Three Questions With…
Dale Kaufman, mezzo
Kenny Lyons, tenor
Alannah Spencer, soprano
Tom Stone, baritone
Madison Opera Chorus, Sweeney Todd
1. What is your day job?
Dale: I am a middle school social worker in the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District.
Kenny: Junior voice student at UW-Madison.
Alannah: Student at UW-Madison studying voice and anthropology.
Tom: Information Technology Consultant.
2. What are you most excited about for Madison Opera’s Sweeney Todd?
Dale: Where do I start????? I love the music of this show! It is beautiful and dramatic. I have never been in a Sondheim show, so I am very excited by the challenge! The story is compelling….Sweeney is such a sad character.
Kenny: I am excited to be in my first Sondheim show with a professional company!
Alannah: I’m most excited about seeing the chair! (And maybe trying it out…?)
Tom: I am excited that it is challenging and brilliant, musically. It requires a high level of production expertise and musical talent to bring it off well and I feel lucky that I can be a part of this show.
3. What is your favorite show that you’ve been in?
Dale: Probably Dead Man Walking. It was an amazing journey for everyone… cast, crew, audience. I was so grateful to be part of it.
Kenny: Dead Man Walking.
Alannah: My favorite Madison Opera moment was during the party scene in Don Giovanni. I had this bit where Don Giovanni (Kelly Markgraf) helped me off the floor. On opening night, after helping me up, he kissed me right on the lips. The experience was both surprising and not altogether unpleasant 😉
Tom: A concert version of Candideas put on by Four Seasons in Madison. Singing the Bernstein music was really special.
Don’t miss the chance to see these four amazing singers in Sweeney Todd, a thrilling American masterpiece! Performances are February 6, 7, and 8 in the Capitol Theater. Tickets start at $25; visit madisonopera.org for more information.
Ten Questions With…
Joshua Sanders, tenor
Tobias Ragg in Sweeney Todd
1. Where were you born / raised?Â
I was born here in Madison and raised in Plain, Wisconsin.
2. If you weren’t a singer, what profession would you be in?
I love to debate, so probably a lawyer. Or, if I were to go with 5-year-old-Josh’s career plan, I would rule the world. I was pretty ambitious.
3. My favorite opera is…
La Traviata. It was the first opera I was ever in, and the music really holds a special place in my heart. Alfredo is one of those roles on my “dream roles” list. [Ed note: Joshua made his debut as Giuseppe in La Traviata at Madison Opera when he was a senior in high school.]
4. My favorite pre/post-show meal is…
A big steak!
5. People would be surprised to know that…
I love pretending to be a soprano when I’m home alone…Â I’m honestly surprised that none of my neighbors have filed noise complaints.
6. What is your favorite song to belt out at the bar / in the car / for karaoke?
“And I Am Telling You” from Dreamgirls. Now THAT’S a belting song!
7. What is your pop culture guilty pleasure?
RuPaul’s Drag Race. But is it really a guilty pleasure if you don’t feel guilty about it?
8. A few of my favorite films are…
Shoot. This is a hard one. I’ll say The Wizard of Oz, Star, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
9. If we were to turn on your ipod right now, what five artists/songs would we see on your recently-played list? Â
Sweeney Todd (surprise!), The Magic Flute, Porgy and Bess, Nina Simone, and Louis Armstrong.
10. What is the best costume you’ve ever worn?Â
Probably my inmate costume from when I was in Dead Man Walking at Madison Opera. Not only was it a Canadian tuxedo, but all of the fake tattoos were too much fun!
11. Bonus: One question you wish someone would ask you (and the answer):
Q:Â Can I pay off all of your student loans?
A:Â YES!
Don’t miss the chance to see Joshua in Sweeney Todd, a thrilling American masterpiece! Performances are February 6, 7, and 8 in the Capitol Theater. Tickets start at $25; visit madisonopera.org for more information.
Three Questions With…
Megan Gloss, soprano
Rick Henslin, baritone
Matthew Lea, tenor
Laura Muller, mezzo
Madison Opera Chorus, Sweeney Todd
1. What is your day job?
Megan: Feature writer and reporter at TH Media, in Dubuque, Iowa, as well as editor for a women’s magazine, Her. Additionally, I am a regular contributor to Classical Singer Magazine, as well as VoiceCouncil Magazine in London. Somehow I also find time to act as a lead vocalist of a jazz band, frequently perform as a guest soloist with orchestras and ensembles throughout the region, produce/direct/music direct shows regionally and maintain a private voice studio.
Rick: I work for GE Healthcare as a Remote Technical Engineer supporting the equipment used to measure bone density (osteoporosis) and body composition.
Matthew: Project Manager at an IT solution provider.
Laura: I work full time as a laboratory manager and research specialist at UW Madison in the bacteriology department. I am also going to school part-time so I can apply this fall for a doctor of physical therapy program. I volunteer as a crisis counselor for the Trevor Project, the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth. When I’m not doing any of those things, I’m training for the 2015 Wisconsin Ironman Triathlon which happens this September.
2. What are you most excited about for Madison Opera’s Sweeney Todd?
Megan: Digging into this intense and beautifully complicated music with such a talented and committed group of people!
Rick: Working with Maestro DeMain to revive his interpretation of this production from many years ago.
Matthew: This is my first experience with the show and the music is fun to learn. I am also looking forward to seeing the set and costumes that are being created especially for this production.
Laura: I love things that are very dark and macabre, and this show is nothing if not that. I’m looking forward to doing everything I possibly can to totally freak out the audience and help them find the joy in the grisly gruesomeness of it all!
3. What is your favorite show that you’ve been in?
Megan: Last season’s Madison Opera production of Dead Man Walkingis hard to top, but if I had to pick others that have been significant for me are playing Aldonza in Man of La Mancha, Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance, and Alma in The Christmas Schooner (a show in which I met my husband).
Rick: I was fortunate to play the role of Sweeney Todd in the 2006 staging by Four Seasons Theater in the Wisconsin Union Theater. The experience of the opening scene of the show, hearing the shrill whistle, then coming up through the trap of the stage surrounded by the ensemble and fog was unforgettable.
Matthew: Dead Man Walking. The music was spectacular and it is such a moving story.
Laura: So far, my favorite show to be a part of with Madison Opera was absolutely Dead Man Walking. Nothing has ever touched me in such a profound and meaningful way, and I will be forever grateful for having had the opportunity to be a part of it.
Don’t miss the chance to see these four amazing singers in Sweeney Todd, a thrilling American masterpiece! Performances are February 6, 7, and 8 in the Capitol Theater. Tickets start at $25; visit madisonopera.org for more information.
Ten Questions With…
Daniel Shirley, tenor
Anthony Hope in Sweeney Todd
1. Where were you born / raised?
I was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi.
2. If you weren’t a singer, what profession would you be in?
I would probably work in historical preservation of old buildings. I am fascinated by the ways that places, structures, and artifacts shed light on the past.
3. My favorite opera is…
Well, I don’t have just one… Three pieces which perhaps most immediately and memorably spoke to me are Le Nozze di Figaro, Gianni Schicchi, and Salome. How’s that for variety?
4. My favorite post-show meal is…
Nothing is better after a show than a really bitter IPA and some sort of snack that involves cheese and carbohydrates.
5. People would be surprised to know that…
I didn’t start out in college as a voice performance major. Studying classical voice wasn’t on my radar until I had been there for a couple of years. I had planned to go to law school.
6. What is your favorite song to belt out at the bar / in the car / for karaoke?
“Don’t Stop Believin'”!
7. What is your pop culture guilty pleasure?
This might be a boring answer, but I can’t really think of one… I like looking through YouTube for new bands to follow. Also Chopped is a good show. I know, boring!
8. A few of my favorite films are…
I love how the Coen brothers can horrify you and make you laugh at the same time, like in Fargo. (The same thing is true about Sweeney Todd, actually.)
9. If we were to turn on your ipod right now, what five artists/songs would we see on your recently-played list?
Snarky Puppy, Bach, Brahms, 70s country mix, and my brothers: Cardinal Sons! They are really starting to take off and might be playing a town near you.
10. What is the best costume you’ve ever worn?
The best without question was for Tybalt at Florida Grand Opera, designed by Jen Caprio. In the masked ball, I looked like a fallen angel with these huge black wings, and the breast plate made me look ripped. Thanks, Jen!!
11. Bonus: One question you wish someone would ask you (and the answer):
Q: What is a reticule?
A: If you don’t know, come to Sweeney Todd!
Don’t miss the chance to see Daniel in Sweeney Todd, a thrilling American masterpiece! Performances are February 6, 7, and 8 in the Capitol Theater. Tickets start at $25; visit madisonopera.org for more information.
Ten Questions With…
Alexandra LoBianco, soprano
Leonore in Fidelio
1. Where were you born / raised?
St. Petersburg, Florida. Not to be confused with St. Petersburg, Russia (that’s happened).
2. If you weren’t a singer, what profession would you be in?
When I was younger, I wanted to go into Equine Science, but I quickly realized I’m just not that smart. So if I had to make a choice outside of the profession, I’d be a therapist of some sort. I’m actually considering going back for my Master’s, because trust me, when you teach voice you are already a therapist. I might as well get the diploma to go with it.
3. My favorite opera is…
This is actually a difficult question. It tends to be the one I’m working on. I have my absolute go-to’s, which are Tosca, Macbeth, and Cavalleria Rusticana. (Yes, I love verismo.)
4. My favorite post-show meal is…
Munchies and sometimes a bourbon neat.
5. People would be surprised to know that…
I’m blind as a bat on stage. I don’t wear contacts. Well, I can make out Maestro’s hands, which keeps me on top of the beat, thank goodness. I was also a competitive horseback rider when I was younger. And last but not least, my favorite form of workout is boxing.
6. What is your favorite song to belt out at the bar / in the car /for karaoke?
Oh, this one is easy. You’ll find me at my favorite little piano bar, Uncle Charlie’s in New York with my dear friend / composer William Wade having me belt “Maybe This Time” from Cabaret, then right into “Quando m’en vo.” Don’t ask, I don’t get it either, but it’s a lot of fun.
7. What is your pop culture guilty pleasure?
Netflix has made it very easy to binge-watch TV. When I’m on gigs, my favorite thing to do is find a new or old TV show and, well, indulge.
8. A few of my favorite films are…
I must confess, I love movies but I’m not a huge movie buff. When I go to the movies (or watch Netflix… you see a trend here), I tend to watch things that are truly entertainment. So, with that in mind: The Avengers (and all the others in the series), plus I love Pixar and most all Disney flix. They are such a wonderful escape from reality while being a marvel of artistic abilities that I just don’t comprehend.
As far as films that I feel are of major artistic worth, I love Cinema Paradiso, The Artist, Forrest Gump, and Amelie. Cult classics: Clueless, Young Frankenstein, Willie Wonka (original version), Fight Club, Highland, and Coming to America.
Well, that surprised me to see that I’m a bit more opinionated than I thought!
9. If we were to turn on your ipod right now, what five artists/songs would we see on your recently-played list?
Honestly, the first thing you’d find would be about 5 different versions of Fidelio followed quickly by about 5 more versions of Don Giovanni, as I just finished that and haven’t replaced it with Tosca yet. Once you’re past work, you get into things like “Sandman” by Metallica, “Who I Am” by Alice Peacock, “Trouble” by P!nk and “Ben Aindi Habibi” by Mary Fahl. You’d also find a bunch of musical theater followed by some of the greats: Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Holiday, Edith Piaf, Tom Lehrer, etc.
10. What is the worst costume you’ve ever worn?
It was when I was in the chorus for Opera Carolina and we were in the midst of Nabucco. One of the slave costumes was just pieces of burlap sack that had been dyed shades of blue and stitched together with no lining. Needless to say it was difficult finding your character while itching from the burlap and laying on the floor.
Don’t miss the chance to see Alexandra in Fidelio, Beethoven’s only opera! Performances are November 21 and 23 at Overture Hall. Tickets start at $18; visit madisonopera.org for more information.
