Hansel and Gretel.pdf - San Diego

Lyric Opera San Diego
presents
HlllSEl
lID ~.
GRETEL
Music by
ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK
Libretto by
ADELHEID WETTE
English Translation by
CONSTANCE BACHE
featuring
HAI- TING CHINN
PAMELA PORTER ARNOLD
KATE OBERJAT
SCOTT GREGORY
and
LEON NA TKER asThe Witch
Director I Set Design
J. SHERWOOD MONTGOMERY
Costumes I Makeup Supervision
PAM STOMPOL Y-ERICSON
MATTHEW
Lighting Design
NOVOTNY
Production Stage Manager
FRAN HARTSHORN
Musical Preparation
JANIE PRIM
Conducted by
KELLY KUO
FLYING BY FOY
Byarrangement with G. Schirmer, INC.publisher and coyright owner

2
CAST
(In order of appearance)
HANSEL. Hai- Ting Chinn
G RETEL. Kate Oberjat
MOTH ER Pamela Porter Arnold
PETER (The father, a broom maker) Scott Gregory
SANDMAN
Max Oilman-Williams+
SANDMAN (Understudy) Spike Sommers+
DEW FAIRY I Gretel Understudy Caroline Nelms
THE WITCH (who eats children) Leon Natker
ANGELS I GINGERBREAD
Larissa Garcia+, Sofia Gardenswarz, Miki Holmes, Theresa Kesser+,
Kezia Liu, Erica Malachowski+, Hailey Mashburn, Kylena Parks,
Grace Paxton+, Shelby Skelton+, Alice Sokolova+, Anna Strickland+,
Chans Valdez+, Jordan Whitlock+
ANIMALS I GINGERBREAD
Max D'Amico, Charlie D'Amico, Jacob Gardenswarz+, David IsraelI!,
Alexander Keyon, Matthew Morozov, Spike Sommers+
+Lyric Opera Summer Academy Alumni
ORCHESTRA
CO NCERTMASTER Mary Karo*
VIOLIN I. Mary Karo*, Natalka Kytasty*, Mary Gerard*, Laura Wanek*, Steve Ball*
VIOLIN 11. Lee Wolfe*, Joan Diener*, Ken Jerahian, Daniel Kim
VI0 LA. Roger Pine, Francesca Savage*, Paul Grant
CELLO Yuri Kytasty*, Gordon Grubbs*, Mosa Tsay
HARP.
Lau ra Vaughan*
BASS
Eri k Joh nson*
FLUTE Adan Provencio*
oBO E Electra O'Mara*
CLARINET I Bob Barnhart*
CLARI N ET II Katrina Schnorr
BASSOON William Propp*
TRUMPET I Jonathan Ingber*
TRU MPET II Ed Harkins*
HORN I Jane Peterson*
HO RN II John Love
TROM BO N E
Louise Titlow*
PERCUSSION Steve Karo*
*Members
of Musicians' Union, Local 325, by Special Arrangement
-

strive to overcome evil and evildoers.This is not a bad lesson to have in this day and
age, and one that should give us all a reason to be optimistic about the future.
This production is fashioned with a real sense of the simpler time it came from. it
also celebrates the joy we all have in new talent and in new generations of performers
and audiences who can come together to share this charming, lovable folk opera as
a memorable experience. May it be a great beginning of your holiday season, and
may it touch your heart as well as your mind by the balm of "enchantment." Please,
enjoy!
PRINCIPAL PHOTOS AND BIOS
•/
•.
HAI-TING CHINN (Hansel), an American mezzo-soprano,
grew up in Arcata, California, and holds degrees from the Eastman
and Yale Schools of Music. Operatic and musical theater credits
include the title role in The Wooster Group's groundbreaking
production, La Didone (music of Francesco Cavalli); Poppea in
L'incoronazione di Poppea; Dorabella in Cosi fan tutte; Nicklausse in
Les Contes d'Hoffmann; Dido in Dido and Aeneas (Henry Purcell);
Jade Boucher in Dead Man Walking Uake Heggie); Hansel in Hansel
and Gretel; the title role in The Little Prince (Rachel Portman); and Lady Thiang in The
King & I in London's West End. She has premiered roles in new operas including
Queen Elizabeth in Philip Hagemann's The Dark Lady of the Sonnets; Miriam in Yoav
Gal's Mosheh; and the Mezzo in Stefan Weisman's Darkling. She has been heard as
soloist with the Israel Philharmonic, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, the Waverly
Consort, the New York Collegium, and in the music of P.D.Q. Bach with Peter
Schickele. She currently resides in New York City.
KATE OBERJAT(Gretel), a San Diego native now living in
New York City, has several opera and concert performances ahead
or recently performed there, including Gabriel in Haydn's Creation
with One World Symphony, Turpial in the world premiere
of Carlos Franzetti's Gauchito and the Pony with Queens Symphony
Orchestra, Monica in The Medium with Taconic Opera,
Norina in Don Pasquale with Garden State Opera, soloist in
Brahms' Requiem with the Canterbury Chorale Society, and
Amore in Gluck's Orfeo with Queens Symphony Orchestra. As a Mary Ragland Young
Artist with Nashville Opera, she was Josephine in Gilbert and Sullivan's H.M.S. Pinafore,
in addition to soprano characters in the world premiere of the children's opera,
The Ugly Duckling (Duncan). Her other roles include Blanche in Dialogues of the
Carmelites,Valencienne in The MerryWidow, Musetta and Mimi in La Boheme, Micaela in
Carmen, Ophelia in Hamlet, Nella in Gianni Schicchi, Nannetta in Falstaff, Kriemhild in
The Merry Nibelungs, Susanna in The Secret of Susanna, and Genovieffa in Suor Angelica.
She was soloist in Carmina Burana with San Diego Master Chorale and she has performed
with Taconic Opera, Chelsea Opera, New York Opera Soci-
5

6
ety, Garden State Opera, Little Opera Theatre of New York, One World Symphony,
Dicapo Opera Theatre, La Jolla Symphony, Queens Symphony Orchestra, Opera
Pacific, Los Angeles Opera Guild, and Los Angeles Opera.
LEON NATKER (Witch) began his career as a child performer
(as the Major General in The Pirates of Penzance) at the age of
twelve. Since then Leon's career has spanned two continents
and included over three hundred productions. Following studies
at the Juilliard School, Leon pursued a career in regional theater
and summer stock, performing works that included Shakespeare,
Chekhov and Williams as well as numerous musical theater roles.
He was soon touring with the Lyric Opera Center for Young
Artists in productions of La Cenerentola and The Barber of Seville. Leon's performing
career continued through out the United States. Recent appearances have included
the Promusica Chamber Orchestra in Columbus, Ohio, as Col. Ricci in Sondheim's
Passion, and The Neveda Opera in Reno, in Lucia di Lammermoor. Locally he has
performed with the San Diego Master Chorale, Starlight, and the San Diego Symphony.
For Lyric Opera San Diego Leon has performed as Vasek in The Bartered Bride, Tevye
in Fiddler on the Roof, the Major General in The Pirates ofPenzance, Fagin in Oliver! and
most recently was seen as Don Quixote in our production of Man of La Mancha.
PAMELA PORTER ARNOLD (Mother) has been associated
with Lyric Opera San Diego since 1991 when she retired from
an international operatic career and returned to San Diego. Pam
has a dramatic soprano voice which is most suited to the strong
female characters created by Verdi, Puccini, Richard Strauss, and
Richard Wagner. Some of her most memorable roles include
Strauss' Salome and Ariadne,Verdi's Lady Macbeth, Odabella, and
Leonora, as well as Puccini's Tosca. She has appeared on the Lyric
Opera stage in eight roles, including Princess Ida and Kate in Kiss Me Kate. During
the last few years, Pam has been helping to raise funds for Lyric Opera. She is
thrilled to be part of the efforts to support Lyric Opera and its new home, the
Birch North Park Theatre. She is equally thrilled to have the opportunity to test its
acoustics in the role of the Mother in Hansel and Gretel, with Kelly Kuo conducting
our wonderful orchestra.
SCOTT GREGORY (Father), a native San Diegan, received
his B.S. in Choral Education from Dickinson State College in
North Dakota. He received his Masters of Music from the
University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, and later continued
his Doctoral studies at the Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati,
Ohio. Scott has sung throughout the United States and Europe:
Chicago Opera Theate; II Piccolo Theatre, Firenze, Italy;

7
Whitewater Opera; The National Opera Company; and various other opera
companies in the U.S. and abroad. He performed the roles of Raoul and Msr.Andre
in the German production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera.
With Lyric Opera San Diego, Scott appeared as Captain Corcoran in H.M.S. Pinafore,
the Miller in Rumpe/stiltskin, and the Learned Judge in Trial by jury. He has also been
heard as CountAlmaviva in Le Nozze di Figaro, Dandini in La Cenerentola, Guglielmo in
Cosi Fan Tutti, and Top in Copland's The Tender Land. Scott and his wife, Pamela Laurent,
have sung throughout the San Diego area. They have opened an acting, singing and
dancing school, the North County School of the Arts, in Encinitas. www.ncsarts.org
CAROLINE NELMS (Dew Fairy I Gretel Understudy)
currently lives in San Diego. She earned her Bachelor of Arts
degree from Pepperdine University and Masters degree in vocal
performance from UCLA, where she performed such roles as
Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro,
Adele in Die F1edermaus, and Serpetta in La Finta Giardiniera.
Upon completing her degrees, Caroline sang in the choruses of
Los Angeles Opera, Opera Pacific, San Diego Opera, and Lyric
Opera San Diego. She has been a church soloist for eight years and has taught both
voice and piano. Caroline's voice can be heard on a national television commercial
for Target and on the soundtrack of the 2002 film Entre Llamas.
MAX OilMAN-WilLIAMS (Sandman) is an eighth grader
originally from Washington, D.C. He has performed in numerous
productions with San Diego Opera, Cygnet Theatre, Diversionary
Theatre,ACT San Diego, and San Diego JuniorTheatre. Max also
performed on R Family Vacations' Mexican Riviera Cruise. Most
recently, he performed as Jo)o in Suessical, jr. with Lyric Opera
San Diego's Summer Academy. He also recently completed his
first short film this summer, Safety in Numbers. Favorite roles
include Oliver in Oliver!, Harry in The Daddy Machine, Schroeder in You're a Good Man,
Charlie Brown, and Jo)o in Suessical,jr. In addition to performing, Max plays competitive
soccer and plays guitar and drums. Max would like to thank his voice teacher Sarah
Agler, his family, and Baylee for their continued support and for not howling during
singing practice.
LYRIC OPERA SAN DIEGO is a member of
oOpera America, the Service Organization of Professional Opera Companies
°ConVis
oJewish American Chamber of Commerce
oEndow San Diego at the San Diego Foundation

-------------------------------------------
8
SPIKE SOMMERS (Sandman Understudy) is glad to return
to Lyric Opera where he previously played Amahl in Amahl and
the Night Visitors as well as the Mayor in Seussical,jr., the Little Boy
in Cinderella, andWinthrop in The Music Man. He is head chorister
and a soloist at St. Paul's Cathedral where he also appeared as
Amahl, collaborating with Floyd Gaffney. Spike was the Boy
Apprentice in San Diego Opera's recent production of Peter
Grimes. He has sung with the San Diego Symphony, San Diego
Chamber Players, PACEM and San Diego Opera (Tasca, Cavalleria Rusticana, Pagliacci,
Wozzeck) and has performed with Starlight Theatre and San Diego Junior Theatre.
Spike is an eighth grader at The Bishop's School in La Jolla.
SUPPORTING CAST PHOTO
Angels I Animals I Gingerbread
I st Row, L to R: Charlie D'Amico, Sofia Gardenswartz, David Israel II,
Matthew Morozov, Max Oilman-Williams, Max D'Amico, Alexander Keyon
2nd Row, L to R: Grace Paxton, Chans Valdez, Hailey Mashburn,
Anna Strickland, Shelby Skelton, Larissa M. Garcia
3rd Row, L to R: Erica Malachowski, Miki Holmes, Theresa Kesser,
Jacob Gardenswartz, Jordan Whitlock, Kezia Liu,Alice Sokol ova,
Kylena Parks, Spike Sommers

8
SPIKE SOMMERS (Sandman Understudy) is glad to return
to Lyric Opera where he previously played Amahl in Amahl and
the Night Visitors as well as the Mayor in Seussical,jr., the Little Boy
in Cinderella, and Winthrop in The Music Man. He is head chorister
and a soloist at St. Paul's Cathedral where he also appeared as
Amahl, collaborating with Floyd Gaffney. Spike was the Boy
Apprentice in San Diego Opera's recent production of Peter
Grimes. He has sung with the San Diego Symphony, San Diego
Chamber Players, PACEM and San Diego Opera (Tasca, Cavalleria Rusticana, Pagliacci,
Wozzeck) and has performed with Starlight Theatre and San Diego Junior Theatre.
Spike is an eighth grader at The Bishop's School in La Jolla.
SUPPORTING CAST PHOTO
Angels I Animals I Gingerbread
I st Row, L to R: Charlie D'Amico, Sofia Gardenswartz, David Israel II,
Matthew Morozov, Max Oilman-Williams, Max D'Amico, Alexander Keyon
2nd Row, L to R: Grace Paxton, Chans Valdez, Hailey Mashburn,
Anna Strickland, Shelby Skelton, Larissa M. Garcia
3rd Row, L to R: Erica Malachowski, Miki Holmes, Theresa Kesser,
Jacob Gardenswartz, Jordan Whitlock, Kezia Liu, Alice Sokolova,
Kylena Parks, Spike Sommers

STAFF BIOS
9
J.SHERWOOD MONTGOMERY (Stage Director I Scenic
Designer I Artistic Director) is glad to return to designing
and directing a Lyric Opera production. He has acted, designed,
and directed throughout the U.S., including Alliance Theatre
(Atlanta), The Shawnee Festival (Indiana), Missouri Repertory
Theatre (Kansas City), The Drama Division of Julliard School
(N.Y.C), Starlight (San Diego),Welk ResortTheatre, and San Diego
Opera (Die Fledermaus and The Barber of Seville). He has performed
a wide range of roles, from Wolsey in A Man for All Seasons to The Man Who Came to
Dinner in straight plays, to Schultz in Cabaret, to the Lord Can cellar in Iolanthe. He
is listed in "Who's Who in America" and "Who's Who in the American Arts." Last
year, along with Leon Natker, he received the Shiley Lifetime Achievement in Theater
Award for the body of his work. He collects masks, Acoma pots, and great mealsa
hint to the wise gift giver.
KELLY KUO (Conductor) has had tremendous success working
with both singers and instrumentalists in the United States and
abroad in an astonishingly broad spectrum of repertoire including
nearly 50 operas spanning the 17th through 21 st centuries. He
recently made conducting debuts at Lyric Opera of Chicago (Porgy
and Bess) and Madison Opera (Cos! fan tutte), and returned to
Lyric Opera San Diego to conduct a double bill of Trial by Jury
and the world premiere of Nicolas Reveles' Rumpe/stiltskin. In
the 2009-10 season, Mr. Kuo leads La Traviata for Kentucky Opera and Hansel and
Gretel for Lyric Opera San Diego. Assistant Conductor for the Cincinnati Chamber
Orchestra since 2007, he has led the ensemble in performances of EI Amor Brujo and
Appalachian Spring as well as concerts in collaboration with Madcap Puppet Theater
and for the Fine Arts Fund. Also an accomplished pianist, he has worked on the
music staff of Los Angeles Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Seattle Opera, Cincinnati
Opera, Opera Pacific, and Glimmerglass Opera, and has participated in the world
premieres of works by Richard Danielpour, Carlisle Floyd and Jake Heggie, editing
both the vocal and orchestral scores for Heggie's Dead Man Walking and The End of
the Affair. Of Taiwanese heritage, the American-born Kuo began his musical studies
on the violin at the age of five and made his debut five years later as a piano soloist
with the Walla Walla Symphony.
PAM STOMPOLY-ERICSON (Costumes I Makeup) has been a member of the
Lyric Opera San Diego family since the beginning of time. She has been the resident
costume designer and coordinator and makeup artist for more shows than she can
remember, much less list. In her free time (?), Pam helps to run The Costume Shop,
is principal wig and makeup artist for San Diego Opera, is makeup designer and
instructor for La Jolla Playhouse and UCSD, and freelances as a costumer and makeup
artist for numerous local theatre and film projects around town. Most recently she

10
finished the makeup design for La Jolla Playhouse's The Wiz, special effects makeup
for LJP's Memphis, as well as their premiere of Third Story by Charles Busch. She's
pleased to announce that Third Story has made its way to New York, along with her
designs, starring Kathleen Turner and Charles Busch! As always, Pam really needs to
thank everyone involved in the process of getting one of these shows up, for without
the amazing staff, there would be no costumes or makeup! And thank you Mom
and Paul for putting up with me and my schedule and jumping in where and when
needed!
MATTHEW NOVOTNY (Lighting Design) is happy to be doing his 33rd show
with Lyric Opera San Diego, having designed such shows as Man of La Mancha, Iolanthe,
The King and I, Die Fledermaus, The Beggars Opera, and Abduction from the Seraglio, to
name a few. Other local design credits include A Little Night Music and A Number
(Cygnet Theatre), A Shanya Maidel, Rashomon and Baby (North Coast Rep), and Das
Barbecii and Forbidden Broadway, SVU (Miracle Theatre Productions). Matthew designed
the world premiere children's opera Mice and Beans for the North Coast
Singers, as well as the world premiere one-act opera The Game at the Kennedy
Center in Washington, DC. Matthew assisted two-time Tony winner Donald Holder
(The Lion King, South Pacific) on the pre-Broadway run of Gem of the Ocean and Tony
Award-winner Kevin Adams (Spring Awakening) on The Rose Tattoo for the Huntington
Theatre Company in Boston. Matthew holds a BA in Technical Theatre from San
Diego State University, and a Masters in Lighting Design from Boston University.
JANIE PRIM (Musical Preparation) is currently in her fifteenth year as
Chorusmistress / Rehearsal Pianist for Lyric Opera San Diego, and is in demand for
recitals and auditions throughout the West Coast. She is a principal ballet pianist for
San Diego Opera, and has served as Musical Director for the San Diego Opera
Ensemble, as well as ballet rehearsal pianist for past San Diego Opera productions,
most recently Aida, Tannhduser, and Massenet's Don Quichotte. She is official pianist
for the Metropolitan Opera Auditions, and organizes and plays for the Winners'
Concert each year. A versatile performer, she has worked with the Old Globe
Theater (Paramour), the San Diego Repertory Theater (Burning Dreams), the Old
Town Theater (Side by Side by Sondheim), and frequently organizes private musical
events for special occasions. In addition to her performing commitments, Ms. Prim
maintains a private coaching studio, and is organist at St. Bartholomew's Church in
Poway.
f
\
DIANA VASSALL-DUMELLE (Production Manager) is thrilled to return to
Lyric Opera San Diego after ten years working professionally in NYC. Most recent
credits include: Production Manager & Education Co-Director for New York City's
critically acclaimed Gotham Chamber Opera. She has also served as Production
Stage Manager for companies across the U.S., including Lincoln Center Festival,
Caramoor Music Festival, Bard Music Festival, Orlando Opera, Connecticut Opera,
Augusta Opera, Dicapo Opera, and LOSD. Diana has had the honor of working with

many leading opera and musical theater legends, including Regina Resnick, Martina
Arroyo, Renee Fleming, and composer/arranger Jonathan Tunick. Diana graduated
with degrees in Keyboard Performance and Music Education from UCLA, with further
studies at The Royal College of Music, London.
II
FRAN HARTSHORN (Production Stage Manager) is excited to be back once
again to stage manage another production at Lyric Opera San Diego. While she is
usually seen performing on stage, she has found a comfortable role behind the scenes.
Last season she cut her teeth as Stage Manager for Daughter of the Regiment and A
Waltz Dream. She has been seen in Lyric Opera San Diego productions of H.M.S.
Pinafore, Man of La Mancha, The Pirates of Penzance, The Merry Widow, Countess Maritza,
and others. Fran is a versatile singer and performs with several local musical groups.
REMEMBER
Lyric Opera Gift Certificates are the perfect gift
for almost any occasion
Contact the Box Office for further details
619.239.8836
-
SPECIAL THANKS
• Grace
• Mary
King
Mikkleson
• The Costume Shop
• San Diego Junior Theater
J
\
LYRIC OPERA SAN DIEGO BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President ,., James Rouse,J.D.
Vice President : Roberto Cueva, M.D.
Secretary
J.Alex Tiscareno
Treasurer Rodney Whitlow, C.P.A.
Greg Bullard, W. Patrick Edwards, Merle Fischlowitz, Ph.D.,
DaleA. Fisher, c.P.A., Capt. Randy Gibson, Loretta S. Godfrey, J.D.,
Leonard Gosink, M.D., David D. Lynn, Ph.D., Lorraine D. Mautner,
Peter Polgar, Linda P.Spuck, CTFA, Capt. Ned Steinam