Cast
Bard 1 .......................... Viraj Tathavadekar (Jonathan Crane)
Bard 2 .......................... Lana Lanzanas (Paula Casillas-López)
Odysseus ............................ Harrison Hunger (Cooper Bush)
Penelope ......................... Olivia Emanuele (Violet Procunier)
Ithacan Girl 1 Lillian Fellows
Ithacan Girl 2 Violet Procunier
Ithacan Girl 3 Laila Robleh
Ithacan Girl 4 .................................................. Rucha Joshi
First Mate ............................. Jonathan Crane (Abigail Verok)
Sailor 1 ............. Isabella Edmonds-Hogan (Rosaleigh Wyman)
Sailor 2 ............................. Oliver Strickfaden (Abigail Verok)
Sailor 3 .......................................................... Abigail Verok
Sailor 4 Christine Thomas
Sailor 5 Madeline Taylor-Schirmang
Sailor 6 Rosaleigh Wyman
Athena ..................... Ruhi Balaji (Madeline Taylor-Schirmang)
Cyclops ............................. Mark Panikkar (Sofie Warburton)
Poseidon ................................. Ty Edwards (Brody Reynhout)
Aeolus ....................................... Varun Brijesh (Caitlin Juip)
Circe ............................ Paula Casillas-López (Lillian Fellows)
Siren Lillian Fellows (Violet Procunier)
Suitor Brody Reynhout (Allan Grigsby)
(Understudy)
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PRINCIPAL CHORUS
Natalie Attard
Ruhi Balaji
Jamie Boyle
Varun Brijesh
Paula Casillas-López
Jonathan Crane
Addison Danke
Isabella Edmonds-Hogan
Ty Edwards
Olivia Emanuele
Lillian Fellows
Allan Grigsby
Harrison Hunger
Aya Ibarisha
Rucha Joshi
Caitlin Juip
Reed Koesel
Lana Lanzanas
Nora Mason
Sophia Mason
Isaac Ovando Osorio
Mark Panikkar
Quentin Pierre
Violet Procunier
Brody Reynhout
Laila Robleh
Riley Roth
Oliver Strickfaden
Viraj Tathavadekar
Madeline Taylor-Schirmang
Christine Thomas
Cordelia Thomas
Abigail Verok
Sofie Warburton
Rosaleigh Wyman
PREPARATORY CHORUS
Hamza Alshakarna
Meagan Bell
Molly Boufford
Leah Dekutoski
Elisa Delogu
Zoey Dobrota
Vera Khoreva
David Lemons
Ava Mallett
Cristión Matthews
Norah Procunier
James Rea
Sarah Rea
Tatyanna Rodgers
Hunter Rogers
Gracie Ross
Paige Roth
Millie Sorenson
Zion Stewart
DETROIT OPERA 3
CAST / PRODUCTION
ORCHESTRA
Joseph Jackson, Piano
Laura Larson*, Flute
Benjamin Maxwell*, Cello
David Taylor, Percussion
PRODUCTION
Technical & Design Staff
Jeff Beyersdorf, Technical Director
Brodrick Whittley, Assistant Technical Director
Moníka Essen, Property Master
Costumes
Suzanne Hanna, Costume Director
Michaela Tanskley, Wardrobe Supervisor
Patricia Sova Jr, First Hand
Mary Ellen Shuffett, Fitting Assistant
Maureen Abele, Dylan McBride, Paul Moran, Rachael Parrott, Lupe Vazquez, Stitchers
Wigs & Makeup
Vanessa Cassidy, Kristine Clifton-Higgins, Kaitlyn Denzler, Denise Llombart, Nicole Pangas, Cedasha Randolph, Esther Soto, Carol Taylor
Production Crew
Hailli Ridsdale, Assistant Stage Manager
Kaila Madison, Assistant Stage Manager
DETROIT OPERA YOUTH CHORUS STAFF
Suzanne Mallare Acton, Director
Twannette Nash, Chorus Administrator
Jane Panikkar, Preparatory Chorus Conductor
Joseph Jackson, Preparatory Chorus Accompanist
Maria Cimarelli, Preparatory Chorus Accompanist
Emily Dunford, Theory Instructor
*Detroit Opera Orchestra members
Detroit Federation of Musicians, Local #5, of the American Federation of Musicians.
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This performance of Odyssey is presented by
PHOTO BY KARLI CADEL / THE GLIMMERGLASS FESTIVAL
BEN MOORE COMPOSER
The songs of American composer Ben Moore have been heard at venues across the world including Carnegie Hall, the Metropolitan Opera, the Kennedy Center, Wigmore Hall in London and the Deutsche Oper in Berlin. His work has been called “brilliant” and “gorgeously lyrical” by the New York Times while Opera News has praised the “easy tunefulness” and “romantic sweep” of his songs. Singers who have performed his work include Deborah Voigt, Susan Graham, Frederica von Stade, Isabel Leonard, Lawrence Brownlee, Nathan Gunn and Audra McDonald. Moore’s work includes opera, musical theater, cabaret, choral music, chamber music and comedy material. Moore composed the scores for three operas including Enemies , a Love Story (libretto by Nahma Sandrow), which premiered at Palm Beach Opera in 2015 and has been called “an important new work that will find its place among those works that audiences will be moved by...” (Fred Plotkin/WQXR).
Odyssey and Robin Hood (librettos by Kelley Rourke) are youth operas commissioned by the Glimmerglass Festival. They have been seen at venues across the country including Seattle Opera, Minnesota Opera, Houston Grand Opera and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. In 2006 the Metropolitan Opera featured two of Ben’s comedy songs in a gala broadcast nationally. Recent events include the premiere of the song cycle And Another Song Comes On (words by Mark Campbell) for the London Song Festival and the premiere of a newly revised version of the choral work, The Wave Rises , for Cantori New York. Website: mooreart.com
KELLEY ROURKE LIBRETTIST
Kelley Rourke is a librettist, translator and dramaturg. She has collaborated with composers including John Glover, Laura Karpman, Ben Moore, Kenji Oh, Kamala Sankaram and Wang Lu on new operas. Her modern English adaptations of numerous standard and not-so-standard operas have been hailed as “crackingly witty” (The Independent , London) and “remarkably well wedded to the music and versification in arias” (New York Times). She has written libretti for four youth operas, with performances across the country. Her work has been commissioned and performed by the Metropolitan Opera, Washington National Opera, English National Opera, Welsh National Opera, San Francisco Conservatory, and Milwaukee Opera Theatre, among others. Kelley is resident dramaturg for the Glimmerglass Festival and Artistic Advisor for Washington National Opera’s American Opera Initiative. Kelley holds degrees in piano performance and arts management, and she is a Certified Critical Response Practitioner. She has studied, practiced and taught yoga and mindfulness for more than two decades, and is a co-developer and trainer for a wellness curriculum that has been implemented in public schools in New York City, Houston, Indianapolis, El Paso and Columbia, SC. Recent and upcoming premieres include The Emissary (Kenji Oh, composer) at Opera Parallèle; right now, an orchestral song cycle with composer John Glover for Chrystal E. Williams, Felipe Hostins, and American Composers Orchestra; Macbeth and the Weïrd Sisters, a rock adaptation of Verdi’s Macbeth featuring Andrew Wilkowske at Theater Latte Da; Songbird at Washington National Opera; and a new adaptation of Hansel and Gretel for Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Instagram: @kelley_rebecca
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SARAH HAWKINS RUSK DIRECTOR
Sarah Hawkins Rusk, a native of Indiana, has been working as an actor, director, and educator across the country for the last eighteen years. Hawkins Rusk received her MFA from Wayne State University and BA from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN. As a director, she has worked with such theatres as Open Book Theatre Company, Tipping Point Theatre, Wagon Wheel Theatre, Motor City Youth Theatre and Detroit Mercy Theatre Company, where she garnered national recognition from the Kennedy Center American Theatre Festival in 2021 for her impactful production of Antigone. Her work has also extended to the digital realm, as she directed the DOYC’s first-ever digital opera performance of The Very Last Green Thing in 2020, pushing the boundaries of artistic expression. As a performer, Hawkins Rusk has graced the stages of renowned theaters across the country, from Detroit-area theatre such as Tipping Point Theatre, Planet Ant, and Matrix Theatre to the Commonweal Theatre Company in Lanesboro, MN, CLIMB Theatre in St. Paul, MN, and the prestigious Creede Repertory Theatre in Creede, CO. Hawkins Rusk's dedication to her craft extends to sharing her knowledge and expertise with aspiring artists. As a certified teacher in the transformative Michael Chekhov technique, she teaches at the University of Detroit Mercy, shaping the next generation of theatrical visionaries. Instagram: @sakathharu
J ANE ARVIDSON PANIKKAR CONDUCTOR
Jane Arvidson Panikkar is conductor of the Detroit Opera Youth Preparatory Chorus. Panikkar is also a professional pianist, trumpeter, vocalist, and teacher. Prior to her position with the Detroit Opera, she was on the music faculty at Concordia University, conducting the Chamber Choir. Currently, Panikkar is a music director at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Ann Arbor and serves as a board member and Vice President of Artistic Affairs for the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra. She is also the high school and middle school choir director for HSC, one of the largest homeschool co-ops in Michigan, and conducts and directs theater productions at Saline High School. Panikkar is in high demand as a collaborative pianist, while maintaining a private voice studio. She holds a master’s degree in choral conducting from Eastern Michigan University, and a bachelor of music degree in trumpet performance from the University of Michigan. Panikkar resides in Saline, Michigan, with her husband, international opera s inger Sean Panikkar, and their four children.
ELIZABETH GECK HAIR / MAKEUP DESIGN
Elizabeth Geck has been part of DOYC since its inception. In addition to her work with DOYC, Ms. Geck has worked with a plethora of wig and makeup designers over the course of the last 20 years with Detroit Opera main stage productions. Some of the notable productions
Elizabeth has been a part of include: Aida , Cyrano, Margaret Garner, Bliss , Frida , La bohème , and most recently, Ainadamar.
MARIO RAYMOND LIGHTING DESIGN
Mario Raymond is a lighting designer based out of Kansas City. He is originally from Louisiana. He acquired his BFA from University of Louisiana at Lafayette and his MFA from Wayne State University. His recent credits include The Legend of Georgia McBride (Florida Rep) and The Color Purple (HSRT). He is excited to design Fiddler on the Roof (SSMT) this summer.
DETROIT OPERA 7 ARTIST PROFILES
RUHI BALAJI ATHENA
Ruhi Balaji is an eighth grader at South Hills Middle School. Within Ruhi’s 2 years at DOYC, she has been in The Maker of Illusions. She is the AGM National Champion for the vocal classical genre for 2 years in a row. She also plays competitive tennis, piano, and cello.
VARUN BRIJESH AEOLUS
Varun Brijesh is a 7th grader, who is currently doing his first year at DOYC. In addition to singing, he plays cello and is a part of the school orchestra.
PAULA CASILLAS-LÓPEZ
CIRCE, BARD 2 UNDERSTUDY
Paula Casillas-López is a sophomore at Huron High School. In her three years at DOYC, she has played Pied Piper (The Pied Piper) and been a part of the choruses for The Maker of Illusions, La bohème, and upcoming The Cunning Little Vixen She enjoys acting in her local theater program and crocheting.
JONATHAN CRANE
FIRST MATE, BARD 1 UNDERSTUDY
Jonathan Crane is a 7th grader. Jonathan has enjoyed every moment in his first year with DOYC. He is grateful for everything he learned this season. He is looking forward to playing Pepík in the upcoming mainstage production of The Cunning Little Vixen . He also enjoys playing piano and golf.
ISABELLA EDMONDS-HOGAN SAILOR 1
Isabella Edmonds-Hogan is in 10th grade and excited to sail the seas in Odyssey. This is her third year with DOYC, she is also a member of the UofM Youth Chamber Singers. She dedicates her performance to the memory of her Grammy, Connie Edmonds & her Grandma, Judy Hogan who recently passed.
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TY EDWARDS POSEIDON
Ty Edwards is a senior attending Southfield High School for the Arts and Technology. Through 7 years in DOYC, they've performed in The Hobbit, H.M.S. Pinafore , The Secret World of Og, and The Very Last Green Thing, and mainstage opera productions Tosca , Hansel and Gretel, and The Summer King
OLIVIA EMANUELE PENELOPE
Olivia Emanuele is a freshman at Grosse Ile high school. This is her 2nd year being a chorister with the DOYC. She has been performing in the theater since the age of 6 and is currently also cast in Phantom of the Opera at DYPAC.
LILLIAN FELLOWS SIREN
Lillian Fellows is a high school senior. This is her 5th year and 7th performance with DOYC. She has portrayed many roles on the Detroit Opera stage such as (Zelda) in The Very Last Green Thing and (Queen) in The Maker of Illusions.
HARRISON HUNGER ODYSSEUS
Prior to joining DOYC as Odysseus, Harrison Hunger performed in various community theatre productions, most notably as Gaston in Beauty & the Beast , Jay in Descendants, and Ernst Ludwig in Cabaret . He is currently studying voice with Rolfe Dauz and cello with Jason Charboneau.
RUCHA JOSHI ITHACAN GIRL 4
Rucha Joshi is a seventh grader at Larson Middle school, Troy. She has been with DOYC for 4 years and is playing Ithacan Girl 4 in Odyssey. She has been a part of The Very Last Green Thing (DOYC's first virtual opera). Rucha also enjoys playing the flute.
DETROIT OPERA 9 DOYC PROFILES
LANA LANZANAS BARD 2
Lana Lanzanas, a sophomore at Troy Athens High School, joined DOYC last August. She will also play the role of Frantík in The Cunning Little Vixen at the Detroit Opera House this May. She loves to sing, plays the piano and guitar and is a singer/songwriter.
MARK PANIKKAR CYCLOPS
Mark Panikkar is in the 7th grade and is thrilled to be the voice and puppeteer of Cyclops. This is his 6th year in DOYC. Mark loves baseball and was selected for the all-star little league team. He studies piano and percussion and enjoys collecting and fixing vintage toys.
VIOLET PROCUNIER
ITHACAN GIRL 2, PENELOPY UNDERSTUDY
Violet Procunier is a high school sophomore in her third year with DOYC. Violet portrayed The Girl in The Maker of Illusions; she made her DO premiere in the children's chorus of La bohème. Violet studies piano privately and participates in choir and symphony orchestra with Oakland Homeschool Music.
BRODY REYNHOUT SUITOR
Brody Reynhout is a sophomore at the Warren Consolidated School of Performing Arts. This is his first year with DOYC, and he is looking forward to new experiences within the program.
LAILA ROBLEH
ITHACAN GIRL 3
Laila Robleh is a 13-year passionate performer. She is so excited to be in her first Detroit Opera Youth Chorus production. Music has always been where her passions are, and she is extremely grateful that she has the opportunity to do what she loves most with such a wonderful organization.
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OLIVER STRICKFADEN
SAILOR 2
Oliver Strickfaden makes his debut at Detroit Opera in Odyssey as Sailor 2. A tenor saxophonist with both the Detroit Symphony Youth Jazz Orchestra and Michigan State Youth Jazz Program, Oliver shines as lead trumpet in the Detroit Youth Symphony Band and enjoys flute, piano, and trombone.
VIRAJ TATHAVADEKAR BARD 1
Viraj Tathavadekar is an eight grader at Larson Middle School. In his six years at DOYC, he has made performed various chorus roles and played The Genie in The Maker of Illusions. He has participated in the DO’s La bohème and will perform The Cunning Little Vixen in May.
CHRISTINE THOMAS
SAILOR 4
Christina Thomas is in 7th grade at Larsen Middle School. She has been a member of DOYC for 4 years. She started singing at the age of 3. She is very passionate about singing and plans to continue in her music journey thru the invaluable coaching at DOYC.
ABIGAIL VEROK
SAILOR 3, FIRST MATE AND SAILOR 2 UNDERSTUDY
Abigail Verok is an 8th grader at Scripps Middle School. This is her first year with the DOYC. She also played the lead role of David in Horror Movie 101, David & Delaney in Perfectly Nifty Prom; Mm’Beth in Beth McBeth . Both were lead rolls. She also enjoys playing the piano, theater, and musicals.
ROSALEIGH WYMAN
SAILOR 6, SAILOR 1 UNDERSTUDY
Rosaleigh Wyman is a freshman at Lamphere High School. She has always had an interest in singing and acting. She started with DOYC in 2018. She was in the Virtual Very Last Green Thing in 2020. She is very excited to be part of another production with this amazing group.
DETROIT OPERA 11
DOYC PROFILES
COOPER BUSH ODYSSEUS UNDERSTUDY
Cooper Bush is a DOYC alumni (2018-2020). He is a sophomore at Saline High School. In addition to DOYC shows he was Gherardino (Gianni Schicchi) and Winfield Joad (The Grapes of Wrath) with Detroit Opera. He is a member of the SHS Chamber Choir.
ALLAN GRIGSBY SUITOR UNDERSTUDY
Allan Grigsby is a sophomore at Martin Luther King High School. He has been a member of DOYC sing 2019. He enjoys singing and playing football.
CAITLIN JUIP AEOLUS UNDERSTUDY
Caitlin Juip, a freshman at Liggett, is performing in her 4th year with DOYC. From the narrator in DOYC’s The Pied Piper to Mary Poppins and Glinda in community theatre, she loves seeing hard work become a fantastic performance. Catie is grateful for family and friends, and hopes you enjoy the show!
MADELINE TAYLOR-SCHIRMANG ATHENA UNDERSTUDY
Madeline Taylor-Schirmang has been in shows since she was seven. In her first show, she played Dr. Frankenstein in the Monster Musical . Later on she took on the Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland , she has been in Big Fish , The Maker of Illusions, and various sketch comedy performances.
SOFIE WARBURTON CYCLOPS UNDERSTUDY
Sofie Warburton is a sophomore at Troy High School. She is in her second year with DOYC. Shen has performed with Meadowbrook Theatre and plays piano and viola.
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