The Village Light Opera

Iolanthe
Principals and Directors

YVONNE C. ANDERSON (Queen of the Fairies), a mezzo-soprano, received her master's degree in voice from MSM in 1995. During the 1996-'97 season, she was a member of the Cincinnati Opera Outreach, singing nearly 250 performances in schools in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and West Virginia. She appeared as Mrs. Fezziwig in the New England Lyric Operetta's production of A Christmas Carol last season. Her G&S performances include Edith in The Pirates of Penzance with Nebraska Repertory Theater, and H.M.S. Pinafore and Utopia, Limited with Ohio Light Opera.

ABIGAIL BAILEY (Phyllis) is delighted to make her VLOG debut in Iolanthe (coincidentally, her G&S debut!). Recently, she appeared at the Duplex as Bunny in Ballad of the Angry Young Man. Other credits include Sweeney Todd (Goodspeed), Della in The Gift of the Magi (Vermont Stage Co.), Little Fawn in Captive (Mint Theater), and Charley in Charley's Place (Expanded Arts). She received her B.F.A. in Musical Theater from the Boston Conservatory. Thanks, Bev!

WILLIAM J. BROOKE (Stage Director) directed last year's Mikado. He is being given a second chance. He has appeared onstage with VLOG in such roles as Jack Point and Harold Hill, and has sung leads with such groups as the New York Grand Opera and New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players. His new children's book, A is for Aarrgh!, has just been published by HarperCollins.

JAMES DONEGAN (Lord Tolloller, Assistant Program Editor) VLOG debut. Regional theater credits include: Evita (Che), The Merry Widow (Njegus), The Sound of Music (Rolf), Fiddler... (Motel), Oklahoma! (Will), Godspell ("All Good Gifts") and, most recently, Love Me. NOW! (solo cabaret). Upcoming: NY premiere of the new opera A Tale of Peter Rabbit (Peter). Recording: Journey to the Center of the Earth (Axel). Solo orchestral appearances: Bach's Christmas Oratorio, Handel's Messiah, and Bach's Wachet Auf.

MICAH FREEDMAN (Lord Mountararat) is pleased to make his VLOG debut in Iolanthe. Since coming to the Big City two years ago, Micah has performed in a number of regional productions, including Fiddler on the Roof and Almost Like Being in Love with Barter Theatre, and Phantom and Showboat with the Gateway Playhouse. Productions of Salome, Soap Opera, and Mim are among his New York credits. Other favorite roles include El Gallo in The Fantasticks, Papageno in The Magic Flute, Stephon in Iolanthe (with San Francisco's Lamplighters), Etienne in Naughty Marietta, and Marcello in I. Micah is a graduate of Stanford University where he studied music, acting, and computer science.

NATHAN HULL (Pvt. Willis) is seeing Iolanthe from yet a third angle, having previously performed Strephon with the Washington Savoyards, and Lord Mountararat with both Theater Ten-Ten and with VLOG in our last production of the operetta. Among his other favorite VLOG roles have been the Captain in Pinafore, Sir Despard in Ruddy Gore, Giuseppe in Gondoliers and last year's title role of The Mikado. A frequent VLOG director, his credits have included the "infamous" Space-Age Princess Ida and BALOE's Boys from Syracuse. Last spring, Nathan made his Avery Fisher Hall debut with the Little Orchestra Society as Silas Barnaby in Babes in Toyland. Later this season, he will be seen as Escamillo in Carmen and as Figaro in The Marriage of Figaro.

ROBERT JOHNNESSON (Lord Chancellor) This is Robert's debut with VLOG. He received his early stage training in summer stock at The Bellport Gateway Theatre where he appeared in Good News, Oliver, and The Boyfriend. Robert travels extensively with his act "Banjo and Vocals in the Art Deco Tradition" featuring music from the Roaring Twenties. He was the featured performer at Vagabond Jazz Club in Shinjuku, Tokyo, for three months in the 1998-99 Winter season.

DEBORAH LITWAK (Iolanthe) VLOG: Brigadoon (Meg), The Mikado (Pitti-Sing), Bells Are Ringing (Ella), Fiorello! (Marie), RuddyGore (Mad Margaret), The Gondoliers (Tessa), Kismet (Lalume), The Most Happy Fella (Cleo). Regionally: Peter Pan (Peter), Brigadoon (Fiona), Baby (Pam), Carousel (Julie), The Music Man (Marian), Annie Warbucks (Sheila Kelly), Guys & Dolls (Sarah), Damn Yankees (Lola), My Fair Lady (Eliza).

MARLA MANGIONE (Fleta) made her VLOG debut in their last production, Brigadoon. She has also appeared in numerous shows thoughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania, most recently playing gangster's moll Erma in Anything Goes. Other performances include The Music Man (Marian), Grease (Frenchy), Carnival (Lilli), Smoke on the Mountain (Denise Sanders), Singin' in the Rain (Lina), and her National Tour with the Continental Singers. Marla studies at the Singers Forum Vocal Academy with John Albert Harris.

RONALD W. NOLL (Resident Music Director and Conductor), in his 42nd season with VLOG, is an award-winning pianist who has conducted everything from opera and operetta to musical comedy, including the entire G&S canon. The arranger and director of a professional quartet, the Manhattan Singers, he has received a New York Area Emmy Award and an International Broadcasting Award from the Hollywood TV and Radio Chapter of Broadcasting. An Honorary Life Member of VLOG, Ron is married to soprano Sara-Ann Noll. Their daughter, recording star Christiane Noll, is currently in the Broadway production It Ain't Nothing But the Blues.

MARK SMITH (Strephon) Originally from Sea Cliff, Long Island, Mark is excited to make his VLOG debut! He trained at the Neighborhood Playhouse and the William Esper Studios and recently finished seasons at the New York Renaissance Faire (Peter Quince); in Camelot at the Westchester Broadway Theater (Sir Sagramore, u/s Lancelot); and in the Central Park Zoo's Theater Department (too many roles to list!). Other favorite roles include Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar and Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream.

PATRICE SOKOLOWSKI (Celia) made her VLOG debut in Fiorello! and has been involved with the VLOGuild ever since. She has sung the roles of Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, The First Lady in The Magic Flute, and Frasquita in Carmen with the New York Opera Forum. Her most recent performance was a recital through the Adonai Arts Foundation.

TINA THROCKMORTON (Leila) is delighted to be "tripping hither, tripping thither" in her fifth show with VLOG, having most recently appeared as Jane Ashton in last spring's Brigadoon. She thanks the cast, staff, and crew for contributing to this warm and wonderful experience. When not singing and dancing, Tina works in non-profit fundraising. Much love to Mom, Nana, Papa, and Jerry.