Nancy Purcell as JACKIE

Nancy Purcell was last seen as ”Kate” in the April 2009, BITWC-  Imagine That! Theatre production of Brighton Beach Memoires and has appeared in Aurora Studio Theatre’s productions of The Art of Dining, Cinderella, Arsenic & Old Lace,The Pajama Game, and Little Women.  She has worked with Not Just Shakespeare Inc. in productions of Macbeth, Hamlet and All’s Well That Ends Well.   She is also an actor with the Radio Theatre at Carver Center. 

Penny Hauffe as JEANETTE

Penny Hauffe's most recent stage exploits include: Lettice in Lettice & Lovage (Pieces of Eight Lab Theatre); Blanche in Brighton Beach Memoirs (BITWC Imagine That!); Suzette, the cook (not be confused with the mistress or niece) in Don’t Dress for Dinner (Pieces of Eight Lab Theatre); Major Cartwright in Guys & Dolls (Aurora Studio Theatre); the hostess with the mostest, Paige Patrick in Iron S'Kill-it (Aurora); Roberta in The Gray Ghost (The Gray Ghost Theater Co); Gracie Allen for radio broadcast on WAGE; Mrs Littlebone in Arms and the Highlander (Aurora); half of the profoundly obtuse detective duo, Broffy and Klein in Arsenic & Old Lace (Aurora); Brenda in The Pajama Game (Aurora); and Edith, the cockney maid, in Blythe Spirit (Oatlands Carriage House Theatre).

Phil Erickson as NELSON

Phil  Erickson has his theatrical roots in  radio theatre and subversive improv during his years in Richmond VA.  He most recently appeared as the Solicitor Mr. Bardolph in Lettice and Lovage with the Pieces of Eight Players, and  previously in the BITWC production of Brighton Beach Memoirs as Jack Jerome. He appeared as Nathan Detroit in Aurora Studio Theatre’s Guys and Dolls,  as Chef Pompadeux in Iron S’Killit, Frederick in Arms and the Highlander, Professor Bhaer in Little Women, Hines in The Pajama Game and Officer Brophy in Arsenic and Old Lace.  He appeared also as Lieutenant McNulty in All for the Union and the film Waterford’s War. Other performances include Museum with the Reston Community Players. Phil is delighted to be on stage with the stars of Loudoun Lyric Opera as well as other distinguished characters and usual suspects.

Melody Prochazka as SUSIE

This is Melody’s second performance with Loudoun Lyric Opera.  Melody was in LLO’s production of Gianni Schicchi in the Fall of 2008.  Melody has studied voice privately for 15 years.  She has both a classical and musical theatre background.  She was a state finalist in both the Bland Music Competition and the National Association Teachers of Singing (NATS) competition.  Some of her most memorable roles include Maria from West Side Story;   Anna from The King and I ; Cassie from A Chorus Line  and the Narrator from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat which was performed at the Edinborough Fringe Festival in Scotland.  Melody is a Theatre major from New York University where she studied at the prestigious Tisch School of the Arts.  She has also studied and performed at the National Shakespeare Conservatory in Kerhonkson, New York; Stella Adler Conservatory and the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York City and with the Hangar Theatre Program in Ithaca, New York.   She enjoys singing for weddings, teaching voice lessons and cantering in church.  Melody is currently studying voice with vocal coach, Melissa Coombs.

Jennifer Weingartner as DORIS

Praised by The Washington Post for her “clear, focused voice,” Jennifer is a lyric soprano from New York.  She recently performed a recital at the Embassy of Indonesia, singing the American premiere of songs by Ananda Sukarlan.    Ms. Weingartner has performed with the 7 Sopranos, Friday Morning Music Club Orchestra, Summer Opera Theatre, The Washington Savoyards, OperaWorks, Bel Cantanti, New York Opera Studio and the Crittenden Summer Opera Workshop.  She has performed at the Austrian and German Embassies and with The Master Chorale of Washington at the Kennedy Center.  Ms. Weingartner played the role of Giannetta in L’Elisir d’Amore, Phyllis in Iolanthe, Sylviane in The Merry Widow and Amahl in Amahl and the Night Visitors.  She has also performed in opera scenes as Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro), Cio-Cio San (Madama Butterfly), Micaela (Carmen), Despina (Cosi fan Tutte), Dorine (Tartuffe), Ilia (Idomeneo) and Adina (L’Elisir d’Amore).  Ms. Weingartner holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music from SUNY Stony Brook and a Master’s Degree in Voice from Westminster Choir College.  She currently studies with soprano Ruth Golden.   

Anthony Vargas as FRANK

When he changed his major for the fourth time at NVCC, he figured "Why not try a chorus class?" It was then he was introduced into the wonderful world of formal singing.  Learning terms like vibrato and legato was new to him, but he grew fond of it.  The class became the Chorus for Loudoun Lyric Opera's fall production of HMS Pinafore part of LLO’s HMS Pinafore, an operetta. He learned a lot and decided to audition for Romance.  So, this is the second time Anthony is performing with LLO… and the first time it isn't a class requirement.

Kim Shahbazian as MARY

Kim is making her third appearance with Loudoun Lyric Opera, having also sung the roles of “Dorabella”, in the company’s production of Cosi fan Tutte; and “Orlofsky”, in Die Fledermaus. In addition to appearing as soloist or guest artist with organizations such as the Hershey Symphony Orchestra and the Susquehanna Chorale, Kim has performed feature roles in opera, operetta and musical theater with the Indianapolis Opera Ensemble, Circle Theater of Indianapolis, Harrisburg Opera Association, Lancaster Opera Company, and Capitol Opera Harrisburg. Previous roles include “Cherubino” (The Marriage of Figaro) “Suzuki” (Madame Butterfly), “Oberon” (A Midsummer Night’s Dream). “Bella” (Paganini), “Hansel” (Hansel and Gretel), “Buttercup” (HMS Pinafore), “Lady Jane” (Patience) and “Mehitabel” (Archie and Mehitabel).

David Kozisek as ERNIE

David is a graduate of the Interlochen Arts Academy and DePauw

University in Greencastle, Indiana.  He recently completed his Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance on fellowship at the University of Michigan. David has been a participant of the John Duffy Composer’s Institute, Brevard Music Center, Crittenden Opera Workshop, Bay View Music Conservatory, and BASOTI in San Francisco.  He has performed several roles including Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, Camille in The Merry Widow, Martin in The Tenderland, Cable in South Pacific, and Jesus in Godspell.  David has appeared at The Kennedy Center with Patti Lupone, The Washington National Opera, The Washington Concert Opera, The National Symphony Pops Orchestra, and The National

Symphony Orchestra.    Last season, he performed with the Loudon County Lyric Opera in Gianni Schicchi as Gherardo, Mercury in the In Series’ production of Orpheus in the Underworld, and Man in Limelight Theatre’s Closer than Ever. David was most recently seen at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History in Letters Home, a one man show exploring the emotions of American soldiers at war. David resides in Washington, DC where he maintains an active voice studio and performance calendar.  

Sean Pflueger as RICHARD

Sean Pflueger, bass, is an active performer with many opera companies in the Washington area including Washington Savoyards, Bel Cantanti Opera, Loudoun Lyric Opera, and The In Series.  Most recently Mr. Pflueger performed in WAM! Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart with The In Series and The Washington Ballet.  He has received high praise from The Washington Post “As [one of] the earls, Sean Pflueger engaged in sparkling repartee” for his performance of Lord Mountararat in Washington Savoyards’ production of Iolanthe.   Other roles performed include Il Comendatore in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Pooh-Bah in Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado, Mars in Offenbach’s Orpheus and the Underworld, Alcindoro/Benoit in Puccini’s La Boheme, The Count in John Philip Sousa’s Desiree, Bob in Gian Carlo Menotti’s The Old Maid and the Thief, Sarastro in Mozart’s The Magic Flute, Chevalier in Victor Herbert’s Madeleine, Betto and Master Spinelloccio/Amatio di Nicolao in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, and St. Peter in Edwin Penhorwood’s Too Many Sopranos.  He has studies with soprano Laurie Nelson in Northern Virginia and coaches with Michael Parker.  Sean has performed in the Virginia Opera Chorus and is a current member of the Washington National Opera Chorus.

MADDY CURTIS - Entr'acte Performance

Recent winner of a trip to Hollywood in a national singing contest, 16-year old Maddy Curtis is a junior at Loudoun Valley High School. She was last with Loudoun Lyric Opera as "Cousin Hebe" in the fall production of HMS Pinafore, and other local roles have included Eponine in Les Miserables, Joanna in Godspell, Becky Thatcher in Treasures: The Musical Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Johanna in Sweeny Todd, Delee in Smokey Joe's Cafe and - most recently - Nancy in Oliver!  She has also performed with the young bluegrass band Jake and the Burtones.