A NOTE FROM THE DEAN OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS
When you arrived here, you were greeted with William Shakespeare’s words. To hold as ‘twere the mirror up to nature. Spoken by Hamlet, this line signals a pivotal moment—a play within a play—that exposes the truth of a dastardly deed.
The Bard inspired the design of this extraordinary building. Canted windows reflect the city. It is a reminder that the arts can help us better understand our society.
After the performance, I encourage you to experience this “mirror” in action. It is extraordinary, especially as the sun sets and the MBTA trains pass behind you.
Romeo & Juliet is better known than Hamlet. It has been adapted for every medium. Many of us have our favorite versions (perhaps Franco Zeffirelli or Baz Lurman’s films, or stage and screen adaptations like West Side Story) but there is always something new to appreciate and discover with each interpretation.
Almost 120 years ago, Roméo et Juliette, a new opera, premiered in Paris and dazzled audiences. It affirmed the power of Shakespeare’s tale while unleashing a new set of possibilities beyond the spoken word.
I am glad you are here. We built this theatre for you.
Harvey Young Dean, Boston University College of Fine Arts Vice President for the Arts ad interim
ROMÉO ET JULIETTE
February 26 - March 1, 2026
Joan & Edgar Booth Theatre
820 Commonwealth Ave. Brookline, MA
Music by CHARLES GOUNOD
Libretto by JULES BARBIER
MICHEL CARRÉ
Conductors
WILLIAM LUMPKIN GORDON CHEUNG (2/28 performance)
Scenic Design
Stage Director EVE SUMMER
CAMERON CARCASSON
Costume Design
TAYLOR NEEDLEMAN
Lighting Design
MARGARET GARRITY
Production Manager
SAM NOTO
Production Stage Manager
IASLYN LEWIS
Principal Coach & Chorus Master
ALLISON VOTH
Coach
MATTHEW LARSON
Producer
OSHIN GREGORIAN
There will be one 15-minute intermission.
JULIETTE
ROMÉO
STEPHANO
GERTRUDE
CAST
Abigail Orr*
Avuya Ngcweni+
Shuangxiang Shan*
David Rivera Bozón+
Lindsey Weissman*
Juliette Kaoudji+
Janae Peterson*
Makenna Palacio+
Minsun Im*
Ryan Hanger+
BENVOLIO MERCUTIO PÂRIS GRÉGORIO CAPULET
FRÈRE LAURENT LE DUC
SOPRANO I
Zoe Bennett
Rose Carilli
Dongge Li
Ziqi Liu
Bianca Rahme
Wanda Sullivan
Geyang Xu
Emily Szubielski
TENOR II
Andrew Mak
Youxin Wang
Zhenhao Xiao
Matt Feinberg*
Libang Wang+
Gonzalo Lamego
Wenlong Zhang
Ethan Wagner*
Jongho Woo+
Chenxi Fu
James Demler
CHORUS
SOPRANO II
Emma Giventer-Braff
J. Lamoureux
Bianca Lucas
Lauren Mahoney
Makenna Palacio
Janae Peterson
Roshan Sivaraman
Audrey Hyers
BARITONE I
Gonzalo Lamego
Wenlong Zhang
COVERS
JULIETTE
STEPHANO CAPULET
TENOR I
Judd Blake
Greysen Kemper
Zhenhao Xiao
BARITONE II
Tae-Woong An
Jerome Boxer
Amy Wang
Makenna Palacio
Tae Woong An
*Thursday/Saturday performance +Friday/Sunday performance
BOSTON UNIVERSITY CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
CONDUCTOR
William Lumpkin
VIOLIN I
Da Huang
Yanguang (Bruce) Zhang
Haitian (Christy) Liu
James Huang
HaeJin Lee
Sadie Walker
Ga Eun Lee
Gabriel Lee
Yu-Ting (Tina) Ko
Jenna Clark
Kailey Hrencecin
Katherine Filiss
Yeonjo Oh
Haley Klouda
Gianna Ingersoll
Megan Carp
Benjamin Fuller
Hayoung (Halle) Song
Daulton Templet
VIOLIN II
Iris Lin
Wanting (Peter) Yu
Cecil Mummey
Linjun Li
Cecilia Hill
Bryce Herda
Valentina Pulido Pardo
Matthew Holzaepfel Lauryn Koeppel
Andrea Martine
Justin Cao
Olivia McCallum
CLARINET
Jinchen Duan
Oliver Harrigan
TRUMPET
Maria DeBoer
Tori Gervais
TUBA HARP
Robert McLaren, Jr.
TIMPANI ASSISTANT CONDUCTORS BASS
Tej Panchal
Tien-Ai (Annie) Wang Jungyoon Kim
Jovi Altadonna Lizzie Sylves Cassie Thomas Gillian Kearney
Theodore Gigstad
Gordon Cheung
Amara Farah
PRODUCTION & CREATIVE TEAM
MUSIC
Opera Institute
Artistic Director WILLIAM LUMPKIN
Repetiteur
WEI-YUAN CHEN
School of Music
Stage Manager CONNOR BARRY
Stage Director EVE SUMMER
Opera Institute Managing Director & Producer
OSHIN GREGORIAN
School of Music Director of Production & Performance
CHRIS DEMPSEY
School of Music Librarian LINDY BILLHARDT
DIRECTION
Choreographic Advisor MELODIE JEFFERY-CASSELL
Production Manager SAM NOTO
ISABEL CAVICCHI
Costume Designer TAYLOR NEEDLEMAN
Costume Shop Associate AMANDA FEELY
Fight Choreographer RYAN WINKLES
MANAGEMENT
Stage Manager IASLYN LEWIS
Production Assistants
LIAM COREY
COSTUMES
Assistant Costume Designer WEBB HODGES
Costume Assistant SYDNEY HOVASSE
Wardrobe Crew
AVA COLE JAMIE FOERST JJ RICHARDS
Drapers
Assistant Conductor GORDON CHEUNG
School of Music Ensemble Manager
KATHARINE HURD
Supertitles ALLISON VOTH
Intimacy Coordinator YO-EL CASSELL
Assistant Stage Managers SAMANTHA KOURY REBECCA WELTMANN
ANNABELLE MONTE
Wig Stylist RACHEL PADULA-SHUFELT
Crafts Lead WILL V. GALARNEAU
CELIA VOGES
VYANNIE SALDAÑA BARRIENTOS ALDI HEGGER ANDREW KASPER NORA KEMPER RENATA PAVELL JACOB ROBERTSON
GRACE WACKER
Crafts Artisans
RHEA DAVIES LILY HARPER EMI LIVINGSTON
Crafts Assistants
EDEN DESDOLA SONYA KLINGER
AMY O’BRIEN
LINNEA RHODES NEEDA STILLMAN
PRODUCTION & CREATIVE TEAM
LIGHTING
Lighting Designer
MARGARET GARRITY
Assistant Production Electricians
SAM LEHRICH
KADYNCE MORTON
Follow Spot Assistant
ALISA SAISAKORN
Scenic Designer
CAMERON CARCASSON
Assistant Lighting Designers E HARRIS
ALISA SAISAKORN
Light Board Operator
SAMI GRANT
Follow Spot Operators
ARDEN ADDEO
AMY O’BRIEN
KENNEDY O’NEIL
LINNEA RHODES
SCENIC
Assistant Scenic Designer
KARA ZACHAREWICZ
Scenic Charge Artist
SARAH BUSICK
DAVIN MARTIN
ALISA SMITH Production Electrician
Light Board Programmer
Lighting Crew SOT LIGHTING DEPARTMENT
Props Director
ETHAN VETTESE
Assistant Scenic Charge Artist DELANEY JANKANISH
TECHNICAL PRODUCTION
Project Manager
LIZZIE ANDERSON
Sound Engineer
RACHAEL DEBRAAL
HANNAH BEHRINGER
DAMIEN LOGAN
Assistant Project Manager
SYDNEY ELLIOTT
SOUND
Assistant Sound Engineer SAM HALEY
Sound Crew
ASHER COHEN
FRONT OF HOUSE
Lead Usher
LEANNE B. PARKS
Technical Directors
SYDNEY ELLIOTT
CATHERINE HAMPP
Sound Board Operator DAMIEN LOGAN
RENEE DVORSKE NICO TORO
MEET THE ARTISTIC & PRODUCTION TEAM
WILLIAM LUMPKIN (CONDUCTOR) William Lumpkin’s extensive repertoire and career have led to engagements with Opera Theatre of St. Louis and Boston Lyric Opera, having previously served on the music staff for Los Angeles Opera, Aspen Opera Theatre, and Wolf Trap Opera. Additionally, Maestro Lumpkin led performances of the Mary Zimmerman production of Philip Glass’s Galileo Galilei as part of the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s New Wave Festival, having previously conducted world premiere performances at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago.
Maestro Lumpkin recently conducted performances of West Side Story with Wichita Grand Opera, Die Entführung aus dem Serail at Opera Grand Rapids and was guest conductor for Southern Methodist University’s production of Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi and Suor Angelica. In the Summer of 2026, he will conduct performances of Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro at Opera in the Ozarks.
Maestro Lumpkin conducted the American premiere of Jonathan Dove’s Flight with Opera Theatre of St. Louis and again in 2005 for Boston Lyric Opera. Additional credits at St. Louis include La Bohème, The Magic Flute, Lucia di Lammermoor, and Hansel and Gretel In 2004, Maestro Lumpkin joined Boston Lyric Opera to conduct Così fan tutte.
Maestro Lumpkin is the Artistic Director/Conductor for the Boston University Opera Institute where he has conducted over 40 opera productions at the Huntington Theatre, the Emerson Cutler Majestic, the Paramount Theatre, and at the Joan & Edgar Booth Theatre at Boston University, including a co-production with Glimmerglass Opera of The Cunning Little Vixen and a co-commission with New York City Opera of Picker’s chamber version of his opera Dolores Claiborne
Recent recordings include the recently re-discovered Cuban opera “El Caminante” on Navona Records, and with Juliana Gondek on a recording of Roger Bourland’s “Four Quartets of Songs and Arias” for Navona Records.
MEET THE ARTISTIC & PRODUCTION TEAM
EVE SUMMER (STAGE DIRECTOR) Described as a star of stage directing with “a gift for translating classic symbolism into familiar detail” and work that is “transfixingly personal,” Eve Summer returns this 2025-26 season to Tulsa Opera, Opera Columbus, Resonance Works, The Opera Institute at Boston University, and Opera Grand Rapids to direct new productions of The Pirates of Penzance, La traviata, Kamala Sankaram and Kelley Rourke’s The Jungle Book, Romeo et Juliette, and H.M.S. Pinafore, as well as debuting at Odyssey Opera with Menotti’s The Last Savage and a soon to be announced production this summer at The Princeton Festival. Previous productions at the Opera Institute at Boston University are La clemenza di Tito, Adamo’s Little Women, and Musto and Campbell’s Later The Same Evening.
Selected directing credits include Trouble in Tahiti at the Glimmerglass Festival; Tosca at The Princeton Festival; Ariodante at Boston Baroque; Cosi fan tutte, Les Mamelles de Tirésias, The Seven Deadly Sins and Albert Herring at Curtis Opera Theatre; Rachel Portman’s The Little Prince at Tulsa Opera; Don Giovanni at Opera Carolina; Rigoletto, Tosca, and Don Giovanni at Opera Columbus; The Barber of Seville at Opera Saratoga; The Tales of Hoffmann and Lizbeth at Opera Orlando; Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Don Giovanni, L’elisir d’amore, The Pirates of Penzance, Così fan tutte, Le Docteur Miracle, and The Mikado at Opera Grand Rapids; Musto and Campbell’s Volpone at the A.J. Fletcher Opera Institute at UNCSA; The Pearl Fishers at Opera Tampa; Le nozze di Figaro at Knoxville Opera, dell’Arte Opera Ensemble, Mobile Opera, Kaliope Opera, and Varna International Music Festival, La donna del lago at Resonance Works; Xerxes for Connecticut Early Music Festival, Carmen for MassOpera; Suor Angelica with the Boston Symphony Orchestra; Così fan tutte for Connecticut Lyric Opera, Les contes d’Hoffmann, La Bohème, The Pearl Fishers, and The Magic Flute at Opera in Williamsburg, Aida and Lucia di Lammermoor at Boheme Opera New Jersey; The Magic Flute The Hartt School at University of Hartford, and the world premiere of Larry Bell’s Holy Ghosts at the Berklee Performance Center.
A former professional ballet dancer and choreographer, Eve’s choreography credits include a commission to choreograph a new ballet, Jeanne’s Fantasy, by composer Mark Warhol for the premiere with Contrapose Dance and Fort Point Theatre Channel, Elektra at Des Moines Metro Opera, Falstaff at Opera Colorado, and Don Giovanni for Boston Opera Collaborative. EveSummerDirector.com
MEET THE PRODUCTION & CREATIVE TEAM
YO-EL CASSELL (INTIMA-
CY COORDINATOR) was born in Schenectady, NY with a nerve deafness and discovered that movement at the age of 3 was his organic expressive channel for his personal and creative identity. Instead of his hearing loss getting in the way, he allowed the loss to gratefully show him the way of connecting to all of the five senses (sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell) of human life. His mission, as a performer, director, choreographer, movement director, educator, mentor, and human being, is to provide the same accessible physical entry point to other’s inner selves that he supportively received as a child and throughout life. A recipient of the Lotte Kaliski Award for Gifted Artists, Yo-EL Cassell is currently Head of/ Assistant Professor of Movement at Boston University College of Fine Arts School of Theatre. He was formerly Resident Choreographer of Commonwealth Shakespeare Company. His previous teaching experience also includes the NY Acting School for Film and Television, Harvard University Dance Department, New England Conservatory, Walnut Hill School for the Arts, Sunshine Cottage School For Deaf Children, Celebrity Series of Boston, Commonwealth Shakespeare Apprentice Academy, the Association for Theatre in Higher Education Conference, Boston Ballet, Dance Complex, and Skidmore College, where he served as a guest teaching artist/choreographer in residence for three years.
MELODIE JEFFERY-CASSELL (CHOREOGRAPHIC ADVISOR)
is on faculty at Boston University College of Fine Arts School of Theatre, School of Music (Opera), and Dance Department, as well as the Boston Ballet School. Former director of Dance at Glen Urquhart School and faculty member at Walnut Hill School for the Arts, Boston College, Concord Academy Summer Stages, Mark Morris Dance Center, Peridance International Dance Center, The Brearley School, and the 92nd Street Y in NYC. In her continued efforts
to make movement practice accessible to all, Melodie also teaches underserved youth at BalletRox as well as adults with Down Syndrome for Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters & Boston Ballet School’s Adaptive Dance Program. Melodie served as rehearsal director and assistant choreographer for YC Movement Theater, Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, the Nantucket Dreamland Theater, and InMotion Theatre Initiative at BU. Melodie is a member of the National Dance Education Organization and is an annual presenter at Boston Ballet’s Adaptive Dance Teacher Training Program. She has a minor in Women’s Studies and has specified interest in the pioneers of Modern dance and site-specific work.
GORDON CHEUNG (ASSISTANT CONDUCTOR)
, a native of Hong Kong, is a second-year doctoral student in Orchestral Conducting at Boston University, where he serves as the assistant conductor to Sarah Ioannides and William Lumpkin. This season, he is assisting on Stravinsky’s Petrushka, Beethoven’s 9th, and Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro (Music On Site Inc.). Previously, he conducted Nico Muhly’s Dark Sisters with the Opera Institute. Cheung’s conducting could be traced across the continent. He was the Conducting Scholar at Eastern Music Festival from 2023 to 2024, where he received a close mentorship from Gerard Schwarz. He also participated in masterclasses held by the Spokane Symphony and Fort Wayne Philharmonic. His performance of Prokofiev’s First Symphony with The Orchestra Now (TÕN) was named the Finalist Honorable Mention for the American Prize in Conducting (2024). He also assisted James Bagwell in the semi-stage production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s Iolanthe at the Fisher Center at Bard.
OSHIN GREGORIAN (PRODUC-
ER) is the Managing Director and Producer for the Boston University Opera Institute. Previous positions include Director of Operations with the ProArte Chamber Orchestra, and General
MEET THE PRODUCTION & CREATIVE TEAM
Manager for Collage New Music. Mr. Gregorian holds a BM in vocal performance from Boston University, a MM in vocal performance from Manhattan School of Music, and is a graduate of the Opera Institute with honors. With the Opera Institute, he has been seen as Mercutio in Roméo et Juliette, Malatesta in Don Pasquale, Demetrius in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Il Podesta in La Finta Giardiniera, and Junius in The Rape of Lucretia, among others. He has performed in numerous concerts and oratorio works with ensembles such as the Tanglewood Festival Chorus/Boston Symphony Orchestra, The Newburyport Choral Society, and Boston Youth Symphony, among others. Mr. Gregorian made his Carnegie Hall debut in 2005 under the auspices of Music Armenia.
MATTHEW LARSON (COACH)
received his Doctorate in Collaborative Piano from Arizona State University under the tutelage of Eckart Sellheim. An accomplished recitalist, Dr. Larson has played over 1,000 performances in the US and Europe. He has worked with such varied artists as Metropolitan Opera stars Carol Vaness, Maria Spacagna, Eric Owens, and Lawrence Brownlee; Academy of Ancient Music director Christopher Hogwood; vocal pedagogy pioneer Richard Miller; and the eminent collaborative artist Dalton Baldwin, with whom Matthew was invited to study in New York. Past positions include Assistant Conductor for Boston Lyric Opera; Music Director for the University of Connecticut Opera Program; Staff Pianist for Yale University Opera; Vocal Coach at Brown University; Staff Pianist for The American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria; Music Director of Opera Providence; Vocal Coach at Walnut Hill School for the Arts; Pianist for the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s Tanglewood Festival Chorus; Music Director of Cape Cod Opera; and Vocal Coach for Tanglewood Institute’s Young Artist Vocal Program. Currently, Dr. Larson is on faculty at Boston University; Music Director of Seaglass Theater Company of New Bedford MA; and Minister of Music at First Congregational
Church of Milton, Massachusetts. In January 2020 he earned a Grammy Award as pianist on Boston Modern Opera Project’s recording of Tobias Picker’s Fantastic Mr. Fox
ALLISON VOTH (PRINCIPAL COACH & CHORUS MASTER)
is an Associate Professor of Music at Boston University and Principal Coach at BU’s Opera Institute. A well-known coach with a specialty in diction, she has worked with such companies and festivals as Boston Lyric Opera, Opera Boston, Chautauqua Opera, Opera North, Opera Unlimited, The Florence Voice Seminar, and the Athens Music Festival. Also a recognized supertitlist, her titles have been used nationwide, including at Washington Opera and the Chicago Symphony, and, internationally, at the Barbican Festival in London. As a specialist in the music of Paul Bowles, in 1992, she produced and performed in a multi-media performance piece entitled Paul Bowles: One Man, Two Voices at Merkin Hall in New York, and in 1995, she premiered a set of piano preludes in the EOS Ensemble’s Bowles Festival. Ms. Voth is also the Music Director of the Cantata Singers’ Chamber Series and can be heard on CRI recordings.
RYAN WINKLES FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHER)
is an actor/choreographer/teacher. Regionally his work as a fight choreographer includes New York City Center: Encores!, Long Island Lyric Opera, Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, Barrington Stage Company, Weston Playhouse, Boston Playwrights’ Theatre, and the Boston University Opera Institute. He is a member of Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, MA, where he has acted in, or choreographed stage fight for, more than 30 productions, the majority of which were productions of Shakespeare plays. He also teaches there in the Education Program and at the Center for Acting Training. Additionally, Ryan teaches Stage Violence at BU and at the Hartt School and is a proud member of SAG and Actors’ Equity.
MEET THE PRODUCTION & CREATIVE TEAM
ARDEN ADDEO (FOLLOW SPOT
OPERATOR) is an actor from Bernardsville, New Jersey. They are a Performance Core student in the Boston University School of Theatre Class of 2029. They are excited to be working behind the scenes on some of the University’s largest productions of the Fall semester and engaging in artistic collaboration with their classmates.
LIZZIE ANDERSON (PROJECT MANAGER)
(she/her) is a senior Technical Production major from Richmond, Virginia. Her other BU productions include The Rink, Sunday in the Park with George, and Orlando She’d like to shout out her team, Catherine and Sydney, for a great show.
HANNAH BEHRINGER (SOUND CREW)
(she/her) is a stage manager from Ann Arbor, Michigan. She is a Design, Production and Management Core student in the Boston University School of Theatre Class of 2029. She has loved working on productions like Shrek the Musical, and Radium Girls. She thanks her parents and her brother for the constant love and support.
CAMERON CARCASSON (SCENIC DESIGNER)
(he/him) is a multidisciplinary theatre artist at Boston University, Class of 2026, with experience in scenic design, props, paints, puppetry, costumes, and performance. Cameron would like to thank his people for being. Notable BU contributions include “La Bete” (scenic/costumes), “Siren Song” (scenic), “Museum” (scenic/actor), “The School for Lies” (scenic/costumes), “Julius Caesar” (asst. scenic) and “Cendrillion” (props). Painter at heart, Cameron would like to thank Anna Vidergar, Guthrie Morgan, Sarah Busik, Lori Hruska, and Diane Fargo.
ISABEL CAVICCHI (PRODUC-
TION ASSISTANT) is a Class of 2029 Design, Production, and Management core student and she is hoping to concentrate in stage management for her undergraduate degree. She is thrilled to be starting her career at BU and is beyond excited to be working with the many different shows that BU produces. She loves to watch the shows come together and watching the audiences get to experience the magic that the entire cast and crew has worked so hard to create. Working on the shows is always an amazing experience for her and she hopes that you enjoy the show as much as she and her fellow cast/crew mates do.
AVA COLE (WARDROBE CREW)
(she/her) is a first-year Performance Core student in the Boston University School of Theatre, Class of 2029, from the Greater Philadelphia area. She is excited to learn all that the SOT has to offer and would like to thank her family—especially her mother—for their love and support.
LIAM COREY (PRODUCTION
ASSISTANT) (he/him) is a stage manager from Milton, Massachusetts. He is a DPM Core student in the Boston University School of Theatre, Class of 2029. He would like to thank his parents and all former collaborators for their support.
RACHAEL DEBRAAL (SOUND
ENGINEER) is a Sound Design major from San Diego, CA. She has enjoyed working on many productions with BU including, Julius Caesar, Florencia en el Amazonas, and Flowers for Mrs. Harris. She extends her deepest gratitude to her friends, family, and team sound for their endless support.
MEET THE PRODUCTION & CREATIVE TEAM
SYDNEY ELLIOTT (ASSISTANT
PROJECT MANAGER) is a Junior Technical Production student from Raton, New Mexico. She is so excited to be a part of such an iconic piece, and she appreciates all of the hard work that the team put into this project.
JAMIE FOERST (WARDROBE
CREW) is a member of the Class of 2029. Jamie is originally from Westfield NJ. Jamie would like to thank the wonderful cast and crew of this production for all they did. Additionally, he would like to thank his friends and family for all their support.
MARGARET GARRITY (LIGHTING
DESIGNER) (she/her) is a current candidate for her MFA in Lighting Design at Boston University. Painting through light and finding ways to communicate and offer new perspectives to audiences is what drives her storytelling. Check out her website! margaretgarrity.design
SALLA GRIGOR (she/her) is a performer and artist from San Francisco, California. She is a Performance Core student in Boston University CFA Class of 2029, as well as a California Scholar of the Theatre Arts. Salla would like to thank her friends and family for their amazing support!
SAM HALEY (ASSISTANT
SOUND ENGINEER) is an MFA Sound Design student from Grain Valley, MO. She has earned a BFA in Design, Technology, and Stage Management, as well as a BS in Digital Film and Television Production, from Missouri State University. She would like to thank her partner, Matt, for his endless support and for moving with her to Boston while she pursues her MFA.
CATHERINE HAMPP (TECH-
NICAL DIRECTOR) (she/her) is a Technical Designer from Binghamton, New York. She holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from RIT and is currently a second year MFA student in Technical Production. She would like to thank her friends and family for their support and encouragement!
E HARRIS (ASSISTANT LIGHTING DESIGNER)
(they/them) is a Theatre Arts student studying Scenic and Lighting Design in the Class of 2028. They’d like to thank their family and friends for providing them with the opportunity to grow as a theatre maker!
WEBB HODGES (ASSISTANT COSTUME
DESIGNER) (he/him) is a costume designer from Columbia, South Carolina. He is thrilled to be working on this show and has greatly enjoyed every project he’s worked on at BU! Some previous show credits include, The Eleanors (Costume Designer), Bachelorette (Costume Designer), Emilia (Draper), Flowers for Mrs. Harris (Draper), and Florencia en el Amazonas (First Hand).
DELANEY JANKANISH (ASSISTANT SCENIC CHARGE
ARTIST) is a third year theatre arts major concentrating in scenic design. They are excited to add a paint credit to their repertoire, this show has been such a joy to work on. You may know their work from Flowers for Mrs. Harris, Desdemona, Julius Caesar with their involvement with props. They would like to thank their paint charge Sarah for all of her support throughout this process!
MEET THE PRODUCTION & CREATIVE TEAM
SAMANTHA KOURY (ASSIS-
TANT STAGE MANAGER) (she/her) is a sophomore studying Stage Management. Past Boston University credits include “Flowers for Mrs. Harris” (Deck Stage Manager) and “Florencia en el Amazonas” (Production Assistant). She would like to thank everyone on this amazing team for making this production possible!
SAM LEHRICH (ASSISTANT PRODUCTION ELECTRICIAN)
(he/him) is a thespian pleased to be stepping out into the world of technical design. A Design and Production Core student in the Boston University School of Theatre Class of 2028, he has enjoyed working on a variety of productions. For inducting him into the world of lighting, he would like to his mentors Nolan and Scott.
IASLYN LEWIS (PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER)
(she/they) is a Stage Manager from Connecticut who will be graduating in the spring. She has worked at Tanglewood, The Cape Playhouse, and Majestic Theater. BU credits include “Marcus; or the Secret of Sweet,” “The School for Lies,” “Cendrillon,” “Greek Fest,” “Siren Song,” “Corpus Christi,” and “Fefu and Her Friends.” They would like to thank their partner, friends, family, and the team for their unending support.
DAMIEN LOGAN (SOUND BOARD OPERATOR)
(he/him) is a technical crew member from Plainfield, Connecticut. He is a Design, Production & Management Core student at Boston University in the Class of 2029. Interested in audio, his favorite musical he worked on was The Drowsy Chaperone in 2025; He’d like to thank his sister and all his friends for remaining by his side.
DAVIN MARTIN (PRODUCTION ELECTRICIAN)
(he/him) is a senior lighting major at Boston University where he has recently worked on The Rink, Florencia en el Amazonas, Yerma, and The Drunken City. He can usually be found working on a fun project that ended up a little larger than he anticipated. Davin would like to thank Laurel, Dan, Linnea, and all his wonderful friends for their constant support. Visit him at davinmartin.com
ANNABELLE MONTE (PRODUCTION ASSISTANT)
(she/her) is a performer from Ashburn, Virginia. She is a Performance Core student in the Boston University School of Theatre Class of 2029, and has enjoyed working on productions of The Prince of Egypt and Rent. She would like to thank her parents, little brother Levi, and her friends Kate, Hannah, and Emilia for always supporting her.
TAYLOR NEEDLEMAN (COSTUME DESIGNER)
(she/her) is a senior BFA Costume Design student from southern California. Recent BU design credits include Dark Sisters and The Recursion of a Moth In addition to her BU credits, she has worked at companies such as Boston Conservatory, The Glimmerglass Festival, and The Santa Fe Opera. She would like to thank her parents, Cindy and Ben, for their support.
SAM NOTO (PRODUCTION MANAGER)
is a second year MFA Production Management student at Boston University, from Las Vegas, NV. She is currently working as the Live Events Coordinator for Boston Light & Sound while earning her Master’s degree in Theatre. Sam is thrilled to work with such an amazing team and can’t wait to see what her future holds. Sam would like to thank her Miniature Yorkie, Boogie, for all the love and support he provides in this process.
MEET THE PRODUCTION & CREATIVE TEAM
AMY O’BRIEN
(CRAFTS
ASSISTANT) (she/her) is a Costume Design & Production major from Chicago, Illinois. She is a student in the Boston University School of Theatre Class of 2029. She would like to thank her amazing family and friends for their love and support.
KENNEDY O’NEIL (FOLLOW
SPOT OPERATOR) (she/her) is an actor from Atlanta, Georgia. She is in the Boston University School of Theatre Class of 2029 and has loved being involved in productions such as As You Like It and Singin’ in the Rain. She is deeply grateful to her family, friends, and teachers who have all helped shaped her into the artist she is today.
LEANNE
PARKS (LEAD USHER)
(she/her) is a performer currently living in Colorado. She is a performance core major, Class of 2029. Credits: The First National Broadway Tour of School of Rock (Katie), Regional theatre: Theatre Squared’s Matilda the Musical (Matilda). Leanne is incredibly thankful for her parents that have supported her and her pursuit of theatre as well as her high school cast mates who reinforced her love for performing.
LINNEA RHODES
(CRAFTS ASSISTANT & FOLLOW SPOT OPERATOR)
(Any Pronouns) is costume enthusiast from Northampton, Massachusetts. They are a Design, Production, and Management Core student in the Boston University School of Theatre Class of 2029. They would like to thank their family, friends, and their four amazing cats for their support.
ALISA
SAISAKORN (ASSISTANT LIGHTING DESIGNER & FOLLOW SPOT ASSISTANT) (she/they) is a Class of 2027 lighting design student originally from Washington state. Previous BU productions include Florencia en el
Amazonas and Aurora Borealis. She would like to thank her friends, family, and the School of Theatre community for their support. She looks forward to future projects both within and outside of BU!
ETHAN VETTESE (PROPS DIRECTOR)
(he/him) is a Senior Scene Design major from Central Massachusetts. Previous BU scenic design credits include “Flowers for Mrs. Harris,” “Corpus Christi,” and “Dark Sisters.” Prop credits include “Sunday in the Park with George,” “One Penny Down,” and “Hedda Gabler.” He would like to thank his family, friends, and this team for their constant support.
REBECCA WELTMANN (ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER)
(she/ her) is a ‘28 BFA Stage Management student originally from sunny South Florida. Her work ranges from youth theatre across the country to BU Opera Institute’s Siren Song (Production Assistant) and Florencia en el Amazonas (Wardrobe Crew). She’s grateful to her family, friends, mentors, and this amazing team for bringing this production to life!
VERONIKA WEREDYK (she/her) is a Design, Production & Management Core student in the Boston University School of Theatre Class of 2029 and is super excited to be here. She is from Long Island, New York and hopes to become a scenic designer. She would like to thank her friends and family for the unconditional support.
KARA ZACHAREWICZ (ASSIS-
TANT SCENIC DESIGNER) is a third-year BFA Scenic Designer. Their past productions at BU include properties coordinator for “Siren Song” (2024) and assistant scenic designer for “Emilia” (2025). They would like to thank the cast and crew of “Top Girls” for all of their support throughout this process!
BOSTON UNIVERSITY
WIND ENSEMBLE SYMPHONIC CHORUS
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Symphony Hall
301 Massachusetts Ave, Boston
Boston University Wind Ensemble
Coincident Dances • Jessie Montgomery
Joshua Roach, conductor
Boston University Symphonic Chorus with members of the Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra
Symphony of Psalms • Igor Stravinsky
Daniel Parsley, conductor
Boston University Symphony Orchestra and Symphonic Chorus
Symphony No. 9 in D minor, op. 125 •
Ludwig van Beethoven
Sarah Ioannides, conductor
Monday, April 13, 2026 7:30pm
bu.edu/cfa/symphonyhall TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
MEET THE PERFORMERS
JUDD BLAKE, tenor, is grateful and excited to be a part of tonight’s performance. Judd is an avid performer of opera and musical theatre alike. Earlier this year he performed in Boston University’s production of The Eleanors. Recent roles include Tom Rakewell in Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress and the Male Authority Figure/ Corny Collins understudy in Hairspray. He was also featured as Pedrillo in a selection from Die Entführung aus dem Serail as part of BU’s Opera Scenes Program. Judd frequently gives back to the youth of his home community through his work as a Music Director for Cadence Theatre Company and SPARC in Richmond, VA. A Virginia native, Judd is a graduate of James Madison University, studying under Dr. Sonya G. Baker. Judd is now a graduate student pursuing a Master of Music in Vocal Performance at Boston University under Dr. Thomas Cannon.
Tenor, DAVID RIVERA BOZÓN
(ROMÉO) is pursuing the 2nd year of Boston University’s Opera Institute. He is part of Dr. David Guzmán’s studio. He is a Colombian tenor recognized internationally for his extraordinary talent and warm personality. He has extensive performance experience in opera, stageworks, zarzuela, oratorio, concerts, recitals and performances in unconventional places, bringing his music to a wide variety of communities. He has performed with a wide variety of local and international companies as soloist and ensemble artist, including Boston Lyric Opera, MassOpera, Belcanto Opera, Opera 51, Boston Midsummer Opera, Boston Opera and Zarzuela, the Veronica Robles Cultural Center, Odyssey Opera, Opera de Colombia, Orchesta Sinfónica de Colombia and Orquesta Filarmonica de Bogotá. In venues like the Jordan Hall, Street and Park Performances, Teatro Mayor Julio Mario Santodomingo, and Carnegie Hall. Some of Mr. Bozón operatic roles includes the operas Florencia en el Amazonas by Daniel Catán; L’Amico Fritz by Pietro Mascagni; L’Élisir d’Amore by Gaetano Donizetti; La Traviata and Rigoletto by Giuseppe Verdi; the operas by
Puccini: La Bohème, Gianni Schicchi, Madama Butterfly and Tosca; and the operas by Mozart: Die Zauberflöte, Idomeneo, La Finta Giardiniera and Don Giovanni
Bass-baritone JAMES DEMLER (LE
DUC) is known for his versatile range of repertory, spanning the operatic, oratorio, concert, and popular music genres. He has been an annual favorite with Boston’s Odyssey Opera, with recent roles as Jov in Dvorak’s Dimitrij, Pietro de Wissant in Donizetti’s L’Assedio di Calais, Geronte in Gounod’s Le Medecin Malgre Lui, and most recently Earl of Arundel in the World Premiere of Arnold Rosner’s Chronicle of Nine, which in November of 2021 was released as a CD with the Grammy winning BMOP Orchestra. Also in the Fall of 2021 Mr. Demler made his debut with the activist Opera Company White Snake Projects, singing the role of Odysseus in the premiere of Mary Prescott’s Survivor Odyssey. In January of 2022 he traveled to North Carolina for another opera premiere, this time in the roles of The Caterpillar and The King in Amy Scurria’s ALICE, an Operatic Adventure. Other recent engagements have included performances with Boston Lyric Opera in productions of Macbeth, Katya Kabanova, and Werther, and in Europe performances as Bass soloist in Verdi’s Requiem in Bruges, Belgium and Stuttgart, Germany. James has made solo appearances with The Boston Pops, Houston Symphony, Ottawa Orchestra, and Opera Orchestra of NY in Carnegie Hall. He played the role of Noah in Wes Anderson’s film Moonrise Kingdom, and in 2012 was a guest public address announcer for the Boston Red Sox. He’s been featured on numerous opera recordings, including The Importance of Being Earnest by Mario Castelnuovo Tedesco with Odyssey Opera, Bandanna by Daron Hagen with the Las Vegas Philharmonic, and Shining Brow with the Buffalo Philharmonic, also by Daron Hagen. As an adjudicator James Demler has taught Master Classes at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute, University of Arizona, University of Mexico, Arizona State University,
MEET THE PERFORMERS
and in November of 2021 was a guest teaching artist at Furman University. Mr. Demler has degrees in Vocal Performance from The University of New Mexico, The University of Arizona, and The Eastman School of Music. He completed his voice training as a Fellow at the Aspen School of Music and with the Houston Opera Studio. He has served on the faculty of Boston University since 2005.
RYAN HANGER (TYBALT)
is a Boston-based musician attending the College of Fine Arts at Boston University. He is currently in the second year of a Performance Diploma in Vocal Performance, studying with Professor David Guzmán. In 2024, he completed his Master of Music at New York University, where he studied with Dr. Justin John Moniz. His most recent work at BU includes Mr. Pete in Jodi Goble’s The Eleanors, Gherardo in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, and The Regulator in Jonathan Dove’s Siren Song. Prior to that, he was Nero in Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea at the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival. He has also appeared as Pitman/Etches in NYU Steinhardt’s production of Titanic, as well as appearing as Rinuccio in Steinhardt’s production of Gianni Schicchi. His other work includes the Wolf/Cinderella’s Prince in Into the Woods at HPAF, Curly in Oklahoma in South Africa, the title role of Mozart’s Idomeneo at NYU, and the First Sailor in Dido and Aeneas at NYU. He received his undergraduate degree in Voice Performance in 2021 from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. He has been a finalist in the Eastern Region as well as Texoma Region NATS chapters. Other performance credits include Joe Crowell in Our Town by Ned Rorem, Ezekiel Cheever in The Crucible by Robert Ward, and Lieutenant Cable in South Pacific In addition to his Bachelor of Music, he holds a second degree in Business Management.
MATTHEW FEINBERG (MERCU-
TIO) is honored to continue his studies at the Boston University Opera Institute, performing
the role of Mercutio in Roméo et Juliette by Charles Gounod. A high baritone, he has studied classical singing since 2014 with Dr. Margaret Astrup and is continuing his studies with Professor James Demler of BU. He holds a B.A. in Music from Southern Connecticut State University and studied opera in Salzburg, Austria, through the Patti and Allan Herbert Frost School of Music program. Matthew has performed roles including Cal in The Eleanors (Boston University), Dr. Falke in Die Fledermaus (Western Connecticut State University), Fairfax in The Yeoman of the Guard (CT G+S Society) and appeared in productions with Opera Theater of Connecticut (L’Italiana in Algeri, Don Giovanni, Die Fledermaus), The Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra (Les Troyens) and Salt Marsh Opera (Falstaff), as well as in numerous opera scenes with WCSU Opera Ensemble. He previously taught voice and saxophone at School of Rock North Haven, where he also directed seasonal rock shows. Recently, he placed third in the Advanced TBB category at the NATS National Student Auditions. He extends heartfelt thanks to Dr. Astrup and Professor Demler for their guidance, and to his family, friends, and colleagues for their constant support. Special thanks to the Opera Institute and the cast and crew of Roméo et Juliette for making this production such a joy to be part of.
CHENXI FU (FRÈRE LAURENT)
is a third-year Doctor of Musical Arts student in Vocal Performance at Boston University, where he studies under Professor James Demler. A bass-baritone with a commanding presence, he is actively building a diverse operatic repertoire. His 2025 engagements included performing Simone in Gianni Schicchi and the Captain in Florencia en el Amazonas with Boston University, as well as the roles of Moralès and Zuniga in Carmen with Opera del West. Earlier roles featured Makoto in An American Dream and Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Performance from Xiamen University and a Master of Music in
MEET THE PERFORMERS
Vocal Performance from the New England Conservatory.
MINSUN IM (TYBALT) is an engaging performer and educator, and he is studying in BU with Mr. David Guzmán. He has played many roles not only in the opera but also in the musical theater. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in contemporary music and Master’s degrees in classical and musical theater with the respectable master ChunHee Han who made him a music person.
Mezzo-soprano
JULIETTE LEE
KAOUDJI (STEPHANO) most recently portrayed Paula in Daniel Catan’s Florencia en el Amazonas and Ginesa in the newly rediscovered Cuban opera El Caminante by Eduardo Sanchez de Fuentes. Both operas were with the BU Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Maestro William Lumpkin. Last spring she appeared as Zita in the Opera Institute’s performance of Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi An alumna of the Boston Arts Academy, Ms. Kaoudji attended New England Conservatory from 2016-2023, receiving her Bachelors, Masters, and Graduate Diploma degrees in Music Vocal Performance under the tutelage of Ms. Carole Haber. In addition to performing, Ms. Kaoudji is deeply committed to inclusivity. She curated and added over 200 BIPOC scores during her time in the collection development department of the NEC Blumenthal Family Library. She was awarded the Entrepreneurial Musicianship Grant and provided 21 undergraduate singers the experience of sharing two productions of four American opera scenes at NEC and at the Soldiers Home in Chelsea for over 60 veterans. Ms. Kaoudji has twice received the Handel and Haydn Society Achievement Award and won the 2020 Tourjée Alumni Award at NEC.
GONZALO LAMEGO (PÂRIS)
is a Brazilian baritone in the first year of the Master of Music in Vocal Performance at
Boston University, where he studies with Dr. Thomas Cannon. Recent performances include appearances as a soloist in Nelson Mass by Haydn in the Choral Landscapes Concert with the Boston University Chamber Orchestra and BU Opera Scenes with the Boston University Opera Institute. His previous operatic credits include Mercedes in Carmen, Orfeo in Orfeo ed Euridice, and Turandot and Le Nozze di Figaro as a Chorus member, in addition to numerous recital and concert appearances throughout Brazil. Alongside his operatic work, Gonzalo is an active crossover performer whose artistry connects classical vocal technique with jazz, Brazilian music, and theatrical performance. He has appeared as a resident artist in the piano-vocal show Duelo de Pianos, presenting repertoire that ranges from jazz standards to popular song while maintaining a lyric vocal approach rooted in classical training.He is also the creator of the drag queen performance persona Saturna, an extension of his musical and visual expression that explores voice, identity, and storytelling across genres and performance spaces. Through both opera and contemporary performance, Gonzalo seeks expressive artistry, stylistic versatility, and meaningful connection with diverse audiences.
Soprano, AVUYA NGCAWENI (JULIETTE) earned her Bachelor of Music in Opera from the University of KwaZulu Natal, where she sang the role of Aunt Eller in the musical Oklahoma, a collaboration between UKZN and SMU. Avuya revived the role in 2023 with SMU and Nelson Mandela University peers at the Savoy Theatre in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. In 2017 Avuya was awarded a position in the KZN Young performers concert, held at the Playhouse in Durban. She later sang the role of Fiordiligi in Cosi Fan Tutte at the UKZN’s Jubilee Hall. In February 2021, she sang the role of Ann Putnam in the SMU Lyric Opera production of The Crucible. Miss Ngcaweni joined The Dallas Opera Educational Outreach program in August 2021 and earned the MM in Voice Performance from SMU in
MEET THE PERFORMERS
May 2022. Studying with Professor Hill Moore at SMU, Avuya earned the Performer’s Diploma in 2023. In October 2023 miss Ngcaweni went on a tour with a show called BROKEN CHORD by Thuthuka Sibisi which consisted of four leads and a dancer, the show was featured at The New York Times and it toured to New York, San Francisco and Connecticut. She sang the title role in Suor Angelica with the SMU Lyric Opera and the Boston University Opera Institute, Miss Ngcaweni was accepted in the Opera institute in 2024 where she got to work in so many exciting roles such as Eliza in Dark sisters and Florencia in Florencia en el Amazonas. She has also done the role of Muhktar in Thumbprint and recently worked on a new opera called Adia and Clora at the Huntington, Boston.
ABIGAIL ORR (JULIETTE)
is a soprano from Montgomery, Texas. Her most recent performances include singing Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi, Rosalba in Florencia en el Amazonas and Diana in Jonathan Dove’s Siren Song at Boston University. Abigail has also recently sung Fiordiligi in Utah Vocal Arts Academy’s production of Così fan tutte and was a recent alumna of Songfest as a Colburn Fellow recipient. Abigail is a graduate of Oberlin Conservatory of Music and received her Certificate in Opera Performance from Texas Tech University. During her time at TTU, Abigail performed as a Young Artist at Amarillo Opera where she covered the role of Gilda in Rigoletto and performed in outreach performances of Davies’ The Three Little Pigs under the guidance of Dr. Rebecca Hays and Mary Jane Johnson. Abigail will receive her Masters of Music in Vocal Performance at Boston University this spring while assistant teaching the undergraduate Opera Acting Project. In the fall she will be attending Boston University’s Opera Institute under the tutelage of Dr. Lynn Eustis.
MAKENNA PALACIO (GERTRUDE) is a mezzo-soprano appearing as Gertrude in Roméo et Juliette. She holds a
Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance from Southwestern University and currently studies with Dr. Thomas Cannon at Boston University. She has trained with Houston Grand Opera at the Young Artists Vocal Academy (YAVA) and is excited to join the cast for this performance.
JANAE PETERSON (GERTRUDE), mezzo soprano from De Pere, WI, is a second-year Master of Voice student under the tutelage Dr. Thomas Cannon. They received their Bachelor of Music Education from Northern Michigan University in 2021. They performed the role of Vilia in Little Red WalkingHood at NMU. Previous roles at Boston University include Ramona in The Eleanors, Donacella Ensemble in El Caminante, Ensemble in Florencia en el Amazonas, and Seconda Conversa in Sour Angelica.
SHUANGXIANG SHAN (ROMÉO), a tenor based in Boston, is currently pursuing a Master of Musical Arts in Voice Performance at Boston University under the guidance of Dr. David Guzmán. He previously earned his Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from the Nanjing University of the Arts. Shan has performed several leading tenor roles—including Shakur, Rinuccio, and Traveler—in productions such as Thumbprint, and Gianni Schicchi, presented by the Boston University Opera Institute.
ETHAN WAGNER (CAPULET) is a baritone from Geneva, NY. He is a second year Master’s student in the Voice Performance program at Boston University College of Fine Arts studying under Professor James Demler. He attended the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam where he received a Bachelor’s of Music in Voice Performance and Music Education. Wagner’s notable roles include the title role in Don Giovanni at the Voci Nel Montefeltro Opera Festival in 2023, as well as King Hildebrand (The Enchanted Pig by Jonathan Dove) with the Crane Opera Ensemble in 2023. At BU, he has
MEET THE PERFORMERS
performed as the title role of Orpheus (Orpheus and Euridice by Matthew Aucoin) in the opera scenes program, ensemble of Florencia en el Amazonas, FATHER/JUDGE/REPORTER/ MASTOI in Sankaram’s Thumbprint, and Betto in Gianni Schicchi
Baritone LIBANG WANG (MERCU-
TIO) is pursuing a DMA at Boston University under the tutelage of James Demler. In 2023, he earned an MM in Vocal Performance from the New England Conservatory, where he studied with Michael Meraw. He previously obtained a Bachelor’s degree from Xiamen University. Libang has performed as Papageno in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte for NEC’s Opera. Featured in other Mozart operas, he has also sung Guglielmo in Così fan tutte, Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro, and Don Giovanni in Don Giovanni. In 2023, he appeared as the baritone soloist in Gabriela Lena Frank’s Conquest Requiem with the NEC Philharmonia and Chorus at Boston Symphony Hall for its East Coast premiere. He also appeared as the baritone soloist in Ralph Vaughan Williams’s Dona Nobis Pacem with the BU Symphony Orchestra and Symphonic Chorus in 2024.
LINDSEY WEISSMAN (STEPH-
ANO) is a mezzo-soprano from Latham, NY. She began her artistic journey as a dancer, touring with Albany Berkshire Ballet and choreographing, before finding her voice in opera. Most recently, she joined the BU Orchestra as a soloist for De Falla’s El amor brujo, Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass, and the BSO’s Next Generation concert. She was also honored to be named a winner of the 2025 Soloists Competition at BU and, as a result, will perform Elgar’s Sea Pictures, Op. 37 with orchestra in 2026. In the summer of 2025, she was a Studio Artist with Chautauqua Opera Company, where she premiered the roles of Ida in Ida by Lamplight and Vendetta in Sitcom, toured with Chautauqua Opera-in-the-Schools as the Kid Who Cried Wolf in Who’s Afraid of the Big, BadWolf?
and sang Tendril in the orchestral workshop of Missy Mazzoli’s Lincoln in the Bardo, recorded for the Metropolitan Opera ahead of its premiere there in the fall of 2026. She is thrilled to return to Chautauqua this coming summer for her second consecutive season. Lindsey holds an M.M. in Voice Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Houston and a B.M. in Voice and Theater, minor in Jazz Studies from Ithaca College. She is in her first year at OI, studying with Dr. Lynn Eustis.
JONGHO WOO (CAPULET) is
a student in his first year of the BU Opera Institute, where he studies under the guidance of Professor James Demler. He has appeared in a variety of operatic productions, gaining experience in both academic and professional festival settings. In the 2025 he performed the role of the Father in Thumbprint with BU Opera. He also played as Figaro in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro at the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival, where he further developed his stage presence and interpretive skills. In the current season, he will perform Capulet in BU Opera’s production of Roméo et Juliette, as well as Minskman in Flight
WENLONG ZHANG (GRÉGORIO)
, baritone, earned a 5-year Vocal & Opera Bachelor from China Conservatory (20192024). He performed in Jiang Jie, Blood-Red Xiangjiang, Yuan Ye, Così fan tutte, The Marriage of Figaro and La Traviata. Proficient in piano, solfège, with intermediate Italian.
Z L I E
UP NEXT FOR BU SCH
FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 3, 2026
“Jewels
FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 4, 2026
APRIL 9 - 12, 2026 Studio ONE
APRIL 17 - 26 2026 Joan & Edgar Booth Theatre
BOSTON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS
Established in 1954, Boston University College of Fine Arts (CFA) is a community of artist-scholars and scholar-artists who are passionate about the fine and performing arts, committed to diversity and inclusion, and determined to improve the lives of others through art. With programs in music, theatre, and visual arts, CFA prepares students for a meaningful creative life by developing their intellectual capacity to create art, shift perspective, and think broadly. CFA offers a wide array of precollege, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs, as well as a range of online degrees and certificates. Learn more at bu.edu/cfa
BOSTON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS SCHOOL OF THEATRE
The School of Theatre at the College of Fine Arts at Boston University is a leading conservatory for the study of acting, stage management, design, production, and all aspects of the theatre profession. These programs of study are enriched by the School’s access to the greater liberal arts programs at Boston University. The School of Theatre seeks to provide students with opportunities for artistic growth through a rigorous curriculum, professional connections, and an emphasis on collaboration and new work. bu.edu/cfa/theatre
BOSTON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS SCHOOL OF MUSIC: OPERA INSTITUTE
The Opera Institute at CFA School of Music is an intensive, highly selective two-year performance-based training program for emerging operatic artists. A professional faculty and renowned guest artists provide personal support and training in all areas pertinent to a career in opera, including voice, acting, languages, and movement styles. Additionally, the Opera Institute selects undergraduate and graduate singers from the School of Music who demonstrate true operatic potential and have mastered an intermediate integration of acting, vocal, and movement skills for the Opera Theater, Opera Workshop, and Opera Project programs. Find more at bu.edu/cfa/opera/season
BOSTON UNIVERSITY JOAN & EDGAR BOOTH THEATRE
This bold, state-of-the-art structure encourages innovation, conversation, and collaboration. The flexible design of Booth Theatre allows for the inventive evolution of performances and a deep engagement with audiences. Research is at the core of Boston University, and BU College of Fine Arts practices it every day in the form of creative experimentation. Booth Theatre and the adjacent CFA Production Center are laboratories for such research, and in every detail, they are purpose-built for discovery. Recent productions include Sunday in the Park with George, Orlando, Cendrillon, Once, Little Women, Angels in America, Shakespeare in Love, Let the Right One In, The Rake’s Progress, Mansfield Park, Dolores Claiborne, and The Exonerated. bu.edu/booth
DIGITAL PROGRAM BOOK
Find this program and other archived Boston University Opera Institute and School of Theatre production programs in our digital reader library by scanning this QR code or by visiting Boston University College of Fine Arts on issuu.com. Flight
Jonathan Dove • composer
April De Angelis • librettist
William Lumpkin • conductor
Cara Consilvio • stage director
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