Brett Kroeger — Amiam.

Brett Kroeger is thrilled to be back this year playing the role of Amiam. Since, 2014 she has been a featured lead performing in the fall and spring shows in the roles of Josephine – HMS Pinafore, Mercury – Thespis, Constance – The Sorcerer, Angela – Patience, Edith – Pirates of Penzance, Gretchen – The Red Mill. Brett is a dynamic and versatile performer who is comfortable in all musical genres, everything from opera and operetta, to cabaret and musical theater, art song recitals or singing the National Anthem.  She has also collaborated with Broadway pianist and musical director Christopher Denny to produce and perform her one woman show “Over There: Greatest Hits of the Great War” in commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of WWI. This show has been performed throughout the tri-state area. 

Other highlights of the last few seasons include singing the National Anthem for a televised game of the Connecticut Whale of the National Women’s Hockey League. She was the featured vocalist at La Fenice in Venice for Hebrew University’s European conference on “The Song of Songs.” 

For further information visit her website brettkroeger.com

David Richy – Niccolu 

David Richy (Niccolù) is elated to be returning to Troupers Light Opera.  Born and raised in Westchester County, David appears regularly with theatre companies and organizations throughout the Tri-State area.  Most recently, he performed with Taconic Opera in New York, where he created the role of The Stage Manager in the world premiere of In Bocca al Lupo, an opera composed by Dan Montez.  Other recent roles include Alfred in Die Fledermaus, Sparkeon in Thespis, Wagner in Faust, El Remendado in Carmen, Alexis in The Sorcerer, Miles Gloriosus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Beppe in Pagliacci, The Defendant in Trial By Jury, Grosvenor in Patience, Enoch Snow in Carousel, Strephon in Iolanthe, Gaston in La Traviata, Frederic in Pirates of Penzance, and Arturo in Lucia di Lammermoor.  Mr. Richy has also appeared in several other operas and operettas, including Falstaff, L’Italiana in Algeri, Norma, La Fille du Regiment, Mefistofele, Don Pasquale, Nabucco, Les Pêcheurs de Perles, Tosca and Macbeth, to name a few.  Mr. Richy has also appeared both as a soloist and as a chorister with Sound Shore Chorale in New Rochelle, NY, and has performed several oratorios, including Schubert’s Mass in E Flat, Handel’s Messiah, Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle, Puccini’s Messa di Gloria and Mozart’s Mass in C Minor.

Frank Sisson (Coco) has passion that’s intense doing G&S. He was last year’s flask-swigging and uke-strumming Captain of the H.M.S. Pinafore, the be-caned Sir Marmaduke in TLOC’s magical 2016 production of The Sorcerer, and the be-caped Lord Montararat in its 2015 Iolanthe. Favorite past G&S roles: Ko-Ko (The Mikado), Major General Stanley (Pirates), the Duke of Plaza-Toro (The Gondoliers), Bouncer (Cox and Box), and Florian (Princess Ida). A Harvard Law grad practicing estate planning and trust law in Westport, Frank is also a writer of many musical parodies. His “The Pirates of Pittsburgh” (where the last baseball strike met “The Pirates of Penzance”, using the G&S score and a parallel plot) premiered at New York’s CAMI Hall (with Troupers) in the late 1990’s and made the NY Times “Events about Town” listings, and his collection of musical Christmas Broadway parody one-acts, Snow Klones: A Merry Musical, including “North Side Story”, “A Reindeer on the Roof”, “I’ll Be Cloned for Christmas” and “A Christmas Line” was the featured 2004 holiday season show at Stamford’s Curtain Call Theater.  To our new “Renaissance Man” stage director Kevin Miller and our own real musical Ducato, Eric Kramer … and let’s (like them) all strive to keep G&S alive … and living!    

Sarah Knott — Catiscia

Sarah Knott, mezzo-soprano, was praised by Opera News, “getting the maximum response with a minimum of mocking sycophancy,” as Mistress Quickly in Bronx Opera’s production of Falstaff.  She premiered Mrs. Fowler in Theodore Christman’s Adriana McMannes at the National Opera Center in September 2016.  Ms. Knott was a 2017 Young Artist at Cedar Rapids Opera (IA) where she covered Mamma Lucia in Cavalleria Rusticana. 

She has sung Principessa in Suor Angelica with Capitol Opera (Troy, NY), Suzy in La Rondine and Gerhilde in Die Walkure with the New York Lyric Opera Theatre. She was awarded the First Prize in the Thursday Musical Competition and Schubert Club Competition in St. Paul, MN.   

Ms. Knott has been the mezzo-soprano soloist in Messiah with the Ashland Chamber Music Society (WI), Beethoven Missa Solemnis with the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra, Duruflé Requiem and Mozart Requiem with Arrowhead Chorale (Duluth, MN), and Haydn Time in Mass of War and Vivaldi Gloria at Epiphany Church in Minneapolis, MN.

Originally from Iowa, Sarah received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Voice Performance and Flute Performance from Waldorf College (Iowa) and a Master Degree in Voice Performance from the University of MN Duluth. 

David Schancupp — Il Ducato

David celebrates his thirty-sixth year with Troupers, in a role he last performed with us in 1985 under its standard name, The Mikado.  Since his debut with Troupers in 1982 as Wilfred Shadbolt in The Yeomen of the Guard, he has appeared with us in virtually all the leading G&S bass-baritone roles: John Wellington Wells and Sir Marmaduke in The Sorcerer, Sir Despard and Sir Roderic in Ruddigore, The Duke of Plaza-Toro and Don Alhambra in The Gondoliers, Dick Deadeye and Sir Joseph in H.M.S. Pinafore, the Judge and the Usher in Trial by Jury, Private Willis in Iolanthe, and Sergeant Meryll in The Yeomen of the Guard, Major General Stanley in The Pirates of Penzance, King Gama in Princess Ida and his favorite G & S role, the Lord Chancellor in Iolanthe.  He has also performed many of the same roles with the Connecticut Gilbert &. Sullivan Society (Middletown) and Simsbury Light Opera Company, where he also appeared as Pooh-Bah in The Mikado, the French Ambassador in Gershwin’s Of Thee I Sing, Sir Marmaduke The Sorcerer and Private Willis in Iolanthe. 

 David has appeared as the Sacristan in Tosca and Benoit and Alcindoro in La Boheme with the Greater New Britain Opera Company, and as the Commendatore in Don Giovanni and the Imperial Commissioner in Madama Butterfly and directed Act I of Il Barbiere di Siviglia with the Hillhouse Opera Company (New Haven).

 Among his musical comedy credits are principal roles Oklahoma, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Kismet, How to Succeed in Business, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Threepenny Opera, Guys & Dolls, and his favorite role, Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof.

 David is a past president and Life Member of Troupers.  In his non-theatrical life, David practices law in New Haven, is a member of the Board of Directors of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, and Tower One/Tower East (New Haven).

Alan Briones — Piccia Tuccia – 

Alan Briones returns to Troupers Light Opera to perform the role of Pish-Tush(Piccia Tuccia), marking his debut production as a baritone after having previously sung primarily as a tenor.

Last season with Troupers, Alan performed the role of Ralph Rackstraw in H.M.S Pinafore. Other recent career highlights were the roles of Nemorino in The Elixir of Love with Hudson Lyric Opera, Bastien in Bastien und Bastienne with Garden State Opera, appearances with New York Opera Exchange, Taconic Opera, and a concert version of  Die Fliegende Holländer as the Steersman with the Chappaqua Orchestra.

Though currently based in the NY Metro area, Alan has sung around the country, most recently with Opera Camerata of Washington  in Washington DC, as well as with West Bay Opera, West Edge Opera, and Livermore Opera in California.

Alan started his operatic career at the age of 11 as the 3rd Spirit in The Magic Flute with New York City Opera. He later earned a Bachelors Degree in Voice from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

 Upcoming engagements include his 3rd summer as an artist at the Mediterranean Opera Studio and Festival in Sicily, where he will perform the roles of the Count in Le Nozze di Figaro, Belcore in L´Elisir d´Amore, and Sharpless in Madama Butterfly.

Chris Hetherington : Pooba’

Chris is pleased to be joining Troupers Light Opera to perform the role of Poobà.  His background is primarily in musical theater where he has performed many roles including Miles Gloriosus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Schroeder in You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown, The Voice of Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors, Professor Callahan in Legally Blonde and most recently, King Arthur in Camelot.  He has also performed as a soloist at First Parish in Cohasset (MA).  When not appearing on stage, he can frequently be found playing trombone or bass in the pit orchestra for various local amateur and school productions.

Mr. Hetherington attended Worcester Polytechnic Institute (MA) where he sang with the Men’s Glee Club and toured various locations in the US and Canada, as well as Spain and the United Kingdom.  He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Cohasset Dramatic Club (Cohasset, MA) as well as on the Advisory Board for In The Spotlight Summer Youth Theater (Stratford, CT).

He would like to dedicate his performance to a friend with a big voice and a bigger heart, gone far too soon, who encouraged a shy, college kid to break out of his shell and give this singing thing a try.  Mike W., this one is for you.

Wendy Falconer: Pizzi  Wendy Falconer is delighted to perform again with Troupers.
Past performances with TLO include: Buttercup in HMS Pinafore, Diana in Thespis
Lady Sangazure in The Sorcerer, Lady Jane in Patience, Iolanthe in Iolanthe,
Kate in The Piratesof Penzance, Bertha in The Red Mill, Katisha in The Mikado, The Duchess in 
The Gondoliers, Dame Carruthers in Yeomen of the Guard, Lady Blanche (cover) in Princess 
Ida, Mrs. Partlet in The Sorcerer, Pitti Sing in The Mikado, plus chorus in Ruddigore, Trial By
Jury and The Magic Knight. Wendy served as President of Troupers from 2013-2015 and 2002-2004.

A true G&S enthusiast, Wendy has played Buttercup in H.M.S. Pinafore with The Connecticut G&S Society, is a member of the Blue Hill Troupe in New York City and has performed in the
International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival in Buxton, UK with Savoynet and with G&S Opera Victoria, 
Australia. Other credits include Cousin Hebe in H.M.S. Pinafore with Musicals-at-Richter, Mrs. Pearce in My Fair Lady with Theatre Genesius plus chorus in The Sound of Music, Fiddler on the Roof and The
Music Man with various companies throughout Fairfield County.

Jennifer Wallace: Pippa

Jennifer is delighted to be singing in her third production with Troupers Light Opera, having previously appeared in Thespis as both Pretteia and the Solo Star and in the ensemble of The Magic Knight and H.M.S. Pinafore. She is a member of the choral group Camerata d’Amici and has sung with the Wilton Singers, the Schubert Club, and the Music on the Hill Summer Chorus, appearing as a soprano soloist in their performances of Mozart’s Requiem and Schubert’s Mass No. 6 in E-flat.
Neil Flores: Leonardo. Neil Flores returns to Troupers Light Opera Company for a fourth season, previously appearing on stage for Thespis (2016) and The Magic Knight (2017) in the chorus, and H.M.S. Pinafore (2017) as the Carpenter’s Mate. A classical pianist by training, he currently cantors and plays organ as a ringer for various churches in the Fairfield County area, and sings at Sacred Heart Church as the primary tenor. He thanks Gregory Freilino for continued vocal guidance.

Ensemble

Sarah Callands. 

Sarah has always been interested in music invluding chorus and symphonic and marching band(s) as a Flute player.She currently sings as a part of the worship team at her church. 
She is excited to be a new member of Troupers choral ensemble and look forward to being a part of such a wonderful performance with so many talented people! 
Maribeth Johnson.

Rosa Parrotta

Rosa Elena is delighted to be singing for her seventh consecutive year with Troupers Light Opera. She was in the chorus of The Sorcerer, Thespis, Patience, Iolanthe, The Mikado, Pirates of Penzance, and in The Red Mill she also played the role of Brigitte. She lived in Italy for 25 years and earned a Master’s Degree in Languages in Rome.  She now lives and works in Stamford, sings in the choir of Sacred Heart Church and is a member of The Schubert Club.

Suzanne Rossini

Suzanne is delighted to be part of this year’s production.  Recently retired as a vocal music teacher from the Somers Central School District where she taught general music and chorus for 32 years. She now enjoys her  work as an EFT Practitioner (form of acupuncture) at The Tapping Practice in Sandy Hook Ct. working with children suffering from PSTD and artist coping with performance anxiety.

A special thanks to all the cast for being so warm and welcoming!

 

Pia Romano

Pia enjoys singing and performing on stage.   She sings as a soprano in the Sacred Heart Church choir under the direction of Gregory Freilino.  She was inspired to join Troupers Light Opera Company after watching one of their performances. Many thanks to the cast and crew for their friendship and support.   “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” Norman Vincent Peale

Bill Abbott

Bill has sung bass in the men’s chorus of Troupers Light Opera since 1997.  From 1982 to 1984 he performed with the Stanford Savoyards, the Gilbert & Sullivan performing company at Stanford University in California, and he has sung in choirs and choruses in California, Connecticut, and England.  He has served two terms as President of Troupers, 2001-2003 and 2015-2017, and has also served on its Board of Directors for eleven years, with frequent stints as director of publicity.  A 1974 graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, with a doctorate in British history from Oxford University, he is an Associate Professor of History at Fairfield University.
Jim Cooper. Jim has been with Troupers for 17 years, and has played the Lieutenant in Yeomen, Samuel in Pirates, the Notary in Sorcerer, GoTo in The Mikado, and Giorgio in Gondoliers. He also recently played the Old Actor in The Fantasticks in Brookfield. He was the music director for Thespis, Patience, and The Magic Knight, and Chorus Master for Iolanthe and Il Mikado. He serves as Treasurer and Technical Director for Troupers.
Jeff Rossman is excited to be making his musical debut with Troupers in the ensemble cast. Since his retirement in 2011 as a registered nurse, he has found a second career acting in community theaters in Connecticut and New York. Favorite roles, among many, include Candy in Of Mice and Men, HC Curry in The Rainmaker, Matthew Cuthbert in Anne of Green Gables, Dr Einstein in Arsenic and Old Lace. In 2017, he appeared as Kopplemeister Bonno in Amadeus at the Downtown Cabaret Theater in Bridgeport, as Rev Tooker in the Brookfield Theater production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and as Uncle Smelicue in the Sherman Playhouse production of Dark of the Moon among others. Jeff has also done numerous short films, pilot trailers for proposed cable series, has appeared in 2 Amazon webseries, Mozart of the Jungle and Art Less, and one feature film, By Any Means, in which he appeared as a paparazzi. Thanks, as always, to my wife of 43 years, Lynn, for her support. And thanks,also to the cast and crew for their support and friendship. Let`s hope I don`t have to volunteer to meet the Lord High Executioner!
Guy Stretton, joined Troupers in 1987, and has performed in all productions since except for a 3 year gap. During the years he has played bit roles, the Bishop, Ruddigore twice, Counsel for the Prosecution (sic), Trial by Jury, Tipseon, Thespis.  A CPA and financial consultant, he was formerly Treasurer for 15 years and Board Member 6 years. He and his wife Barbara, both Lifers, live in Old Greenwich with their family of five adopted shelter cats.

Rob Strom. 

Rob has acted and sung in community theatre, musicals and opera since 1973.  He currently sings with the Ridgefield Chorale, and has been a volunteer music director for musical plays in Ridgefield elementary schools since 1994.  Rob also performed with Troupers as Featherstonhaugh in The Red Mill, Dr. Blind in Die Fledermaus, Mars in Thespis, Major Murgatroyd in Patience, Fredrick in The Magic Knight, and in the chorus of Mikado, Iolanthe, Pinafore, Pirates of Penzance, Sorceror, andYeomen of the Guard. Rob’s other roles include King Kaspar in Amahl and the Night Visitors, the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland, Fezziwig and Old Joe in A Christmas Carol, the Munchkin Mayor in The Wizard of Oz, Teddy in Arsenic and Old Lace, and chorus parts in Carmen, Tosca, and Aida.  In real life, Rob is a retired computer scientist, and a math, science, and writing tutor.