Matthew Zachary Johnson, Composer-Producer 
Angel Firestone, Company Manager Businesswoman and Homeschool Mom 
Robert Balonek as Paul Revere Robert Balonek, baritone, is thrilled to be working with the Boston Tea Party Opera again! He recently finished his Alice Tulley Hall debut with the American Classical Orchestra as Charon in Handels Alceste. This summer, you can see Robert in Victor Herberts Natoma with the Victor Herbert Renaissance Project as well as Ford in Falstaff with the Utopia Opera. In the fall, Robert will be singing the count with the Salt Marsh Opera. More at www.robertbalonek.com 
' Charles Armstrong as Richard Clark Charles is thrilled to make his NYC debut with The Boston Tea Party Opera family. National Tours: Are You My Mother? and The Little Engine That Could (ArtsPower). Regional: Forestburgh Playhouse (NY), Weathervane Theatre (NH), and Atlantic Stage (SC). Thank you to the team, friends, family, and Dr. David Bankston for all their love and support. 
Vishaal Reddy as Crispus Attucks
Vishaal is a New York based actor and is excited to be performing at his first New York Fringe Festival. It has been a joy to take on the challenging role of Crispus Attucks and has enjoyed to working with this incredible cast and crew. He is a graduate of Boston University and the Atlantic Theater Company. His recent credits include Death of Salesman (Willy), All Fall Down (Marcus), Rabbit Hole (Howie), Godspell (Judas), and Life Without Parole (Parole Board/Lawyer). 
Melvinna Melrose Johnson as Mrs. Attucks
Soprano Melvinna graduated in May from New Jersey University with a BA in Musical Theatre. She lives in Jersey City, NJ and is part of a New Jersey based opera company called Trilogy which is under the direction of American opera singer, Kevin Maynor. As an undergrad, she performed as Mimi in La Boheme. She has performed in community theater musicals in New Jersey including Little Shop of Horrors (Cranford Dramatic Club), Hair (Black River Playhouse), and Les Misérables (Plays in the Park). Her experience also include performances at venues such as Symphony Space, Apollo Theater, Carnegie Hall, Symphony Hall, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, and Prudential Center. In August, Melvinna will be applying to three young artist programs: Chautauqua, Central City, and Ash Lawn. 
Kevin Barrett as Soldier
Kevin is an experienced actor, public speaker,and writer. During the past 20 years, he as been singing in select choral groups and small opera companies. He has performed in musicals such as Godspell, Lil Abner, The Music Man, No No Nanette, Mame, Oliver, Company, and Pippin. His operatic experience includes Cavalleria Rusticana, Il Pagliacci, Madam Butterfly, Ahma and the Night Visitors, La Boheme, and La Traviata. Kevin played the role of Muhammad Jones, a sophisticated drug dealer who saves his daughter, but is then executed by a hit man on a mission in the movie, "The Killing Machines". He has also taught acting skills at the Newburgh Performing Arts Academy. |
Karen Gayle, Choreographer Originally from Toronto, Karen received her early training from the Claude Watson School for the Arts and received her degree from Ryerson University. She moved to New York to further her studies at the Ailey School. Karen has taught at Ballet Hispanico, The Joffrey Ballet School, The Ailey Extension, The School at Columbia University, New Dance Group, and is currently a faculty member at Steps on Broadway and Montclair State University. International guest workshops include; Canada, Mexico, Bolivia, Italy, Cyprus and Israel. As artistic director of the xodus dance collective, her choreography has been showcased at such venues as: The Ailey Theatre, Riverside Theatre, American Dance Guild Festival, DUMBO DANCE FESTIVAL, the IABD Showcase in Toronto, HERE Arts Center, the Downtown Dance Festival and the Inside/Out Festival at Jacob’s Pillow. www.karengayle.com 
David J. Baldwin as James Otis
Bass, Pianist David has performed solo roles with New York Opera Exchange, Palisades Opera, and Martina Arroyo’s Prelude to Performance. He sang the role of Tiresias in The Bard Music Festival’s production of Stravinsky’s Oedipus Rex. He has performed with the choruses of The Metropolitan Opera (including the Grammy-Award-winning production of Wagner’s Ring Cycle), The American Symphony Orchestra, Church of the Transfiguration, and Soho Synagogue. David is a frequent music-director at NYC’s historic Duplex Cabaret Theater. A former resident of Chicago, David performed there with Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicago Symphony Chorus, Music of the Baroque, Opera for the Young, The Bailiwick Theater, and Light Opera Works. He made his debut with Chicago's Vox 3 in the company’s 3-show residency at Uncommon Ground, performing everything from Harold Arlen to Stephen Schwartz to Henry Purcell. This spring, he returned to Chicago and performed bass solo's in Mozart Requieum. David holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Taylor University and a Master’s Degree in Performance Studies-Voice from Bowling Green State University. www.davidjbaldwin.com 
Kerry Gotschall as Elizabeth Adams
Kerry Gotschall is very excited for the premiere of BTPO after having been a part of the project since 2013. This upcoming season, Kerry will be seen as Octavian (Der Rosenkavalier) and Berta (Il Barbiere di Siviglia) with Connecticut Lyric Opera (CLO). She has recently performed with CLO as Der Trommler (Der Kaiser von Atlantis) as well as the Witch (Hansel and Gretel) and with Bronx Opera as Lucia (The Thieving Magpie). Additional roles: Suzuki in Madame Butterfly (Kansas Concert Opera), Marta in Iolanta (Opera Slavica), Jo in Little Women (Seagle Music Colony), Dorabella in Cosi van tutte (Seagle Music Colony), Witch in Hansel and Gretel (CLO, NYLOT). Originally from Houston, Texas, she recently received her Masters degree at University of Kansas where she performed inL’enfant et les sortileges (L’enfant.), Street Scene (Mrs. Olsen), La Traviata (Annina), Patience (Lady Saphir), and various scenework. She also holds a BM from LSU and has most recently studied under Joyce Castle. 
Mary-Anne Wright as Ruth Otis
Actress, singer, writer She received her BA (Hons. equivalent) Dramatic Arts Degree at The University of Witwatersrand South-Africa. She continued to work professionally as an actress in South Africa for a few years before moving to New York City to further her craft. In New York Mary-Anne has performed in various projects including 'Hazard a Little Death' at The Planet Connections Festivity and JD Lawerence's 'Jury Duty' under Ty Lowman Productions. Mary-Anne is also currently working on her own show called 'In the Wake' which is expected to premiere in New York later this year. Mary-Anne is thrilled to be playing a part in 'The Boston Tea Party Opera' ; a show which no doubt promises to have a wonderful future. 
Kelly Horan Galante (Understudy)
Soprano, holds a Master of Music in Opera Performance from the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, MA. Favorite roles include: Beggar Woman (Sweeney Todd), Martha and Lily (The Secret Garden), The Third Lady (Magic Flute), Ma Moss (The Tender Land). She is the Assistant Creative Manager at the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum in Boston, MA. Kelly studies with Anna Gabrieli of Belmont, MA. |
Jocelyn Johnson, Lead Designer
Gavin Skeen, Stage Manager
of the Village Light Opera Guild Design Advisors:
Scott Joiner as Captain Scott Praised for his “bright, arching tenor” (Joshua Kosman, San Francisco Chronicle), young American tenor Scott Joiner recently made his San Francisco Opera debut in the world premiere of Nolan Gasser's The Secret Garden in “a splendid performance” (SF Classical Voice) as a “jaunty Dickon with a lovely tenor” (Classical Review). Joiner has also performed roles with Opera Colorado, Central City Opera, Knoxville Opera, the Center for Contemporary Opera in NYC, Asheville Lyric Opera, the Opera Company of Brooklyn, American Opera Projects, Intermezzo Opera Festival, Teatro Magnani di Fidenza and has appeared as a soloist with the Escher String Quartet, Colorado Music Festival, Harrisburg Choral Society, Asheville Symphony, the Hendersonville Symphony and others. He was a member of the American Musical Theater ensemble and has worked with Broadway composers Steven Schwartz and John Bucchino, as well as with American Music Theater Festival founder, Eric Salzman and at the Faison Firehouse Theater with Tony award-winning director/choreographer, George Faison. www.scottjoinertenor.com 
Joe Harkins as Governor Hutchinson
and King George Joe Harkins lives once again in Jersey City where he was born, but has spent most of his life living elsewhere (Chicago, New Orleans, Santo Domingo, - even Boston!!). His participation in BPTO is his first appearance in a formal production since his high school days. Although he has been a lifelong fan and student of American Musical Theater, he began singing in public only within the last year when he was a finalist in the annual Frank Sinatra tribute contest in Hoboken, NJ. He also has an active career as an actor, having appeared, this past year, in 15 short movies now making the national film festival circuit, plus a few TV sitcom pilots, as well as in commercials for some famous brand names. www.joeharkins.com 
Colette Boudreaux as Molly Pitcher Soprano Colette Boudreaux has been praised for her “richly beautiful instrument– supple, silvery in tone, technically secure, and dramatically convincing" (Classical Voice of North Carolina). Since making her Carnegie Hall debut with the Opera Orchestra of New York, she has delighted audiences in recital, gala concert, and mainstage productions around the country. She has been heard with Asheville Lyric Opera, Lyric Opera Cleveland, the Janiec Opera Company at Brevard Music Center, Grandview Opera and the American Musical Theater Ensemble. Among her awards, Boudreaux won Third Prize in the Regional Finals of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, received the Kriendler Scholarship at Manhattan School of Music, the Dean’s Scholarship at Oberlin Conservatory and has also been recognized by the American Traditions Competition. www.coletteboudreaux.com 
Brad Rupp as Captain Preston
Brad is pleased to join the company of The Boston Tea Party Opera and to make his FringeNYC debut. Other NYC credits include Assassins (Charles Guiteau-5th Floor Theatre) and Roulette the Musical (666). Brad is a graduate of Arizona State University. Regional: Oklahoma! (Jud Fry), Into the Woods(Wolf/Cinderella's Prince) and Sunset Boulevard (Max von Mayerling) with Arizona Broadway Theatre. Thanks to Alissa and everyone involved with BTPO. 
Anna Richardson (Understudy)
Soprano, Anna Richardson has sung with the Riverside Symphony Orchestra, New York Opera Exchange, and the Savannah Voice Festival. She earned a Masters of Music in Vocal Performance from the Conservatory of Music at Brooklyn College, where she played La Feu in Ravel’s L’Enfant et les Sortileges and Crobyle in Massenet’s Thaïs. She received her undergraduate degree from Pepperdine University, where she played Papagena in The Magic Flute, Meg Brockie in Brigadoon, and Ruth Putnam in The Crucible. |
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