Artist Bios for VLOG's Mikado

Stacy Baer (Peep-Bo) is thrilled to be on stage with VLOG for the third time, after playing Doris in Fiorello! and Miss Phillips in Call Me Madam. Her career highlights include performing with Tony Award winner Debbie Gravitte in Anything Goes, as Florence in Yeston/Kopit's Phantom at the Carousel Dinner Theatre, and as Mary in Babes in Toyland at Madison Square Garden's Paramount Theatre. She would like to thank her family for sitting through it all.

Desirée Baxter (Katisha) recently received her M.M. from the Manhattan School of Music and completed an apprenticeship with Lyric Opera Cleveland. She was selected by Warren Jones to perform Brahms' Liebeslieder in a gala concert featuring Mr. Jones, Marilyn Horne, James Morris, Susan Quittmayer, and Ruth Ann Swenson. The Hampton, Virginia native has performed throughout her home state and in Europe with the American Institute of Musical Studies. Her repertoire ranges from Cherubino in Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro to L'Enfant in Ravel's L'Enfant et les Sortileges, and from Phoebe in Yeomen of the Guard to Sheila in A Chorus Line.

William J. Brooke (Stage Director) This is Bill's fourteenth show with VLOG, but his first as Director. He has appeared in such roles as Jack Point, Harold Hill, and last year's Dick Dauntless. He has performed thirty different roles in the G&S repertory and has become such an irritating know-it-all that he was made Director and told to put up or shut up (preferably both!).

Robert Greshes (Ko-Ko) ) first appeared onstage with VLOG as Sebastian Sebastian in Call Me Madam. He has performed numerous Gilbert and Sullivan roles (favorites include the Lord Chancellor, Sir Joseph Porter, the Learned Judge, and the Grand Duke), and particularly aged individuals may remember him as Ko-Ko in an East Meadow High School production. Special thanks to family, friends, and the indispensible VLOG tech crew for all the support!

Nathan Hull (The Mikado), like all Savoyards, seems to be followed around by productions of The Mikado, having directed our last "Kabuki" version, and having done the same for Seaside Music Theatre in Daytona, Florida. He has also played the title character for Ten Ten Players, Amato Opera, and the Washington Savoyards. Recently seen as Rabbi David in Amato Opera's production of L'Amico Fritz, next month Nathan will play the Trader in New England Operetta's A Gilbert & Sullivan Christmas Carol, for which he modestly shares credit for the lyrics with Mr. Gilbert. In the spring, he returns to Amato as Figaro in The Barber of Seville and as Pappageno in The Magic Flute. This is Nathan's lucky 13th production for VLOG.

Jeffrey Kurnit (Pish-Tush) first heard The Mikado as a child and immediately became a Gilbert and Sullivan fan. He performed in his first Mikado in the chorus in 1965 when he was a freshman in college. Since then, he has played Nanki-Poo and chorused numerous productions. Last winter, he even appeared as Yanki-Pu in Der Yiddisher Mikado. Now, in his first try at Pish-Tush, he finally gets to sing that wonderful trio! Jeff and his wife Abby are Life Members of VLOG and are the proud parents of two VLOGers, Miriam, a junior at Barnard College, and Sam, a high school freshman and a regular VLOG stage crew member.

Karen Leah (Yum-Yum) i) has appeared in principal roles in several Village Light Opera productions, including Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance and Elsie in The Yeomen of the Guard. She received her music degree from the University of Colo- rado where she performed in many productions, including roles in The Magic Flute and The Secret Marriage. In New York she has appeared with Encompass Theater in premiere performances of Home and the River and as Sophia in an adaptation of Jane Austen's Love and Friendship. Currently working as the marketing manager for Ada Core Technologies, Inc., she appears as the historical figure, Lady Ada, singing at trade conventions in Philadephia, St. Louis, Utah, London, and Sweden.

Debbie Litwak (Pitti-Sing) ) is delighted to work once again with her brother, Dan (Pooh-Bah), in a role performed by her mother. Other VLOG shows include The Most Happy Fella (Cleo), Kismet (Lalume), Fiorello! (Marie), Bells Are Ringing (Ella), and Ruddy Gore (Mad Margaret). Regionally, Debbie has been seen in Ca- rousel (Julie), Baby (Pam), Brigadoon (Fiona), Damn Yankees (Lola), Pippin (Ca-therine, Fastrada), Annie Warbucks (Sheila Kelly), My Fair Lady (Eliza), and her favorite, Peter in Peter Pan, where she only flew into the scenery once.

Daniel Litwak (Pooh-Bah) debuted with VLOG two years ago as the Sergeant of Police in Pirates, and was Sir Roderic Murgatroyd in Ruddy Gore. Appearing re- gionally with Huntington Township Theatre Group, The New England Lyric Oper- etta, Arena Players, Lantern Theatre, and Hofstra University Gray Wig, he has per- formed leading roles in The Importance of Being Earnest, The Sisters Rosensweig, Breaking Legs, Lend Me a Tenor, Anything Goes, Fiorello!, West Side Story, and 1776. Dan is delighted to be on stage again with his sister, Deborah (Pitti-Sing --even if she doesn't care for corroborative detail!).

Ronald W. Noll (Music Director/Conductor) in his 40th 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 vocal quartet, The Manhattan Singers, he 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, Christiane, is currently starring on Broadway as Lisa in the new musical Jekyll and Hyde, and will be heard as Anna in the animated film version of The King and I.

Ben Schuman (Nanki-Poo) Baltimore native Ben Schuman is making his VLOG debut in The Mikado, but he is no stranger to performing. His credits include Richard Dauntless in Ruddigore, Bardolfo in Falstaff, Don Curzio in Le Nozze di Figaro, the Witch in Hansel and Gretel, and Jesus in the world premiere of Robert Sirota's The Passion of Jesus Christ. He recently received an M.M. from The Pea-body Conservatory and relocated to Brooklyn where he lives with his wife, Dani.

Felice Wechsler (Producer) although exhausted, has thoroughly enjoyed working on The Mikado. She'd like to thank her non-VLOG friends for their con- tinuing patience; Mom for buying her enough new underwear to get through the fall season without doing laundry; Bill B. for being a mensch; Rebecca, Joe, Kathy, and Susan for making it much easier; and the entire multinational company for providing so much amusement, eh? Felice looks forward to watching her next VLOG show from the house.

	Stacy Baer (Peep-Bo) is thrilled to be on stage with VLOG for the third time, after playing Doris in Fiorello! and Miss Phillips in Call Me Madam. Her career highlights include performing with Tony Award winner Debbie Gravitte in Anything Goes, as Florence in Yeston/Kopit's Phantom at the Carousel Dinner Theatre, and as Mary in Babes in Toyland at Madison Square Garden's Paramount Theatre. She would like to thank her family for sitting through it all.
	Desirée Baxter (Katisha) recently received her M.M. from the Manhattan School of Music and completed an apprenticeship with Lyric Opera Cleveland. She was selected by Warren Jones to perform Brahms' Liebeslieder in a gala concert featuring Mr. Jones, Marilyn Horne, James Morris, Susan Quittmayer, and Ruth Ann Swenson. The Hampton, Virginia native has performed throughout her home state and in Europe with the American Institute of Musical Studies. Her repertoire ranges from Cherubino in Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro to L'Enfant in Ravel's L'Enfant et les Sortileges, and from Phoebe in Yeomen of the Guard to Sheila in A Chorus Line.
	William J. Brooke (Stage Director) This is Bill's fourteenth show with VLOG, but his first as Director. He has appeared in such roles as Jack Point, Harold Hill, and last year's Dick Dauntless. He has performed thirty different roles in the G&S repertory and has become such an irritating know-it-all that he was made Director and told to put up or shut up (preferably both!).
	Robert Greshes (Ko-Ko) ) first appeared onstage with VLOG as Sebastian Sebastian in Call Me Madam. He has performed numerous Gilbert and Sullivan roles (favorites include the Lord Chancellor, Sir Joseph Porter, the Learned Judge, and the Grand Duke), and particularly aged individuals may remember him as Ko-Ko in an East Meadow High School production. Special thanks to family, friends, and the indispensible VLOG tech crew for all the support!
	Nathan Hull (The Mikado), like all Savoyards, seems to be followed around by productions of The Mikado, having directed our last "Kabuki" version, and having done the same for Seaside Music Theatre in Daytona, Florida. He has also played the title character for Ten Ten Players, Amato Opera, and the Washington Savoyards. Recently seen as Rabbi David in Amato Opera's production of L'Amico Fritz, next month Nathan will play the Trader in New England Operetta's A Gilbert & Sullivan Christmas Carol, for which he modestly shares credit for the lyrics with Mr. Gilbert. In the spring, he returns to Amato as Figaro in The Barber of Seville and as Pappageno in The Magic Flute. This is Nathan's lucky 13th production for VLOG.
	Jeffrey Kurnit (Pish-Tush) first heard The Mikado as a child and immediately became a Gilbert and Sullivan fan. He performed in his first Mikado in the chorus in 1965 when he was a freshman in college. Since then, he has played Nanki-Poo and chorused numerous productions. Last winter, he even appeared as Yanki-Pu in Der Yiddisher Mikado. Now, in his first try at Pish-Tush, he finally gets to sing that wonderful trio! Jeff and his wife Abby are Life Members of VLOG and are the proud parents of two VLOGers, Miriam, a junior at Barnard College, and Sam, a high school freshman and a regular VLOG stage crew member.
	Karen Leah (Yum-Yum) i) has appeared in principal roles in several Village Light Opera productions, including Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance and Elsie in The Yeomen of the Guard. She received her music degree from the University of Colo- rado where she performed in many productions, including roles in The Magic Flute and The Secret Marriage. In New York she has appeared with Encompass Theater in premiere performances of Home and the River and as Sophia in an adaptation of Jane Austen's Love and Friendship. Currently working as the marketing manager for Ada Core Technologies, Inc., she appears as the historical figure, Lady Ada, singing at trade conventions in Philadephia, St. Louis, Utah, London, and Sweden.
	Debbie Litwak (Pitti-Sing) ) is delighted to work once again with her brother, Dan (Pooh-Bah), in a role performed by her mother. Other VLOG shows include The Most Happy Fella (Cleo), Kismet (Lalume), Fiorello! (Marie), Bells Are Ringing (Ella), and Ruddy Gore (Mad Margaret). Regionally, Debbie has been seen in Ca- rousel (Julie), Baby (Pam), Brigadoon (Fiona), Damn Yankees (Lola), Pippin (Ca-therine, Fastrada), Annie Warbucks (Sheila Kelly), My Fair Lady (Eliza), and her favorite, Peter in Peter Pan, where she only flew into the scenery once.
	Daniel Litwak (Pooh-Bah) debuted with VLOG two years ago as the Sergeant of Police in Pirates, and was Sir Roderic Murgatroyd in Ruddy Gore. Appearing re- gionally with Huntington Township Theatre Group, The New England Lyric Oper- etta, Arena Players, Lantern Theatre, and Hofstra University Gray Wig, he has per- formed leading roles in The Importance of Being Earnest, The Sisters Rosensweig, Breaking Legs, Lend Me a Tenor, Anything Goes, Fiorello!, West Side Story, and 1776. Dan is delighted to be on stage again with his sister, Deborah (Pitti-Sing --even if she doesn't care for corroborative detail!).
	Ronald W. Noll (Music Director/Conductor) in his 40th 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 vocal quartet, The Manhattan Singers, he 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, Christiane, is currently starring on Broadway as Lisa in the new musical Jekyll and Hyde, and will be heard as Anna in the animated film version of The King and I.
	Ben Schuman (Nanki-Poo) Baltimore native Ben Schuman is making his VLOG debut in The Mikado, but he is no stranger to performing. His credits include Richard Dauntless in Ruddigore, Bardolfo in Falstaff, Don Curzio in Le Nozze di Figaro, the Witch in Hansel and Gretel, and Jesus in the world premiere of Robert Sirota's The Passion of Jesus Christ. He recently received an M.M. from The Pea-body Conservatory and relocated to Brooklyn where he lives with his wife, Dani.
	Felice Wechsler (Producer) although exhausted, has thoroughly enjoyed working on The Mikado. She'd like to thank her non-VLOG friends for their con- tinuing patience; Mom for buying her enough new underwear to get through the fall season without doing laundry; Bill B. for being a mensch; Rebecca, Joe, Kathy, and Susan for making it much easier; and the entire multinational company for providing so much amusement, eh? Felice looks forward to watching her next VLOG show from the house.