (April), Moon Over Buffalo (Eileen), Passion (Clara), Into the Woods (Cinderella), Radio Gals (Rennebelle), West Coast Premiere of Passion (Mistress, Clara cover), 1940s Radio Hour (Connie),  Annie (with Sally Struthers), and Children of Eden (with Adrien Zmed).   Allison was a flute major at the Peabody Conservatory of Music and studied voice with Edward Sayegh.  She and her husband, composer Peter Hilliard, reside in Pennsylvania with their three children Elizabeth, Nicholas, and Jonathan.

 

Valerie MacCarthy (Donna). A native New Yorker, Franco-American Valerie made her acclaimed debut at theTanglewood Festival in Ravel's L'Heure Espangnole under the baton of Seiji Ozawa, and again in Bizet's Les Pcheurs de Perles with the Holland Park Festival, London.  These successes quickly led to an invitation from the Ravinia Festival to appear as soloist with theChicago Symphony Orchestra in John de Lancie's Romeo & Juliet Project, which was followed by a return engagement the next season for Le bourgeois Gentilhomme.  The Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Pasadena Symphony invited Valerie to re-create her success in de Lancie's Romeo & Juliet Project.  In the 2003-04 season, Ms. MacCarthy created and performed a one-woman touring show entitled Off The Hook - in which she offered her personal interpretations of Menotti's The Telephone and Poulenc's La Voix Humaine.  The show premiered at New Yorks Alliance Francaisand has since been performed with the Charlemagne Chamber Orchestrain Brussels.  The 2004-05 seasons included numerous exciting debuts including Florentine Opera(Milwaukee), for whom she sang Marzelline in Fidelio and Clorinda in La Cenerentola. At Carnegie Hall Valerie performed Adele in Fledermaus at the National Chorales prestigious New Years Eve Gala in December 2004, and made her debut at Milans Teatro alla Scalasinging Musetta in La Bohme, a role which was the vehicle for her Broadway debut when she appeared in the Baz Luhrmann production.  Performance credits also include a recent debut at the Grand Theater de Genve (Parsifal), and at Carnegie Hall singing the Mozart Requiem and the Vivaldi Gloria with Mid-America Productions.  Recent New York appearances include her debut with L'Opera Franais de New York (Les Pelerins de la Mecque - Gluck), with the Orchestra of St. Luke's (Dr. Miracle - Bizet), and the Brooklyn Academy of Music (La Favola d'Orfeo - Monteverdi). In her European recital debut she sang at Amsterdam's renowned Concertgebow de Kleine Zaal.

 

Duane McDevitt (Ensemble).  A native of Coatesville, PA, Duane most recently had the pleasure of performing the role of Sir Lionel in the National Tour of Camelot starring Robert Goulet.  Duane's favorite roles include: Gaylord Ravenal in Showboat and Pontius Pilate in Jesus Christ Superstar (both at Allenberry Playhouse); Pirate King in Pirates of Penzance and Colonel Calverly in Patience (both at New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players); and Dick Deadeye in HMS Pinafore (Opera Delaware).  Duane recently made his Carnegie Hall debut as soloist in the Bach Magnificat and Ralph Vaughn Williams's Festival of Carols.  Some of his signature operatic roles include Papageno in The Magic Flute, Count Almaviva in The Marriage of Figaro, Dr. Falke in Die Fledermaus, Gregorio in Romeo et Juliette, and Baron Douphol in La Traviata. Other regional credits include: San Diego Opera, Tulsa Opera, Indianapolis Opera, Opera Pacific, Des Moines Metro Opera, San Diego Comic Opera, Connecticut Grand Opera, Prince Music Theatre, York Theatre, Sacramento Music Circus, and the San Diego Chamber Orchestra.  Duane has traveled to over 80 countries with his wife, Michele McConnell, performing their duo cabarets on Radisson Seven Seas Cruises and at the Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel in Interlaken, Switzerland.  Duane received his Bachelor's of Music in Vocal Performance and Bachelor of Arts in Musical Theatre from West Chester University, and his Masters in Opera from Florida State University.

 

Raymond Jaramillo McLeod (Joey) has performed in every theatrical venue ranging from The Metropolitan Opera to Broadway, television and film.  McLeod, who holds an MFA from the University of Texas, made his New York debut in Zefirellis La Boheme at The Metropolitan Opera.  His booming bass baritone has been critically acclaimed in hundreds of stage productions, including the original Broadway cast of Jekyll & Hyde, Dance of the Vampires starring Michael Crawford, Juan Peron in the 20th Anniversary National Tour of Evita, Wreck in Wonderful Town starring Donna Murphy (Drama Desk nomination), Eddie in MTCs  The Wild Party starring Idina Menzel and Taye Diggs, and Jigger in The Hollywood Music Bowls all-star cast of Carousel with Judy Kaye, Faith Prince and Tom Bosley.  Extensive recording credits include his solo CD Jaramillo...Until Then.  TV appearances include the "infamous" role of Psycho Bob in "Fresh Prince of Bel Air" with Will Smith.  An unforgettable voice, McLeod is heard in the Disneys films Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid and Pocahontas, hundreds of movie soundtracks and numerous commercials.  His concert work includes both solo work and as part of New York Baritone trio, Oh! Those Voices!, soon appearing at venues throughout the United States.  At universities across the country, Mr. McLeod, with his wife Deborah Kym, co-founders of DRM Studios in New York City, have taught the techniques described in her book A Blueprint for Genius.  McLeod, a much-in-demand vocal coach, also teaches voice at NYU and Columbia University.

 

About the Producers