MEET THE CAST: THE BARBER OF SEVILLE

Get to know the extraordinary cast of THE BARBER OF SEVILLE (coming to The Grand Feb 25 & 27)!

FIGARO - Brian James Myer
OperaDelaware debut
Lauded by critics for his for “buttery baritone” (New York Times) and “flawless comic timing” (Opera Today), celebrated baritone Brian James Myer has performed with New York City Opera, Atlanta Opera, American Lyric Theater, and Knoxville Opera among others.

ROSINA - Mary Beth Nelson
OperaDelaware debut
A former Young Artist with the Glimmerglass Festival, mezzo-soprano Mary Beth Nelson was slated to star in our cancelled 2020 production of The Tales of Hoffmann, and we are thrilled to finally introduce her to OD audiences. Of a recent performance, Opera Today raved: "Nelson sang with virtuosic abandon… joyous flair and assured beauty of tone."

COUNT ALMAVIVA - Christopher Bozeka
OperaDelaware debut
Praised for his "velvety tone" (Opera Today) and “expressively captivating performances” (San Francisco Chronicle), tenor Christopher Bozeka has performed with Houston Grand Opera, Sarasota Opera, and most recently Wolf Trap Opera.

DR. BARTOLO - Tim Mix
An OD fan favorite, audiences will remember baritone Tim Mix from his tour-de-force performances as Joseph de Rocher in Dead Man Walking (2019) and Claudius in Amleto (2016). Earlier this season, Tim delighted patrons as Dr. Malatesta in our concert production of Don Pasquale.

BASILIO - Kevin Short
A regular at The Met (including the acclaimed 2019/20 production of Porgy and Bess), bass-baritone Kevin Short last thrilled OD audiences as a soloist in Opera Jukebox, a 75th-anniversary celebration. He has performed with Lyric Opera of Chicago, Washington Opera, Opéra Comique, Grand Théâtre de Luxembourg, and Oper der Stadt Köln.

BERTA - Julia Laird
Soprano (and Wilmington, DE native) Julia Laird last delighted hometown audiences as a soloist in Pop-Up Opera and Drive-Through Arias. She's performed with Opera West, Piedmont Opera, and North Carolina Opera.

FIORELLO - Zachary Bryant
OperaDelaware debut
Baritone Zachary Bryant is pursuing his DMA at the University of Maryland and is an education outreach artist with our Barber co-production partner, Baltimore Concert Opera. His recent performance highlights include Sciarrone in Tosca with Annapolis Opera and Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro with Prague Summer Nights Festival.

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#ROSSINIMINUTE

Rossini is famous (or infamous) for his rapid-fire patter. What better way to get to know our Barber cast than to have them answer rapid-fire questions posed by OD Music Director Maestro Anthony Barrese?

Meet our June Al Fresco Arias artists

Our popular outdoor concert series returns June 17 & 18 with an all-star cast.

• Emmy Award–winning soprano ADRIENNE DANRICH first thrilled OD patrons in 2015 with This Little Light of Mine, her program chronicling the ground-breaking careers of opera icons Marian Anderson and Leontyne Price. In 2019, she wowed Wilmington audiences again as Sister Rose in Dead Man Walking. She has performed, covered, and workshopped leading roles with Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Francisco Opera, The Metropolitan Opera, Lincoln Center Theater, and appeared in the NBC broadcast of The Sound of Music, Live! Her latest creative endeavor, Music as the Message, is a multi-episode musical initiative produced by The American Opera Project in association with Opera on Tap NYC, for which she serves as executive producer, creator, host, and performer.
  

• Mezzo-soprano MARIE ENGLE makes her OD debut in Al Fresco Arias. An OD 2020 Young Artist, Marie was set to make her company debut as Nutrice in our canceled Festival production of The Coronation of Poppea, and we’re delighted to finally introduce her to patrons. A graduate of Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music and Juilliard, she recently debuted as Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni with Wichita Grand Opera (May 2021) and will appear as a soloist in the Marlboro Music Festival this July and August.
  

• Acclaimed tenor JESUS GARCIA won a Tony in 2003 for his performance as Rodolfo in Baz Lurhmann’s Broadway production of La bohème, and is currently earning raves as Rufus in Desert In, Boston Lyric Opera’s much buzzed about new streaming mini-series. Other notable appearances include Rodolfo in Opera Columbus’ May 2021 production of La bohème”, the title role of Faust with Savonlinna Opera Festival, Count Almaviva in Il Barbiere di Siviglia with Boston Lyric Opera, and Alfredo in La traviata with Nederlandse Reisopera. Later this season, he’ll join Opera Omaha as Tebaldo in I Capuleti e i Montecchi.
  

• We’re thrilled to welcome back baritone ERIC MCKEEVER. Praised for his “power and brilliance” (Chicago Tribune) and dynamic stage presence, he last delighted OD audiences as a soloist in Who’s Afraid of Opera? (studio series, 2014). Since the start of the pandemic, Eric has appeared in several innovative productions including Experiments in Opera’s Aqua Net and Funyuns podcast opera, Opera on Tap’s digital version of La Cenerentola (singing the role of Dandini), and the little OPERA theatre of ny’s live-stream of Zemlinsky’s Eine florentinische Tragödie. He recently returned to live, in-person performance starring as Marcello in La bohème with Opera Columbus.
  

• Collaborating with our talented soloists is OD Head of Music Staff AURELIEN EULERT. Hailing from Alsace, France, Aurelien was named Head of Music Staff in 2019, and was instrumental in launching OD’s Young Artist Program. He had previously held the position of Chorus Master and Principal Pianist since 2017. Aurelien has been on the music staff of Charlottesville Opera, Opera Memphis, Opera Roanoke, Palm Beach Opera, Hawaii Performing Arts Festival, USC Thornton Opera, UCLA Alpert School of Music, Pacific Opera Project and the Los Angeles Opera Education department.

Meet the artists of Shakespeare in Song

Delaware Shakespeare’s Newton Buchanan, Annie Fang, James Kern & Emily Schuman star in Shakespeare in Song (May 20-23)!

Newton Buchanan (top left) is a Philadelphia-based Barrymore Award–nominated performer and theater producer. He is a founding member of New Light Theatre Company and a co-founder of the newly formed Black Theatre Alliance of Philadelphia. His acting credits include: Othello, Othello (New Light Theatre Co.); Capulet, Romeo and Juliet (Delaware Shakespeare); Mitchell, Cry It Out (Simpatico Theatre Co.); Turkey & Bullfrog, HONK! (Delaware Theatre Co.); Bassanio, The Merchant of Venice (Delaware Shakespeare); Dr . Madden, Next to Normal (New Light Theatre Co.); Pisanio, Cymbeline (Rev. Shakes); Mitch, A Streetcar Named Desire (Deep Blue Theatre); Lloyd Dallas, Noises Off (Curio Theatre Co.); Leroy/Herb, By The Way Meet Vera Stark (SST Co.); Film: “The Delaware Guy,” The Options in Delaware Video (ShortOrder Productions). Newton currently holds an Associate Artist position at Delaware Shakespeare, where he devises educational programming and performances.

Annie Fang (top right) is an actor, singer, and aspiring dumpling-pleating expert based in Philadelphia. While in-person theater has been on hold, Annie has worked virtually with companies including Cleveland Play House, Revolution Shakespeare, and 1812 Productions. Pre-pandemic, Annie made her professional debut in Man of God (InterAct Theatre), followed by SHIP (Azuka Theatre). Last fall, she worked with Delaware Shakespeare on Shakespeare in the Garden, and she's so excited to be back!

James Kern (bottom left): “Wow! First live performance since the pandemic and what an honor it is to be a part of this joint venture! I would like to thank [Delaware Shakespeare’s Producing Artistic Director] David Stradley for bringing me onto the project and the entire creative team for finding a way to make live theater LIVE again! As always it needs to be said that I am eternally grateful to my parents who have done everything in their power to support and make my greatest dreams come true. And to my loving wife who not only supports and balances me but inspires me daily with her beauty and brilliance.”

Emily Schuman (bottom right) is an associated artist with Delaware Shakespeare. She has been a part of the Community Tour productions of Merchant of Venice as a composer/live musician and performer, as well as Romeo and Juliet as the composer/live musician. Emily is also a freelance props designer, musician and since the pandemic hit, has begun working as a contact tracer for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

ALSO: Meet our Shakespeare in Song soloists
Michelle Johnson (soprano)
Robin Steitz (soprano)
Peter Drackley (tenor)
Brian Major (baritone)

Meet the artists of Shakespeare in Song: Brian Major

Baritone Brian Major makes his OD debut in Shakespeare in Song (May 20-23)!

Hailed by critics for his “velvety voice” and “commanding stage presence”, baritone Brian Major recently appeared as Baron Douphol in La traviata with Madison Opera, Marcello in La bohème with Toledo Opera, and Amonasro in Aida with Theatro Municipal de São Paulo. He has won numerous awards and honors on the competition circuit, including 2nd Prize in the Harold Haugh Opera Vocal Competition, 1st prize in the Opera Ebony Vocal Competition, and 1st prize in the Harlem Opera Theater Vocal Competition.

This season, Brian will join Lyric Fest as a soloist for Speak Low (Biography In Music: Kurt Weill) and will appear as Ping in Turandot with Opera Grand Rapids.

Read more about Brian: brianmajorbaritone.com

Meet more Shakespeare in Song soloists:
Michelle Johnson (soprano)
Robin Steitz (soprano)
Peter Drackley (tenor)

Plus: Meet Delaware Shakespeare artists Newton Buchanan, Annie Fang, James Kern & Emily Schuman

Meet the artists of Shakespeare in Song: Peter Scott Drackley

Tenor Peter Scott Drackley returns for Shakespeare in Song (May 20-23)!

Praised for his “intense stage presence” (Opera Today) and “luminous head voice blooming with expansive and penetrating phrases” (Opera News), tenor Peter Scott Drackley last thrilled OD audiences as a soloist in last summer’s Al Fresco Arias. Recent appearances include singing the role of Scalia in Scalia/Ginsburg with Opera Carolina and Opera Grand Rapids, Rodolfo in La bohème with Opera Idaho, and Cavaradossi in Tosca with Opera in the Heights.  

This season, Peter will return to Des Moines Metro Opera to sing both Chekalinsky in The Queen of Spades and Pirelli in Sweeney Todd. He will also make his role debut as Radamès in Aida with Raylynmor Opera and appear as Cavaradossi in Tosca with Anchorage Opera.

Read more about Peter: peterscottdrackley.com

Meet more Shakespeare in Song soloists:
Michelle Johnson (soprano)
Robin Steitz (soprano)
Brian Major (baritone)

Plus: Meet Delaware Shakespeare artists Newton Buchanan, Annie Fang, James Kern & Emily Schuman