The Magic Flute
Company Bios

 

Delbert Unruh (Director) is a professor of theatre and film and a former director of The University Theatre at KU. In addition to his many design credits at KU, he maintains an active professional design practice in the Kansas City area; his work has been seen on the stages of the Missouri Repertory Theatre, American Heartland Theatre, and Dinner Playhouse, Inc. He has received the Kansas City "Best of Theatre" Award for best set design twice, in 1989 for How the Other Half Loves and in 1990 for Blithe Spirit. His design work has also been featured in many regional, national, and international design exhibitions, most notably Macbeth, in the 1980 First Biennial USITT Scenography Exposition; Antigone, in the Czechoslovak Section of the 1987 Prague Quadriennale; Come Back to the Five & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean, in the 1990 International Exposition of Scenography in Novi Sad, Yugoslavia; and The Tempest in the 1997 International Exposition of Film and Theatre Design, Tokyo, Japan. An acknowledged authority on American and Czechoslovakian stage design theory, he is a contributing editor to Theatre Design & Technology, the journal of the United States Institute For Theatre Technology. He has received the Herbert Greggs Award for excellence in writing for TD&T twice: in 1986 for his article, "Scenography, Ethics, and the American Tradition of Scene Design," and in 1992 for his five-article series, "Post Modern Issues in Action Design." In 1992 he published a book, Towards A New Theatre, The Lectures of Robert Edmond Jones.

Steven McDonald (Music Director and Conductor), originally from Reading, MA, is pursuing the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in orchestral conducting at KU, where he studies with Timothy Hankewich. He earned his undergraduate degree from the Boston University School of Music and was then accepted at the Sweelinck Conservatorium of Amsterdam, graduating in 1986 with the Certificate in Orchestral Conducting. His teachers have included Brian Priestman, Joop van Zon, and Thomas Dunn for conducting, Henk van Eeuwijck and Leo Abbott for piano, George Faxon for organ, and Craig Rutenberg for vocal coaching. McDonald has served as principal coach in the music department of Gordon College in Massachusetts, vocal coach in the Boston University Opera Institute, conductor of the MIT Chamber Orchestra, MIT IAP Orchestra, MIT Gilbert and Sullivan Players, and music director of Harvard University's Musica Modus Vivendi, as well as artistic director of the Early Music Series at the historic St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Marblehead, MA. In addition to these groups, Steven currently serves as conductor of the Lafayette Swing Orchestra, a "society" orchestra formed upon the configurations of the great hotel orchestras of the 1930's, and based in Wakefield, MA.

Mark Reaney (Scenic Designer and Virtual Reality Technologist) is professor of theatre and film at KU. He received his Master of Fine Arts degree in scenic design from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and taught for three years at the University of Tulsa before moving to KU. A winner of national and international awards for scenic design and a pioneer in the use of computer graphics in theatre design, Mark is currently head of the Institute for the Exploration of Virtual Realities. i.e.VR is a research group actively exploring the links between real-time computer simulations and theatrical performance. Mark's original VR technology and designs for KU's productions have won international acclaim and the attention of both theatre and computing professionals all over the world. After staging four VR productions at KU, a collaboration with the University of Kent at Canterbury, England, produced the exciting 2000 VR production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. And the 2001 production of the children's theatre piece Dinosaurus introduced the use of real-time virtual characters in the form of giant dinosaurs.

Ione Unruh (Costume Designer) is a Lawrence designer and fiber artist. She holds a drama degree from the University of Montana and a Master of Fine Arts degree in design from the University of Oklahoma. She has also studied at Northwestern University and KU, and has taken numerous courses from private artists. Ione has worked in the theatre as a designer, director, actress, and stage technician since 1956. As a fiber artist she has designed three unique stage sets in fiber and fabric, including a mobile set for Macbeth at OU. Ione has also been an artist-in residence at McNeese State University. Since 1992 she has operated Sew What, a design and custom sewing business in Lawrence, which specializes in the design and construction of unique wedding dresses. At KU, Ione has designed for The University Theatre, University Dance Company, KU Opera, and for Roger Shimomura's performance art piece, The Last Sansei Story. She also designed costumes for The Prairie Project and the Big Jay's leisure suit.

Stephen Hudson-Mairet (Lighting Designer) is now in his third season as Assistant Professor of Theatre Design at Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI. Some of his recent designs at Marquette include scenic and/or lighting design for Into the Woods, The Fir Tree, Italian American Reconciliation, Back to Methuselah, Everything I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, The Merry Wives of Windsor, and Damn Yankees. Steve has designed sets, lights, and costumes and directed productions at the middle school, high school, and university level for the last 12 years. He received a Master of Fine Arts degree in scenography from KU in May 1998. Steve published an article in the Spring 2002 issue of Theatre Design and Technology entitled “Animated Scenery Using Simple Web Page Software.” He continues to study the use of computer technology and its application in theatre, as a design tool, as a medium to project and create scenic elements in productions, and as a mode for presentation on the web.

Aaron Dyszelski (Make-Up Designer) a second-year graduate scenography student, was born and raised in Milwaukee, WI. This season he was the lighting designer for The Royal Family and scenic, costume, and make-up designer for Where to, Turelu? Last season he designed costumes and make-up for South Pacific. He attended Cardinal Stritch University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in sculpture. At Cardinal Stritch he worked on and acted in such shows as A Midsummer Night's Dream, Juno and the Paycock, and Good. After graduation, he spent a year as a free-lance scenic and props artisan around Milwaukee, working with the Skylight Opera, Theater X, Modjeska Youth Theater, and Creative Services International.

Leslie Bennett (Choreographer) is in her first year as assistant professor of theatre and film and resident movement coach for the University Theatre. She holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in theatre education from the Boston University School for the Arts. Leslie previously taught acting movement and improvisation at Emerson College and was a movement instructor for the Boston University School for the Arts Opera Department. An accomplished vocal performer and choreographer, Leslie is recognized as an Actor Combatant by American Society of Fight Directors in Rapier and Dagger, Knife Fighting, and Unarmed Combat.

Cast

Kelli Berry (Second Lady), originally from Manhattan, is a doctoral student in voice performance. She has been involved in several KU Opera productions, including singing the role of Fiordilgi in Cosi fan tutte. Kelli has also performed with the Kansas City Lyric Opera, Lawrence Community Theatre, and at the Columbian Theatre. She won the 1998 "Most Promising Newcomer Award" from the Metropolitan Opera Guild, and recently returned from New York, where she competed in the Lotte Lenya Competition for Singers, sponsored by the Kurt Weill Foundation.

Andrea M. Coleman (Third Lady) is a senior vocal performance major from Lincoln, NE. She has performed in the KU productions of The Mikado, Pirates of Penzance, and The Bartered Bride. She has also performed with the Lawrence Chamber Orchestra and the Kansas City Lyric Opera. Andrea is president of the KU Choral Society as well as the Xi chapter of Mu Phi Epsilon.

Kellen Cruden (Second Slave) is a junior English major from Tonganoxie. This is his first KU production although he has performed in the musical I Am A Star and in a student short film, Security. Kellen is a member of Phi Kappa Theta Honors Society, and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. He is also an Oread Scholar.

Kelley Bryce Davies (First Slave) is a freshman from Dallas, TX, majoring in theatre and film. Earlier this season he appeared as Jo, the young waiter in You Never Can Tell. Off-campus he has appeared in productions of Marvin's Room, Macbeth, Richard III, Amadeus, and Servant of Two Masters. While in high school, Kelley was involved in oral interpretation and went to state for dramatic interpretation during his junior and senior years.

Greer Davis (Pamina) (April 27, May 1 & 3) is a junior vocal performance major from Golden Valley, MN. She has performed in the KU productions of The Mikado, Pirates of Penzance, The Telephone, and The Bartered Bride. The recipient of a KU Voice Scholarship, Greer was selected to sing for the Department of Music and Dance Honors Recital. She is a member of the KU Choral Society and the Chamber Choir.

Andrew J. Graves (Monostatos) is a second year graduate student in vocal performance. He has appeared in the KU Opera productions of Trouble in Tahiti, The Mikado, and Pirates of Penzance as well as various scenes for Opera Workshop. The recipient of a KU Voice Scholarship, Andrew is also a graduate teaching assistant in opera and the sponsor of the KU Parachute Club.

Evan C. Grosshans (Speaker & Second Armed Man) is a junior theatre and theatre/voice major from Lawrence. Earlier this season he appeared in The University Theatre productions of The Dying Gaul and You Never Can Tell. Previously he was seen in Six Degrees of Separation and was a member of the chorus for the productions of The Bartered Bride and The Pirates of Penzance. Off-campus Evan has performed in productions of The Importance of Being Earnest and The Devil's Disciple for the Stirling University Drama Society. A National Merit Scholar and recipient of a KU Voice Scholarship, Evan is a member of the International Thespian Society.

Brian Heinen (First Priest) is a senior from DeSoto, majoring in secondary education with an English and speech communications emphasis. This is his first KU production.

Akiko Imakawa (Papagena) is a senior vocal performance major from Overland Park. She has appeared in the KU Opera productions of The Telephone and Trouble in Tahiti.

Yoojin Jeon (Queen of the Night) (April 27, May 1 & 4) is a doctoral candidate in vocal performance from Seoul, Korea. For the KU Opera she sang the role of Madame Goldentrill in The Impresario. She sang the role of Lucy in The Telephone and was the soprano soloist in Handel's Messiah.

Kristin Johnston (First Lady) is a first-year graduate student in vocal performance. Originally from Keller, TX, Kristin previously attended the University of Oklahoma, where she sang in numerous opera productions. She has also performed with the Cimarron Circuit Opera in productions of Hansel and Gretel, The Mikado, Ruddigore, and Amahl and the Night Visitors. Since coming to KU, Kristin has appeared as Micaela in Carmen. She has studied voice with Vivian Durant of the Paris Conservatoire. The recipient of voice scholarships at OU and KU, Kristin has been awarded the Sword of Honor from Sigma Alpha Iota music fraternity.

David Lara (Papageno) is a graduate student in vocal performance from Buhler. He has performed with the KU Opera in productions of The Wandering Scholar, Cosi fan tutte, Gianni Schicchi, Pirates of Penzance, The Mikado, and Iolanthe. David sang the role of Hosie in Cold Sassy Tree with the Kansas City Lyric Opera and has been a member of the chorus for several KCLO productions. He is a member of the American Guild of Musical Artisans.

Soyoun Lim (Pamina) (April 26, May 2 & 4) is a doctoral candidate in vocal performance. She has appeared with the KU Opera in Gianni Schicchi and previously sang the role of Papagenia in The Magic Flute. Soyoun and her husband, Peter Chun, a member of the KU viola faculty, have an 18-month-old daughter, Suzy.

Darren Maloney (Second Priest) is a junior theatre and film major from Overland Park. Earlier this season, he performed as the Chauffeur in The Royal Family and Achilles in Iphigenia at Aulis. Last spring he played Radio Operator McCaffrey in South Pacific.

Joshua Mochel (Tamino) (April 26, May 2 & 4) is a senior vocal performance major from St. Charles, MO. He sings with the Kansas City Chorale and has performed in numerous concerts and oratorios.

Dustin Peterson (First Armed Man) is a senior theatre/voice major from Douglass. He has performed in the KU productions of South Pacific, The Mikado, Pirates of Penzance, The Bartered Bride, and Gianni Schicchi. Dustin also appeared in The Scarlet Pimpernel at the New Theatre in Overland Park, and was a soloist for the Seven Deadly Sins with the Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra. He is the lead voice in the Random Harmony Barbershop Quartet.

Brandon Snook (Tamino) (April 27, May 1 & 3) is a sophomore vocal performance major from Richardson, TX. He has performed in the KU Opera productions of The Mikado, Pirates of Penzance, and The Impresario. Before coming to KU, Brandon had roles in 1776, Guys and Dolls, Carousel, Gypsy, and The Crucible. He is a member of the KU Chamber Choir and was a two-time Texas All-State Choir member.

Ashley Elizabeth Winters (Queen of the Night) (April 26, May 2 & 3) is a graduate student in vocal performance from Las Cruces, NM. She has been involved as a singer or crew member in the KU Opera productions of The Mikado, Pirates of Penzance, and The Telephone. A member of the American Guild of Musical Artists, Ashley is married to Benjamin Winters, who sings the role of Sorastro in this production.

Benjamin Winters (Sorastro) is a graduate student in vocal performance from Devens, MA. He has appeared in the KU opera productions of The Mikado, Pirates of Penzance, Gianni Schicchi, The Impresario, and Mahogany Songspiel. A member of the American Guild of Musical Artists, Benjamin is married to Ashley Elizabeth Winters, who is singing the role of Queen of the Night in this production.

 

Bühnenarabiter
Katrina Alford, Burlington sophomore.
Thomas Davis, Olathe senior.
James F. Horton, Elkhart sophomore.
Anne Schmader, Easton junior.
Joshua Vignery, Goodland junior.
Andrew York, Wichita sophomore.

Spirits
Melissa Hambleton, Leavenworth sophomore.
Katie Niesen, Webster Groves, MO, freshman.
Laura Willms, Hays junior.

Chorus
Avguste Antonov, Overland Park sophomore.
Michael Brown, Perry junior.
Emily Chaney, Lawrence freshman.
Hilary Dow, Eureka sophomore.
Emily Hernandez, Salina junior.
Dylan Hilpman, Lawrence freshman.
Sara Koven, Overland Park freshman.
Shannon Marsh, Lenexa freshman.
Shaun Whisler, Olathe junior.