A Company of Strangers

A Company of Strangers

is the Theatre Ministry of Ecumenicon Fellowship, creating and presenting stories of myth, legend, and inspiration from many traditions. We rehearse every Tuesday on Capitol Hill and present several concerts a year.

Come and join us!

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DIRECTOR ACTOR/SINGER ACTOR/SINGER ACTOR/SINGER ACTOR/SINGER FRIEND CREW COMPANY
Charles - Beauty Concert
Charles Butler Neto
Fancy - For the Beauty of the Earth
Fancy P. Cline
Rose - Beauty
Rose
Blake - Beauty
Blake
Larry - Beauty
Larry
Cedric

Cedric Burgess
Suzanne - Crew
Suzanne
New ACOS logo

OUR LATEST ALBUM - DIRECT FROM GALA

NEXT REHEARSALS

Tuesdays at Open Hearth Foundation, 1502 Massachusetts Ave, SE, Washington, DC, 20003, 7:30 - 9:30 pm; Call us at 301-653-6346 or write to chazzer3332000@yahoo.com for directions.

WHY A MINISTRY

We are not a Broadway production, we are folk-singers and outreach-performers. Ministry with theatre requires selection of music, venue, and sponsors that are not in the public eye, often churches and community centers, to let people know that they are “still here” after so many years. If we can attract even one person to change one life on the street, we have accomplished our mission. We don’t get rich here, but our lives are enriched.

MEMBERSHIP AND DUES:

Members of the Company are volunteers who act, sing, dance, and act as stage crew for a variety of productions reaching out to many communities, focusing on the marginalized of faith and society. We are a dues-paying organization, each member is expected to pay $5.00 per rehearsal attended to help defray costs so that the maximum amount of funds can go from ticket sales and contributions to outreaches.

SPONSORS

Sponsors enable us to produce our show in various venues and pass through ticket sales to homeless and social service outreaches. Please help with your generosity. Sponsors will be linked to this website upon request. (All contributions sent to these buttons are fully tax deductible)




Donate ANY Amount here.

We also have t-shirts, mugs, and more.
Buy t-shirts, mugs & gifts from our shop.

RECENT CONCERT
For the Beauty of the Earth - November 17. Last weekend before Thanksgiving. Songs of Nature. Outreach for The House of Ruth battered women’s outreach shelter. $10 per person. Additional donations accepted. We raised more than $200 for House of Ruth.

House of Ruth Horizontal

Company New reflections

INTERNATIONAL CONCERT PERFORMANCE:
GALA 2012
Choral Festival
Denver, Colorado
July 7-11, 2012
(We sang on Sunday evening with the Songs of Faith concert to 3,000+ people, then on Monday with Mixed Singing in the Round, and finally at our own concert “Hidden Lives” on Tuesday afternoon to thunderous applause).

CAST (For GALA) Included:

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DIRECTOR DIRECTOR ACTOR ACTOR SINGER SINGER SINGER ASL INTERPRETER COMPANY
Director
Charles Butler Neto
The Rector
Rosanna Tufts
FANCY
Fancy P. Cline
Adiyb MuhammadAdiyb Muhammad Rebecca GorlinRebecca Gorlin andy clementsAndy Clements Ryan - GalaRyan Belcher kimberly2Kimberley Shaw New ACOS logo
Galileo,
Spectre
A Company of Strangers
Nun,
Persephone,
A Company of Strangers
Hidden Lives,
Ghost
A Company of Strangers
Cardinal
A Company of Strangers
Adon Olam
Boston, Massachusetts
Priest, Hades
Seattle Men’s Chorus
Priest, Ghost
Seattle Men’s Chorus
ASL Interpreter
Boston Women’s Chorus
There Was An Old Woman, Hidden Lives, Give it Up!, That’s Why This is Hell!, Adon Olam, Child in Your Dancing

Hidden Lives, Tuesday, July 9, 10:30 am, Denver, Colorado, part of the GALA Festival (180 choirs, 5000 singers). The show was recorded and live downloads will be available after September 1, 2012.

PUBLIC SERVICE:

HOT FLASH: We have been accepted as Student Learning Public Service Activity by Prince George’s County and Northern Virginia public schools. Kids (11-18) may obtain volunteer service hours required for graduation through participation in this play. Call Charles Butler at 240-764-5748. Parents must accompany children under 16 to rehearsals.

Auditions: Ongoing, Tuesday nights, at Open Hearth Foundation, 7:30 - 9:30 1502 Massachusetts Avenue, SE, Washington, DC.

Rehearsals: Every Tuesday.

Contact us at 240-764-5748 (answering machine), 301-653-6346 (cell) or at Open Hearth on Tuesday nights at 202-440-2953.

Find us at Open Hearth, come and see us, and if you like what you see and want us to succeed, join us every week.

WORKS IN REPERTOIRE (we are always learning music from these)

Passion of Persephone (A Rock Opera), is a recasting of the Persephone myth as a story of passion, redemption, and renewal. Steamy and playful. Rosanna Tufts is the playwright and composer. This is a staged reading of the courtship and abduction of Hades and Persephone. Go HERE for more information. This is an adult-themed opera. Contact Rosanna Tufts directly at rosanna-108 @ comcast.net.

Strangers at the Gate is a collection of midrash focused on the marginalized, the wanderers, and the homeless in the Hebrew and Christian Bible. Charles Butler is the composer, Rosanna the arranger. This collection was presented at MCC of Northern Virginia 20 years ago, and at Silver Spring Presbyterian Church around 15 years ago. With a new cast, and new music, we tell very different stories.

According to Us (A Parabolic Musical), is a parable for the homeless. You see them on the street corners, muttering to themselves. They hang out under bridges with overturned couches. A pastor sits in a garden making a quilt, and tells stories, some listen, some walk on by. Maggie hears voices, Nick has lost his memory, Simon will never come inside. Listen to the music of the streets.

Hidden Lives is a changing circle of poetry, song, and music from our many pens. We welcome new music to add to our outreach. The first piece is dedicated to our friends who live between men and women, the transfolk who speak to everyone with a different voice.

LAST PERFORMANCE:

Performance at Persephone’s Masquerade, Saturday, March 31, 2012, 7:30 as part of the annual Open Hearth fundraising effort.
For more information go to: Open Hearth

We are members of the DC GLBT Arts Consortium and GALA Choruses.

We are ALWAYS seeking new gigs, if you have an organization reaching out to the homeless, the battered, or hospice care, do not hesitate to call Charles Butler at 240-764-5748.

RECENT PERFORMANCE:
Mini-Fringe Festival/CCBC Women’s Expo
Sunday, March 11, 2012
CCBC Barn Theatre
Catonsville, MD
Part of the Women’s Expo
rosanna-108@comcast.net
Company quarter

Strangers at the Gate is a collection of midrash focused on the marginalized, the wanderers, and the homeless in the Hebrew and Christian Bible. Charles Butler is the composer, Rosanna the arranger. This collection was presented at MCC of Northern Virginia 20 years ago, and at Silver Spring Presbyterian Church around 15 years ago. With a new cast, and new music, we told very different stories.

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DIRECTOR DIRECTOR ACTOR ACTOR ACTOR CAST
Director
Charles Butler Neto
The Rector
Rosanna Tufts
FANCY
Fancy P. Cline
Adiyb MuhammadAdiyb Muhammad Marcia SellersMarcia J. Sellars Hades and PersephoneLeather and Lace
Narrator
Midian,
Spectre
Lilith,
Sarah,
Rahab,
Elizabeth,
Persephone
Tova (Lot’s Wife),
The Man with the Water Jar
Spectre
Og,
Jonah,
John the Baptist,
Joseph of Arimathea,
Spectre
Orpah,
Aida (Jephthah’s Daughter),
Vashti,
Danielle,
Spectre
Hades,
Persephone,
Demeter,
The Underworld

Passion of Persephone (A Rock Opera), is a recasting of the Persephone myth as a story of passion, redemption, and renewal. Steamy and playful. Rosanna Tufts is the playwright and composer. This is a staged reading of the courtship and abduction of Hades and Persephone. Go HERE for more information. This is an adult-themed opera.

According to Us (a parabolic musical), was written during a blizzard in 1997 and has been presented about 40 times since, primarily in fundraising for the homeless and other ministries. Charles Butler is the playwright, composer, and current director. Rosanna Tufts is the arranger. Venues have included St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Joe’s Movement Emporium, Greenbelt Arts Center, Artomatic, St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, First Unitarian Church of Baltimore, Silver Spring Presbyterian Church, and Four Quarters Farm. Fund recipients include the Family Crisis Center, Inc. of Prince George’s County, Streetlights of Bethany, Charlie’s Place, and other homeless ministries. Press for pictures and how you can help.

According to Us
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
Mt. Airy, MD

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DIRECTOR DIRECTOR ACTOR ACTOR ACTOR ACTOR ACTOR
Director
Charles Butler Neto
The Rector
Rosanna Tufts
FANCY
Fancy P. Cline
Simon
Aref Dajani
Carrie Brown
Carrie Brown
Michelle Mullany
Michelle Mullany
Leigh Ann Kippeny
Nicodemus
Pellinore
Galileo
Dr. Nicholas
The Rector, A Leper Maggie the Elder,
Morgan le Fay,
Galileo’s Daughter,
A Plague Child,
Maggie The Elder
Simon the Leper,
Simon the Fool,
A Cardinal,
Simon the Gardener
Simon’s Mother,
A Leper
Maggie the Younger,
Mary Magdalene,
A Plague Child,
Nick’s Granddaughter
A Leper,
A Plague Child

According to Us
Joe’s Emporium
Mt. Rainier, MD
for Family Crisis Center, Inc. of Prince George’s County

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DIRECTOR ARRANGER ACTOR ACTOR ACTOR ACTOR ACTOR ACTOR ACTOR ACTOR ACTOR ACTOR
Director
Charles Butler Neto
The Rector
Rosanna Tufts
Ama Fenton
Ama Brown-Fenton

Maia Portrait
Maia Heard
Sabrea 2
Sabrea Lawrence
Frank 2
Frank Leonard
Simon
Ryan Dodson
Child
Ayana Fenton
Michelle Mullany
Michlle Mullany
carrie brown 2
Carrie Brown
Lex
Lex Muhta
Judy Lawson
Judy Lynn Lawson
Director Arranger Rector,
Leper
Maggie the Elder,
Mary Magdalene,

Morgan Le Fay
Galileo’s Daughter,
Simon’s Mother

Maggie the Younger,
Morgause
, Nick’s Granddaughter
Nicodemus,
Pellinore,
Galileo,
Dr. Nicholas
Simon the Leper
Simon the Fool
A Cardinal
Simon the Gardener
Nick’s Granddaughter
A Plague Child
Homeless Child,
Leper,
Candy Striper
Simon’s Mother
A Leper,
Nun,
Nurse
Homeless Man,
A Leper,
Doctor
Stage Manager,
Publicity,
Nurse,
Leper

According to Us
Greenbelt Arts Center
Greenbelt, MD
for Streetlights of Bethany

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DIRECTOR ARRANGER ACTOR ACTOR ACTOR ACTOR ACTOR ACTOR ACTOR
Director
Charles Butler Neto
The Rector
Rosanna Tufts
Maggie
Elicia Moran
Nick
Frank Leonard
Simon
Aref Dajani
Nick's Granddaughter
Ayana Fenton
Michelle Mullany
Michelle Mullany
Granddaughter Mother
Girale Takahashi
Homeless Man
CZ Burke
Director Rector,
Leper
Maggie,
Mary Magdalene,
Morgan La Fay,
Galileo’s Daughter,
Plague Child
Leper
Nicodemus,
Pellinore,
Galileo,
Dr. Nicholas
Simon the Leper
Simon the Fool
A Cardinal
Simon the Gardener
Nick’s Granddaughter
A Plague Child
Homeless Child,
Leper,
Candy Striper
Simon’s Mother
A Leper,
Nun,
Nurse
Jesus,
Homeless Man,
A Leper,
Doctor

A pastor tells stories, Maggie hears voices, Nick has lost his memory, Simon will not come inside. A child remembers.

Small Stitch Maggie's Voices Galileo Arthur Court Small

Reduced Company A Company of Strangers Simon and Jesus Stitch By Stitch Galileo

We are looking for more events.

Stitch by Stitch Galileo Let Winter Rule Zeus and Hera Hades and Persephone

OUTREACH_WHERE_HAVE_WE_HELPED? SPONSORS_YOU_CAN_BE_HERE! PERFORMANCES_WHERE_WILL_WE_BE?
PRIOR PERFORMANCES

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
December 2011

Greenbelt Arts Center
Greenbelt, MD
(fundraiser for Streetlights of Bethany)
2009 Show at Greenbelt Arts Center

Benefited
Streetlights of Bethany
Streetlights of Bethany

St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church
August 2007
Washington, DC
(Fundraiser for Charlie’s Place)

First Unitarian Church>
2003
Baltimore, MD

Ecumenicon Fellowship
2001
Laurel, MD
(Interfaith Conference-ASL Interpreted Performance)

Silver Spring Presbyterian Church
1998
Silver Spring, MD
(first performance for church outreach)

SPONSORS

Sponsors enable us to produce our show in various venues and pass through ticket sales to homeless and social service outreaches. Please help with your generosity. Sponsors will be linked to this website upon request.

(All contributions sent to these buttons are fully tax deductible)




Donate ANY Amount here.

All Good Foods
Carol Berman
Botanica Gran Poder
Duane Bowers, LPC
Carrie Brown
Butler Design Services
Circa 34
Curves of Greenbelt
The Crystal Fox
Fancy P. Cline
Aref Dajani
Ecumenicon Fellowship

Glut Food Coop
Hyattsville Mennonite Church
Tamar Lindsay
Maria’s Beauty Shop, Inc.
McCarl Dental Group
Ruth Mullany
Nisey’s Boutique LLC
Oz-Some Success
Park Ritchie Market
Priority Title & Escrow, Inc.
Sarasvati’s Call
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

PAST PERFORMANCES

CHAW MLK Celebration
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
7-10 pm
Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church
201 4th Street, SE, Washington, DC

Mini-Fringe Festival
Strangers at the Gate
Catonsville Women’s Expo
March 10-11, 2012
Catonsville, MD
info being gathered

GALA FESTIVAL
Denver, Colorado
July 7-11, 2012
www.galachoruses.org

Your theatre?






___ROLE___ ___PICTURE___ _________BIO____________________________________________________________
DIRECTOR Director
Charles Butler Neto
Charles Butler Neto (Playwright/Founding and Current Director/Composer) is a pastor, a singer and songwriter. He performed supporting roles with the University of Michigan theatre departments, and though he had no speaking lines, he was hooked. On the pastoral side, he has written a series of midrash performance poetry (Strangers at the Gate).

On the lighter side, he performed the role of the Fairy Queen (Alto) in Iolanthe. He wrote According to Us during a blizzard, and performed the role of Nick for its first performances. He has been both a church and community chorus soloist, including opera chorus with the Bel Canto Singers, and the Rock Creek Singers (Tenor/Counter-Tenor) of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington.

OUTGOING DIRECTOR The Rector
Rosanna Tufts
Rosanna Tufts (Playwright/ Outgoing Director/ Composer/ Arranger) (The Rector-2009 and 2011) in According to Us, (Persephone) in The Passion of Persephone /Playwright, Composer, Musical Director, Arranger) holds a Master’s degree in Music History from Peabody Conservatory. A soprano, she’s had a long career in classical music and musical theatre, appearing with Concert Artists of Baltimore, the Young Victorian Theatre, Municipal Opera, and several Baltimore-area churches.

Past roles include Cunegonde (Candide), Celia (Iolanthe), Josephine (HMS Pinafore), Adele (Die Fledermaus), Papagena (The Magic Flute), Lalume (Kismet), Amahl (Amahl and the Night Visitors), and the Rector (creating the role in the first production of According To Us). She composed both music and lyrics for The Passion of Persephone, “the world’s first Bondage-and-Discipline Rock Opera,” which had a work-in-progress premiere at the 2008 Capital Fringe Festival. Musical and video excerpts are available at www.myspace.com/ passionofpersephonerockopera.

ACTOR Ama Brown-Fenton
Ama Brown-Fenton
Ama Brown-Fenton (The Rector) was last seen as the Understudy to Girale Takahashi at the Art-O-Matic performance of According to Us. at Joe’s Emporium, Ama made the transition from Ayana’s stage mom to The Rector. She is no stranger to the church nor the stage, having acted earlier in school productions of Lil’ Abner and Big River.

In addition, Ama has performed with the Christ Church Khoir Kids and was a featured soloist for the Concert Choir at Glenelg High School . As the Convention Planning Team’s Exhibits Coordinator, Ama has been excited to share A Company of Strangers with all of her Diocese of Maryland of the Episcopal Church friends. She has moved to Florida.

ACTOR - AGENT carrie brown 2
Carrie A. Brown
Carrie A. Brown
(Nun) is in her third production of According To Us. She has written and directed plays for educational and religious organizations, including the Organization for Black Episcopal Women in which she is an officer. She is heavily involved with St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Mt. Airy, where we held our last performance.

For many years, she has been a stage mother (Ama) and grandmother (Ayana Marie). She would like to thank Charles for his insightful script and for letting her have so much fun. Thanks to her family and friends for their support of this production.

ACTOR - AGENT andy clements
Andy Clements
Andy Clements
(Bass, Hades) originally comes from Knoxville, TN. His first chorus after high school was the Knox County Metro Barbershop Chorus with SPEBSQSA. While in college studying classical voice, he took a dance class and was immediately hooked on musical theater. Credits include 2 seasons of theme park shows at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN, “Country Tonite” from Las Vegas, and many shows in the theater scene in Houston, TX, including “Floyd Collins,” “Party,” “Dirty Little Showtunes,” “Dirty Little Showtunes, Encore!,” “Naked Boys Singing” and “La Cage aux Folles.” Currently, Andy loves singing with the Seattle Men’s Chorus and is excited to be performing as an honorary member of A Company of Strangers with a starring role as Hades in “That’s Why This is Hell” at the 2012 Denver Gala.
ACTOR Simon
Aref Dajani
Aref Dajani (Simon) in According to Us, and Dionysus (Baritone) in The Passion of Persephone studies voice with Ana Castrello. He performed as Monostatos (Tenor) in The Magic Flute (Mozart) with the In Series of Washington. He performed as Don Octave (Countertenor) in The Stoned Guest (P.D.Q. Bach) with the Forgotten Opera Company of Bethesda. He recently performed at the St. Mark’s Players productions of Company (Sondheim).
ACTOR Simon
Ryan Dodson
Ryan Dodson (Simon) acted in his first production of According to Us in 2010. He had acted in other plays with other companies, but this was the first singing role. He is now working in New York as an actor in several productions.
ACTOR Nick's Granddaughter
Ayana Fenton
Ayana Fenton (Nick’s Granddaughter) performed her role as the child who watches everything. In addition to performing as Nick’s Granddaughter at the Art-O-Matic DC and Greenbelt Arts Center last season, Ayana has performed with A Company of Strangers in The Passion of Persephone (Tufts) as Eros. Ayana was last seen as Emily Best in The Best Little Theater in Town. Ayana has now moved to Florida.
ACTOR Maia Portrait
Maia Heard
Maia Heard (Maggie the Elder) (Voice of Simon’s Mother) in According to Us was in her first production with A Company of Strangers in 2010 and sang the blues to haunting acclaim. Maia received an AA degree in musical theater from Dean College and, while there, she appeared in Pippin and has credits as Juliet’s nurse in Romeo and Juliet presented by the Folger Shakespeare Theater and has acted in the companies Everyday Theater and Arlington Youth Street Theater.

She was part of City At Peace in the Volunteer Theater Production and was a volunteer at Signature Theater, assisting in the set design. She plays violin, harp and piano and has appeared with the D.C. Youth Orchestra. Maia trained in ballet at the Academy of Theatrical Arts and the American Ballet Company. She is also proficient in jazz, tap, and modern dance, which she learned while studying at Dean College.

ACTOR Sabrea 2Sabrea Lawrence Sabrea Danielle Lawrence (Maggie the Younger) (2010), in According to Us is entering her second production with A Company of Strangers. Growing up in Spotsylvania, Virginia, Sabrea (Brea) started singing at four years old in a traveling choir called “The Voices of Praise.” Living in a musical family, she sang in the children’s and adult choirs until age 17.

Playing the piano and directing her choir, Brea is an active figure in the art community, often painting works of art for local Virginia schools’ art classes. She has a passion for art, as well as singing, and has been looking forward to becoming a part of this theater family. She has been welcomed with open arms and all are pleased that she is a part of A Company of Strangers.

ACTOR Judy Lawson
Judy-Lynn Lawson
Judy Lawson (Production) in According to Us is an Alto with the Prince George’s Community Society. Beginning at the age of seven, Judy sang in the church (junior) choir, graduating to the adult choir at 13. In high school, she was a founding member of the Drama Club and appeared in Brett Hart’s How the West Was Won, Sweet Kentucky Sue, and Lani Smith’s It’s the Lord’s Thing, as the Doubting Thomas character asking the musical question, “Are You Listening, Lord?” She is now working behind the scenes producing the program for this show.
ACTOR FANCY
Fancy P. Cline
Frank/Fancy Leonard(Nick 2009, 2010, Maggie the Elder, 2011) in According to Us is from a high school performance as Professor Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady in Ohio, and understudy in summer stock for Tevya from Fiddler on the Roof, Frank brought a rye wit as an old professor to two performances. Now her new self, Fancy, is Maggie the Elder. He worked in lights in Ohio, now she is under them. She is a Tenor with the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington performing as The Mirror in their production of Snow White, and Ms. Fancy P. Cline performing as Ms. Lovett (The Worst Pies in London) in the Awards Club of Washington. Frank received vocal instruction from Ron Freeman.
ACTOR Maggie
Elicia Moran
Elicia Moran (Maggie) in According to Us, Aphrodite in The Passion of Persephone has been acting for a while both in the theatre and on film. She has done a commercial in the area and various shows. Some of her favorite performances include Barbara Pitts in The Laramie Project, Ms. Bedwin in Oliver and Leila in Iolanthe. Elicia also teaches children acting classes with InterAct Story Theatre’s “Creative Kids” which she greatly enjoys.
ACTOR Adiyb Muhammad

Adiyb Muhammad
Adiyb Muhammad (Deborah’s Brother/Og/Aaron/Jonah/Joseph) in Strangers at the Gate comes from a diverse film, commercial, theater, and singing background. He has been singing for 5 years, acting for 25 years. He was bitten by the acting bug after Change is Gonna Come a gospel play in 2008, Two years later he won first lead role in It’s Carnivall a romantic comedy where he played a character from Trinidad. Adiyb was a performer in the Jon Gann film Offline. He played the Barber in Love is Blind, Papa Boi in Stranger from Willow Creek, Cat Daddy Moe in He’s Not Your Soul Mate. He was a singer for the National Bar Association for the Inauguration ceremonies of President Obama. He was part of the Company for the 2011 season through GALA.
ACTOR

Michelle MullanyMichelle Mullany Michelle Mullany (Homeless Child/Maggie the Younger 2011) is an experienced actor in area productions. She is a veteran of A Company of Strangers, performing in The Passion of Persephone (Tufts) at the Capitol Fringe Festival in 2008. This past production she merged her role as a homeless child with that of Maggie the Younger, the voice of an abused child facing a lonely adulthood. She has appeared in numerous other stage productions including, Honk Jr., Seussical Jr., Willy Wonka Jr., A Christmas Carol, and the lead roles of Kate Shelley in The Legend of Kate Shelley and Sadako Sasaski in A Thousand Cranes. Her credit also includes Local TV, Film and Voice Over. She has been a part of A Company of Strangers from 2008 to late 2011
ACTOR Lex
Leonard Musta
Leonard Musta (Homeless Man) in According to Us made his acting debut in Margaret Sears’ production of Hand of the Cause of God, William Sear’s On Fire with the Faith in the lead role of Steve presented at Desert Rose in Glay, Arizona. His training was at St. Andres in North Yale, Canada. He dedicates this performance to his son Ethan and daughter Avi.
ACTOR Marcia SellersMarcia Sellers Marcia Sellers (Orpah, Jephthah’s Daughter, Vashti, Danielle)(2012) Born and raised in Baltimore City, Marcia Janine Sellers received her undergraduate degree in music education from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland. She received her Master’s Degree in Music Performance from Morgan State University. Marcia continued her studies in voice and choral conducting at the Peabody Conservatory of Music of the Johns Hopkins University. She has been the vocal music teacher and musical director for Baltimore City Public Schools for the previous sixteen years. She has also taught music at a private school, Friends School of Baltimore, for the last twenty summers. Marcia has rendered her expertise as a clinician presenting workshops that include voice and tap-dance performances as well as how to implement music integration into regular classroom curriculum. Her professional services have been shared in the Baltimore City community at local colleges, elementary schools, high schools and professional development workshops for the Baltimore City Public School System. Marcia has performed in several operas throughout her years as a dynamic soprano including Princess Ida and The Mikado. SHe was also featured in broadway musicals, her favorite being Hello Dolly.
ACTOR Granddaughter and Simon's MotherGirale Takahashi Girale Takahashi (Nun, Simon’s Mother, Nick’s Granddaughter)(2009) has performed with the Prince George’s Choral Society (with Director Ron Freeman) at the White House in celebration of the holidays. She was a part of the Morgan University Choir under the late Dr. Nathan Carter with performances at Lincoln Center in New York City, and the Kennedy Center. Girale is a sololist in the Washington Music Makers performing classical arias, sacred music, and spirituals. She is a member of the choir and soloist with the Unity Center of Light (Bowie, MD) directed by Dimitar Nikolov. Girale studied voice with Jerome Barry, Director of the Embassy Series. She held her debut recital with her repertoire coach George Peachy in 2009.
ACTOR Homeless Man
Christopher Zito
Christopher Zito aka CZ Burke (Jesus/Leper/Homeless Father/2008) is a graduate of the Catholic University of America’s drama department. Favorite roles have include Gilgamesh in Gilgamesh who saw the deep (Ivan Karamazov); Ivan and Adolf in The Last Man in Hell; Hunter in Hunter’s Rising, and Harry Padington in Beggar’s Opera. He has gone on to performances in New York City, and will be performing in September at the New York Comedy Club.