Angelo Arrington. Prior to Songs for a New World, Angelo appeared as the Mean Ole Lion in The Wiz, as James Thunder Early in Dream Girls, and as himself in Smokey Joe's Café. A native of Baltimore, Angelo has been honing and crafting his musical skills in the Church since the age of 3, and his influences came from artists such as Fred Hammond, Kelly Price, Stevie Wonder, Rochelle Ferrell, India Arie, and Yolanda Adams. Angelo's multi-talented gifts span the music industry as a singer, songwriter, arranger, producer, and actor. He has worked with some of the best in the industry including Shirley Caesar and has recorded with many great artists including Kim Waters and Tonya Blount. Also a songwriter, he has lent his talents to a variety of music artists on various labels including Universal Records, Def Jam Records, Black Hope Foundation and international recording artist DeVon Howard, whose album is soon to be released in the US on Sony/Columbia Records.

Karina Ferry. This is Karina's second show at Spotlighter's after appearing as Janet in Rocky Horror Picture Show, Live. By the time this show opens she will have performed with Winters Lane Productions in The Life as Frenchie. Some of her favorite roles include Corie in Barefoot in the Park, Tina in Tony and Tina's Wedding, Sr. Robert Anne in Nunsense II, and Julia in The Rivals. When she is not rehearsing or performing, you will find her working a "real" 9-to-5 job or at the gym. She would like to thank her family, friends, and roommates—she couldn't do without them!!

Tiffany Mowry is so excited to be making her Spotlighters debut in Songs for a New World. Tiffany grew up in Parkville with her singing police officer father, her preschool music teacher mother and her acting and singing brother, so how could she not help getting bit by the musical theatre bug? Tiffany attended The University of the Arts in Philadelphia for Musical Theatre and then obtained a B.S. in Deaf Studies from Towson University. Some of her favorite musical theatre roles include: Miss Adelaide (Guys and Dolls), Minnie Fae (Hello Dolly), Katisha (The Mikado) and Shanara (Weird Romance). She would like to thank her mother, brother, her new husband Kevin and her friends for all the support and love that they give her every day. A special thanks to her daddy for having the biggest "heart" of all. This performance is dedicated to her vocal coach in Philly who told her, "You could never sing 'I'm Not Afraid of Anything,' you're afraid of everything!"

Darren McDonnell Darren was last seen as Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast and Munkustrap in Cats, both at Toby's Dinner Theatre. Baltimore audiences have seen him at Fells Point Corner Theatre, Vagabonds, Towsontowne Dinner Theatre, Dundalk Community Theatre and Cockpit-in-Court where he had the privilege of performing in Russia and Japan in Godspell. Darren toured the U.S. in Anything Goes and worked in regional theatres across the U.S. Darren is thrilled to finally be working at Spotlighters. He dedicates this show to all the actors who performed here in the 80's, people he learned his craft from and helped him find the joy, love and passion of the theatre. To this cast and crew, what a blast this has been, you all are so talented and I am humbled to share the stage with you. Thanks David, Michael and Michelle! Enjoy!

Madonna Marie Refugia. A recent graduate of Carver Center for the Arts and Technology, Madonna is ecstatic to participate in what promises to be a great experience for her as a young artist. Her repertoire covers a variety of music styles such as opera, musical theatre, and jazz. Having performed for Municipal Opera Company of Baltimore, Loyola-Blakefield, as well as Toby's, her favorite roles include a non-lip-synching Katerina Cavaliere in Amadeus, Bloody Mary in South Pacific, and Eponine in Les Miserables. She thanks David and Michael for allowing her to be a part of an amazing cast. She also thanks Jennifer Jordan for all her help and her family for their love and support. A special thanks to her father, who has let her grow and find her own "new world."

Evan Shyer. This is Evan's first production since graduating from George Washington University in the spring. Some GW credits include Assassins (Booth), Wild Party (Gold), and City of Angels (Muñoz). Evan was also a member of the 2004 College Light Opera Company. He would like to thank his family for supporting his dreams since day one.

Michelle Dunkle (Keyboards/Conductor). In addition to conducting and playing the piano in our show, Michelle is also our musical director (see her bio below under "Production").

Josh Tuckman (Piano). A recent graduate of George Washington University, Josh has served as music director and keyboardist for seven shows at the University, including Cabaret, The Last Five Years, and Assassins. A Long Island native, Josh has played piano since the age of 4, and has also picked up a number of other instruments. In addition, he has served as a composer and arranger for numerous shows, most recently an adaptation of Willy Wonka for musical theater. Josh was a recipient of the prestigious GWU Barry Manilow Endowed Prize for Music, as well as the Frederic Chopin Piano Award. He is happy for another opportunity to play a Jason Robert Brown score, and looks forward to rocking with the other members of the band.

Jason Wilson (Bass). In addition to providing the low notes for several productions, Jason is a composer who has written music for programs airing on FOX, UPN, and PBS. In his efforts to obtain rock stardom, he has two CD's of original music to his credit and is currently at work on a third album. Jason is also a singer and actor and occasionally climbs out of the orchestra pit and onto the stage. He was most recently seen as Armpit in Holes (Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts) and in the ensemble for Ragtime (Toby's Dinner Theater). Songs for a New World is one of Jason's favorite shows and he is very excited for this first opportunity to perform at Spotlighters.

Andrew Kreysa (Drums/Percussion), a native of Frederick, Maryland, studied percussion, drum set, and shifted his focus to mallet percussion instruments, mainly the marimba in his undergraduate studies at the University of Maryland. A successful co-founder of the Flattened Candy Percussion Duo with John Patton, he has performed many transcriptions completed by Daniel Davis, and will be collaborating with fellow percussionists from George Mason University, and the Eastman School of music to record Davis' first original percussion composition this summer, entitled Raid on the Goblin Swamp. This summer he will be performing his first solo marimba tour in ten concerts throughout Maryland, Virginia, Washington D.C. and West Virginia, and will be participating in the inaugural year of the John Tafoya Summer Percussion Workshop, as well as being on staff for the workshop. Andrew was a member of the first class of the Rebecca Kite Marimba Performance Class, has worked with Rebecca Kite, Orlando Cotto, and other percussionist across the United States and Japan. Andrew studies with F. Anthony Ames of the National Symphony Orchestra, as well as Janis Potter, world renowned marimba artist and clinician.

David Gregory (Director) is very proud to be making his Baltimore directorial debut surrounded with such a magnificent cast and crew. Although he has dabbled in several directing projects while in school, Songs For A New World marks his first major directorial undertaking. While new to the directing scene, David has been an avid participant in the arts since the young age of 5. Back home in Spain, he danced in a flamenco company for 15 years — teaching it for 5 of those years. While not dancing, he played clarinet, sang in choirs, and performed with local acting troupes.

Having just completed a run of Miss Saigon at Toby's, David is mostly known in the region as a performer. Some of his most memorable roles as a performer include: Curtis in Dreamgirls (BCCC), Leading Player in Pippin (PTF), Victor in Cabaret (Maryland Arts Festival), Baker in Into The Woods (Chesapeake Arts Center), Victor in Smokey Joe's Café (Millbrook Playhouse), Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar (F. Scott Black DT), Tinman in The Wiz (BCCC), Capt. Brice in Arcadia (GWU), Dick McGann in Street Scene (FPCT); Chaplain/General in Mother Courage (GWU); and as Starnes in Parade (FPCT) to name a few.

Hopefully, this is the first of many Baltimore/DC directing credits to come. Many thanks to family, friends, work, and especially Kurt — and Maggie — for understanding and putting up with the strange things I do for the love of theater! I dedicate this show to my uncle Manolo.

Michael J. Rostek (Assistant Director/Stage Manager) is pleased to be joining this very talented and dedicated production team. This is Michael's second stab at theatre production having played a part in mounting the Barnstormer's production of HAIR the Musical. Michael studied Vocal Music Performance and Education here in Baltimore and for the past 13 years has been performing throughout the greater Baltimore area. Having just recently left a run of one of his favorite shows, Miss Saigon, other favorite roles include Ernst Ludwig in Cabaret, Eddie in Blood Brothers and Jack in Into the Woods. Kudos to a truly unparalleled cast!

Michelle Dunkle (Musical Director). Having been the rehearsal and audition accompanist for The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Chess at Spotlighters, this is Michelle's first venture as part of the hands-on development of a production. Michelle has been an accomplished pianist for longer than she is willing to divulge; however, she has always been a lover of music. After attending the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and graduating from Ohio University, she worked with several choirs and musical groups as a voice teacher, piano instructor and choral director while teaching high school English and music and raising five children. Michelle is ecstatic to have the chance to work with David, Michael and all of the wonderful people on the production staff of this exciting production and is extremely grateful to David for giving her the opportunity to expand her horizons. Michelle would like to thank her family and friends for their love and support.

Timoth David Copney (Choreographer) has a lifetime of theatrical experience as a dancer, singer, choreographer, and director. From his earliest performances with the Kenley Players in the Midwest — he was one of the King's children in the Ann Blyth production of The King and I — to his last equity performance in the original production of Miss Saigon at the Princess of Wales Theater in Toronto, he has performed with some of the best in the business. Credits include touring companies of Jesus Christ Superstar, Applause (Alexis Smith tour, directed by Scotty Salmon), Annie Get Your Gun (Florence Henderson tour), My Fair Lady (Richard Harris), the original West Coast Premier of Sophisticated Ladies in San Francisco, a season teaching ballet and jazz in Reykjavik, Iceland, and numerous television appearances (CTV network series, "The Julie Show"). Local credits include performances in La Cage Aux Folles at the F. Scott Black's Dinner Theater, The Wiz (title character) and Dreamgirls (Tiny Joe Dixon) for Baltimore City Community College and Henry Davis in Fells Point Corner Theater's production of Street Scene. He has choreographed Hello Dolly and Carousel for Liberty Showcase Theater, Godspell and Annie Get Your Gun for Heritage Theater. For Spotlighters, he created the Cirque du Soleil-inspired choreography for The Tempest. He has studied dance with Alvin Ailey, the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Ballet Jazz de Montreal and owned his own studio. Delighted to be working with this tremendous cast and staff, he thanks his partner, family and friends for their continuing support.

Dustin Cross (Costumer) is pleased to be back in action on the costuming scene. Recent costuming credits include: The Rocky Horror Show, The Tempest and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. When not seen behind the sewing machine Dustin can also be seen on stage. Regional credits include: Crazy for You (Bobby Childs), Titanic (Frederick Barrett), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Joseph). Dustin has also toured nationally and internationally with NetWorks and their production of The Sound of Music. Thanks to David for this opportunity and to the rest of the SFANW-Baltimore Company.

Kurt Thesing (Set Designer) is excited to be trying his hands as a set designer. Though new to set design, Kurt has extensive experience in several other areas of design. He received BFAs in both Interior Architecture Design and Communications Design from the Maryland Institute, College of Art right here in Baltimore. Currently a principal owner and Creative Director at CIA (Creative Intelligence Agency), a successful Baltimore advertising agency and graphic design studio, he previously held the position of Creative Director at CKS Partners and Graffito. He has been recognized with an AIA Award of Excellence by the Art Directors Club, and recognized in leading design magazines including How, Print, Communication Arts and Graphis. He thanks David for the opportunity to test out this new area of design.

Ben Welsh (Light Design/Board Operator) is thrilled to be doing his first professional lighting design. Currently employed at Toby's The Dinner Theatre of Columbia, Ben most recently designed lights for An Evening of Dance, Spring 2005 at Keene State College, where he also worked as assistant master electrician for the student productions of After the Fall and Empires Fall. Ben is majoring in technical theatre with a concentration in lighting design at Keene State College. He began his technical work in elementary school in Falls Church, Virginia, becoming stage crew chief in his junior year, and led the stage crew at Centennial High School in Ellicott City, Maryland during his senior year. Much love to his family for all of their wonderful support and many thanks to David H., David G., Terry S. and Toby for all the wonderful opportunities that have cm his way. Enjoy the show!

Robert Grimm (Light and Sound Board Operator). This is Robert's first professional production working as lighting and sound operator. He recently graduated from Atholton High School in Columbia where he was a major contributor to the school's drama department. In the fall, Robert will attend Muhlenberg College where he plans to continue his interests in acting and technical theatre. Finally, Robert would like to thank his family and friends for the continued support and the cast and crew of SFANW for the great opportunity. Break a leg!

FUZZ Roark (ask about the name in person!) Executive Director of The Audrey Herman SPOTLIGHTERS Theatre/Technical Advisor. My first stage role, at 9 years old, was Winthrop in The Music Man (Florence Little Theatre, South Carolina); thirty years later, I appeared as Professor Harold Hill in The Music Man (Indiana Civic Theatre). A minor in Performing Arts (choral direction/technical theatre) from Francis Marion University (South Carolina), nineteen years of dance (tap, ballet, jazz); and four summers as principal male dancer (Carolina Civic Ballet Company) prepared me for life in theatre.
 
I've been in Baltimore for 12 years, working mostly off stage. I've done a dozen plus shows at SPOTLIGHTERS as Music Director, Lighting Designer, Director, Choreographer and more.  My passion is directing; working with some of the most talented folks in theatre! I was recognized by Baltimore Gay-Life News for Chess (Director), the Best Musical Theatre Event for 2004; and was nominated for Outstanding Director for Rocky Horror by Baltimore Theater Awards. I'm currently directing Stop Kiss which runs until June 25 at SPOTLIGHTERS (Friday and Saturday at 8 pm and Sunday at 2 pm). As Executive Director, I handle all operations and work with our new board on fund-raising/development, marketing, promotions and program development.
 
SPOTLIGHTERS has launched two new programs this year. One is an Internship Program, open to high school and college students. The second is a Summer Youth Theatre Academy offering youth (13-17 yrs) a three week theatre intensive. For more info on the Internship Program or the Academy, contact the theatre (410-752-1225 or www.spotlighters.org).