Company

PENTANGLE PLAYERS STAFF

rLee Adams, director/producer/set designer

Jennifer Page, assistant director

Claire Shillen, choreographer

Michael Zsoldos, orchestra conductor

Holly Levison, costume designer

Carol Rousseau, rehearsal accompanist

Adrian Tans, set painter/designer, posters

Claes Mattson & R. Lee Adams, set builders

Anne Dean, set painter

Dan Merlo, technical director

Kevin Fitzpatrick, lighting designer

Seth Stoddard, sound technician

Robert Brier, master carpenter

Steve Hiller, stage crew

Company, props

CAST

Carl Groppe III, Major-General

Jarvis Antonio Green, Pirate King

John Berlenbach,  Samuel

John Marshall, Frederic

Tyler Harwell, Sergeant/pirate

Jennifer Page, Mabel

Anne Dean, Edith

Julie Groppe, Kate

Yael Taylor, Isabel

Joan Cooke, Ruth

Bob O'Donnell, doctor of divinity

Marilyn Groppe, daughter

Emma Mcliverty, daughter

Danelle Sims, daughter

Marion Umpleby, daughter

Jay Bragdon, pirates/police

Dave Clark, pirates/police

Carl Groppe IV, pirates/police

Cathy Kwiecinski, pirates/police

Claus Mattsson, pirates/police

Benjamin Pauly, pirates/police

Ben Stroud, pirates/police

ORCHESTRA

COMPANY BIOS

rLee Adams (Director/Producer) has been involved in music and theatre since a wee lad continuing through college days as an actor, director, producer, vocal/chorus coach, music director, and musician. Since Pentangle Player's very successful production of Rogers & Hammerstein's "The Sound of Music" (2010), it is only fitting that the numerous talents and abilities of the community join together to offer yet another extraordinary show. When not in production, rLee is the organist and director of music at St. James Episcopal Church, Woodstock. He has apprenticed in the pipe organ craft with the A. David Moore, inc. for nearly four years. Additional music pursuits include leading a private studio of voice, piano, and organ students. rLee is a member of the Green Mountain Monteverdi Ensemble of Vermont, and is highly sought after as a keyboardist, conductor, clinician, musical historian, and advisor. His recitals as a violinist, violist, and keyboardist have been heard around the world. His early music ensemble, ProMusica Vermont has given many concerts in the area. During his time as a graduate student at Yale University, rLee was active in the drama school as an actor and musician. During the same period, Mr. Adams founded Olde Musik-New Haven, an ensemble of professional musicians who donated their time and talent towards philanthropic endeavors, including supporting the New Haven Soup Kitchen and Habitat for Humanity. During a three year residency in Jerusalem, Mr. Adams, directed the first Hebrew language production of Handel’s oratorio, The Messiah, performed by members of the Jerusalem Symphony. He also gave numerous recitals, toured and recorded with the Avi and Yossi Piamenta Band. When not in production or some musical pursuit, rLee spends his time growing orchids and spending time with his family, Tito, Pokey, and Calvin, most of whom have lived in Woodstock, VT for the last four years,

John Berlenbach (Samuel) was born in Pennsylvania, and received degrees from Harpur and Oberlin colleges. Recently retired from the finance industry, he and his wife are organist farmers in Perkinsville, Vermont. John has sung in church choirs, but this is his first role on stage. John is excited to be a part of his favorite operetta.

Jay Bragdon (Pirate/Police) has performed in most of the operettas written by Gilbert & Sullivan, both as chorister and principal. Now on the threshold of his dotage he relishes the idea of stirring things up as a rollicking seafaring pirate in the staid, bucolic village of Woodstock.

Dave Clark (Police) appears in many choral groups including The Handel Society at Dartmouth, Wrensong, and the St. James Choir. Dave also is the frontman for JukeJoynt, a rock n' roll dance band, plays guitar and sings in The Kerry Rose Band, and plays stand-up bass in a new gospel bluegrass group, "Sweetgrass". Many know Dave through he and his wife, Helen Clark’s Yellow House Media webpage.

Joan Cooke (Ruth) in 8^th grade was asked to play in the local high school orchestra. She remembers sitting in the pit during a production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado. She later learned that her father was active in a production of The Pirates of Penzance at some point in his life as he would sing melodies on long car rides. Upon moving to Vermont, Joan and her children joined the Old Church Community Theatre of Bradford. Currently, Joan sing with the Dartmouth College Handel Society and is looking forward to her third tour with the ensemble summer 2013 to Italy.  Joan works as finance manager for the Twin Pines Housing Trust in WRJ and is pursuing a cantorial program in her spare time. As often as she is able, Joan enjoys time with her three beautiful grandchildren. She thanks you all for coming and hopes you enjoy the show.  Have pity on poor Ruth whose hearing gyrates in her head!

Anne Dean (Edith) was born and raised in the Boston area. She received her BFA from Tufts and her Masters in Education from Antioch College. She also holds a master in Metaphysical Science. Anne’s last role was as a nun in the 2010 Pentangle Players production of The Sound of Music. Anne is past member of the Panhandlers Steel Drum Band and presently sings with the BarnArts Chorale and the Unitarian Church Choir. When she is not acting, she divides her time as a marble sculptor and avid vegetable gardener. Anne is thrilled and thankful for the opportunity to be working once again with R. Lee.

Jarvis Antonio Green, (Pirate King) moved from NYC to Barnard, Vermont in August of 2011 and is now the Founder/Executive Director of BarnArts Center for the Arts in Barnard.  He began his singing career at the age of 10 performing with the GAMAC Boy’s Choir.  While performing in the choir he learned a huge repertoire of Early Sacred Music, and Classical Music.  His classical roots provided the foundation and appreciation for singing in a variety of styles. After many years of performing and traveling with the choir he went on to study at the South Carolina Governor’s School of the Arts Honor’s Program where he studied Vocal Performance and Theatre. In Governor’s School he studied dance, theatre, and voice privately with renowned educators from all over the world.  After studying Voice and Theatre at Anderson University his vocal, dance, and theatre skills made him a favorite in regional theatres throughout the country. He has appeared in "Ragtime," “Rent,” “Smokey Joe’s Café,” “Little Shop of Horrors,” “Once On This Island,” “The Who’s Tommy,” “The Buddy Holly Story,” “A Chorus Line,” “La Cage Aux Folles,” “A New Brain,” “Stardust,” “The Play’s The Thing,” “Black Nativity,” “Our Town,” and “The Wiz.”  To God be the glory. www.barnarts.org

Carl Groppe III (Major General Stanley) thought he had put theatre away after college performances ranging from Scrooge & Marley to Kurt Weill’s Lady in the Dark. He also held technical positions at the Boston Conservatory of Music and the Boston Opera Company. Yet, decades later, he finds himself trodding the boards once more, this time surrounded by his family. After Piratesˆ, he looks forward to retuning to his recurring role as Man singing in Shower.

Carl Groppe IV (Pirate/Police) successful debut as Charlie Bates in this summer’s BarnArts production of “Oliver!”, Carl decided that Gilbert and Sullivan would be the next victim of his energetic acting and singing style. This is his second play outside of school. he is also planning to do the BarnArts next production of Grease.

Julie Groppe (Kate) enjoyed the role of Sister Sophia in Pentangle Player’s 2010 production of The Sound of Music and helped solve a problem like Maria. This is her second Pentangle Players production. She is active in the Vermont Symphony Orchestra Chorus and the St. James Choir.

Marilyn Groppe (Daughter) took ballet, jazz, and tap at the In Motion Studio in Randolph, Vermont. After a break from the performing arts, she is extremely excited to do more performing on stage, especially with dancing, parasols, and big dresses. In addition to participating in this production, she is preparing for The Sharon Academy’s production of South Pacific looking forward to BarnArts production of Grease, summer 2013.

Tyler Harwell (Sergeant) retired from the practice of law in 2001 and presently engaged in the home remodeling business. Mr. Harwell has been a vocalist for a considerably longer time, having made his first public appearance at the Hotel Del Coronado in 1952 at the age of three weeks.  Over the years he has sung with such groups as the Yale Russian Chorus, Tanglewood Festival Chorus, Handel Society of Dartmouth College, Vermont Symphony Chorus, and Woodstock's own Vermont Pro Musica early music ensemble in such venues as Woolsey Hall, New Haven, Carnegie Hall, Zagorsk Monastery, Moscow Conservatory, the Imperial Cathedral at Worms, and the Flynn Center.  Theatrical credits include the tenor role of the Minstrel in the 1983 Garrison Players production of "Once Upon a Mattress" at City Hall, Dover, NH, and chorus parts in the 1984 Boston Symphony production of "Jeanne d'Arc au Boucher" by Honneger, and the Yale Symphony production of Britten's "Peter Grimes" at Battell Chapel, New Haven, in 1977.  2012 thus marks the sixtieth year of his such activities.  Active as a member of the St. James, Woodstock, choir, Mr. Harwell also sings with the local ensemble Wrensong.

Cathy Kwiecinski (Pirate/Police) began singing with her high school glee club in the early 70"s. She continued to sing in cars and showers. When Pentangle Players produced The Music Man in 2008 Cathy thoroughly enjoyed her role as a Pick-a-little lady. Her vocal expression continued with The Freelance Family Singers. She is delighted to be a pirate in the Pentangle Players production of The Pirates of Penzance. She sends heartfelt thanks to her family and her community for their support of the arts. 

Holly Levison (Costumer) - Following almost 20 years in banking/investment banking and raising two children, Holly returned to the arts focusing on costume design, quilting, and fibre arts.  She has extensive theatrical costume experience that encompasses over 120 productions, including all facets of costume design.  In addition, Holly has been a part-time quilter for 40 years, specializing in signature quilts that honor, commemorate, or heal.  Her work was featured in Jewish Threads: A Hands-On Guide to Stitching Spiritual Intention into Jewish Fabric Crafts.   Additional experience includes theatrical set design and construction; various commissioned fibre art creations; creative craft projects; graphic design and construction for projects including posters, brochures, puppets, personalized note cards, and theatrical props; and various writing projects that run the gamut from speeches to editing to creative writings.   She has worked with children and adults in school settings, camp environments, seminars and small groups.

John Marshall (Frederic) a graduate of The Sharon Academy, has been in many musical theater performances including North Country Community Theater's production of The Music Man as Harold Hill, and Captain Hook in Peter Pan at the Chandler Music Hall in Randolph, VT. He studied Ballet for 5 years at the Lebanon Ballet School, and has received vocal training for 4 years from mezzo-soprano Jennifer Hansen also of Lebanon, NH. John has performed classical pieces such as solos from Handel's Messiah and excerpts from Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro in the Next Generation concert at the Chandler Music Hall. He attended the Get Thee To The Funnery Shakespeare drama camp in Chelsea, VT for 5 years, and performed in Hamlet and Much Ado About Nothing among others. After a gap year, John will study Mechanical Engineering at the University of Vermont, and will continue music and theater in some capacity.

Claes Mattsson (Pirate/Police), born and raised in Sweden, came to these United States with song in his heart and Viking blood in his veins. Claes lives in Bridgewater, Vt. with his wife Joanne and his two children, Sawyer and Ava.  When not swashbuckling around town, he sings with the Freelance Family Singers.

Emma McLiverty (Daughter) is a student at Woodstock Union High School, who just started her sophomore year.  She has been actively involved with theater since she was eight years old, when she was in her first production, Tom Sawyer.  Her favorite shows include Chicago, Oliver, My Fair Lady, and The Music Man.  Along with theater she enjoys photography, cooking, journalism, and tennis.  Pirates of Penzance is her first operetta, and she’s had a wonderful time being a part of it.

Bob O'Donnell (Doctor of Divinity) is a semi-retired professor, trainer, mediator and attorney living in South Pomfret in the summers and in Sun City, Arizona in the winters.  He has taught collaboration across the country and in nine foreign countries including Mauritania, Cameroon, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Nicaragua, Hong Kong and Ukraine.  Bob is excited to be a part of this community production and its great cast.

Jennifer Page (Assistant director/Mabel) Lyric Soprano, Jennifer Page, holds a BA in music from St. Mary’s College of MD and an MM in Vocal Performance from the University of DE. She has studied private voice in Washington DC, Philadelphia and New York. She has won several scholarships and competitions including a full scholarship to the University of DE, first place in the Delaware Contest for Young Musicians, and third prize in the Austrian American Scholarship Competition. A former member of AEA (Actors Equity Association) Jennifer has gained recognition in musical theater productions in some of the finest theatres in the country performing such roles as Sarah in Guys and Dolls, Maria in West Side Story, Magnolia in Show Boat, Christine in The Phantom of the Opera, and Laurey in Oklahoma!  After joining the theater community in Philadelphia, Jennifer had the distinct pleasure of performing Cosette in Les Miserables at the Walnut Street Theatre, Josephine in HMS Pinafore at the Academy of Music and later joined an all-star cast in a Barrymore award winning production of It’s a Wonderful Life, A Live Radio Play, as Mary Hatch at the Prince Music Theater. In 2009, Jennifer released her first CD, entitled Dream Baby. The CD was a compilation of lullabies that she sung to her two children, Jack (now 12) and Sophia (now 11). It contains such standards as Over the Rainbow and Lullaby and Goodnight but also contains some more modern hits such as You are the love of my life and Songbird. The CD is available through CDBaby.com. Now semi-retired, Jennifer lives in Pittsford, Vt with her family of 5 and maintains a voice studio in her home. A voice teacher for nearly 15 years, she considers her studio an integral part of her artistic satisfaction and development.

Benjamin Pauly (Pirate/Police), hailing from Minnesota with aspirations to be a pirate, Benjamin stopped on his quest to the sea in Woodstock and is a most happy landlubber instead.  With a history in architecture, he has been occupying his moments on land with the not so seaworthy tasks of stained glass work, construction of a New England home and concierge duties at the Woodstock Inn.

Danelle Sims (Daughter) has been making music of one sort or another for over forty years. In the past five years, she has sung in the St James Choir (Woodstock), and performed occasional flute solo and ensemble work, studying under Heidi Baxter. At non-musical moments, she works in the Dartmouth Library, kayaks and snowshoes in the appropriate seasons, works on her knitting, and spends time with her two teenage children. She is excited to now be able to finally realize her dream of frolicking on stage.

Ben Stroud (Pirate/Police), born in New Bedford, MA, moved to Vermont this past June with his parents, dog Julie, and cat Lurky.  Ben is currently in the sixth grade at the Upper Valley Waldorf School in Quechee, Vermont.  As a member of the Southcoast Children’s Chorus (Marion, MA) Ben has had the honor of performing with the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra, the Sippican Choral Society, Big Sing Central Massachusetts and at Fenway Park, singing the National Anthem at a Red Sox-Yankees game.  Ben also plays the tenor saxophone, piano and cello.  Besides someday meeting Paul McCartney, Ben also hopes to have a career in music when he grows up.  Pirates of Penzance is Ben’s first theatrical experience and he thanks Mr. Adams for giving him this wonderful opportunity and for helping him grow as a performer and musician!!

Yael Taylor (Isabel) born in Warwick, NY, moved to the Chicago area where she pursued an undergraduate degree in art therapy, and a master of library science from the University of Illinois. She enjoys volunteering at area libraries and sells her handcrafted glass beads and jewlry at local farmer’s markets and art fairs. A love for singing and the stage, Yael is a member of the BarnArts Chorale and, recently, served as props mistress for the BarnArts summer Institute production of Oliver!. Yael is excited to perform in Pentangle Players production of The Pirates of Penzance, and is grateful to the Pentangle Arts Council and rLee for the gift of this production to the community.

Marion Umpleby (Daughter) has loved acting ever since seeing Shakespeare’s As You Like It” at the age of six. In 2009, she debuted in Little Orphan Annie. She played Brigitta in the Pentangle Players production of The Sound of Music. Marion has spent several summers participating in the Northern Stage theatre camps, which included her being Juliet in Romeo and Juliet. She has also been featured as an extra in the film Northern Boarders. She has been in numerous class plays at the Upper Valley Waldorf School, where she is currently in the sixth grad. At home Marion enjoys reading, writing, drawing, and time in her Bridgewater home with mum, dad, younger brother, and rabbit, Loki.

Michael Zsoldos (Orchestra conductor), was introduced to music through his father's vast record collection, which included the music of Charlie Parker, Felix Mendelssohn, Billie Holiday, the Beatles, and Glenn Miller. Michael attended the Eastman School of Music where he studied classical and jazz saxophone with Ramon Ricker. He later studied with Andrew Speight and Branford Marsalis at Michigan State University obtaining a master's degree in music theory. Since 2004, Michael has been a performer and instrumental arranger for the Dartmouth College Gospel Choir and Dartmouth Idol, featuring Walt Cunningham. Michael's playing and arranging can be heard on Cunningham's 2010 album "When All God's Children." In 2008, they performed before capacity crowds at the Chicago House of Blues and Jazz at Lincoln Center. In January 2009, the choir shared the stage with Bebe Winans, Carole King, and Yolanda Adams at President Barack Obama's Inaugural festivities. In 2010, Michael released his debut CD "Off the Cuff" which made it on the nominating ballot in four categories for the 2011 Grammys. In 2011, Michael recorded with jazz vocalist, Samirah Evans and her band, Handsome Devils. Michael previously conducted Pentangle productions of The Music Man (2008), The Sound of Music (2010).

ORCHESTRA