Cast of Boheme Opera New Jersey's The Pirates of Penzance

*Baritone William Andrew Stuckey (The Pirate King) - Performances of leading roles with US opera companies, including Lyric Opera of Chicago, Sarasota Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Washington Opera, Dallas Opera, Opera New Jersey, Opera Delaware, Augusta Opera, Syracuse Opera and others.  Additional principal roles with Lyrique-en-mer, France.  Featured soloist in oratorio and symphonic works, including Mendelssohn's Elijah, Dvorak's Te Deum, Walton's Belshazzar's Feast, Beethoven's Coronation Mass, Britten's War Requiem, Mozart's Requiem,among others.  He is the winner of a Sara Tucker Study Grant, Shoshana Foundation Award, Young Patronesses of the Opera Competition and Palm Beach Opera Vocal Competition First Prize, to name a few.  Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance, Kansas State University; Master of Music with Honors in Vocal Performance, University of Kansas.

*Tenor David Gagnon (Frederic, a pirate apprentice) - Making his Boheme Opera New Jersey debut in this production, David will return this summer to the Bear Valley Festival in California as Nemorino in L'Elisir d'amore, where he will also perform a Broadway highlights concert. In fall of 2009, he sang Hooker in Tobias Picker's Emmeline at Dicapo Opera Theatre in New York City.  Emmeline received an encore performance in Hungary in November, which will be broadcast throughout Europe. He has performed leading roles with other companies, including Townsend Opera (CA), Skylight Opera Theatre, Lyric Opera Kansas, Opera Columbus, and Michigan Opera Theater, among others.  A busy concert performer, David has appeared as soloist with the Rochester Choral Society, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Westfield Symphony Orchestra.  Both Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and Master of Music in Vocal Performance from University of Wisconsin Madison.

*Baritone Keith Jurosko (Major-General Stanley) - A Gilbert and Sullivan veteran performer, Keith has portrayed such G & S roles as Sir Joseph Porter/Capt. Corcoran in HMS Pinafore, Pooh-Bah/ Mikado/Koko/Pish-Tush in The Mikado, Don Alhambra/Duke of Plaza Toro/Luis in The Gondoliers, Col. Fairfax/Lt. of the Tower/2nd Yeoman in Yoeman of the Guard, Sir Despard in Ruddigore, and Florian in Princess Ida, among others. He has sung leading opera roles with New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players, Virginia Opera, Chautauqua Opera, Mobile Opera, Anchorage Opera, Whitewater & Sorg Opera, Goldcoast Opera, Augusta Opera, and Chattanooga Opera, to name some.  With La Gran Scena Opera, he has been Principal Artist in Parody with Travesty Scenes from the Standard Operas, seen in productions touring throughout the United States, South America, Europe and Australia. 

*Soprano Samantha Grenell-Zaidman (Mabel) - Her representative leading roles include Adina in L'Elisir d'Amore, Nella in Gianni Schicchi, Elvira in L'italiana in Algeri, Amelia in Amelia al Ballo, Suor Lucilla in Suor Angelica, Hodel in The Fiddler on the Roof, Josephine in HMS Pinafore, among others.  She has sung in summer programs with Ohio Light Opera, OperaWorks in Los Angeles, College Light Opera Company in Cape Cod, University of miami at Salzburg, Austria and Opera Theater and Music Festival of Lucca, Italy. Last year, Samantha became a Career Bridges Schuyler Foundation Grant Winner. Bachelor of Fine Arts in Vocal Performance with English Minor from Carnegie Mellon University and Master of Music in Voice from Manhattan School of Music.

*Mezzo-Soprano Renee Claire Bergeron (Ruth) - New York appearances include Svetla in The Toymaker, Rev. Delphina/Diva DeLuxe in Diet Monologues: The Musical, Prince Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus, Vocalist in Nothin' Like a Dame, Vocalist in Alternative Torch, among others. Regional Theater and Tour appearances with Arizona Broadway Theatre, L'Opera de Montreal, Media Theatre for the Performing Arts, Nebraska Theatre Caravan, Southeastern Savoyards, Ohio Light Opera and Tulane Summer Lyric Theatre. Television/ Film credits include NYU-SCPS Undying, CBS-As The World Turns, Kralyevich Productions, Inc.-Love's Leading Ladies, and Animal Planet - Planet Safari-Cold-Blooded monsters Week. Renee has been on National Tour in the Ensemble of Whistle Down the Wind.  Bachelor of Arts in Voice from Florida State University and Master of Music from University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.

*Baritone David Macaluso (Samuel, The Pirate King's Lieutenant/Choreographer) - A busy musical theater performer, New York City credits include Ko-Ko in The Mikado, Sir Joe & Buttercup in H.M.S. Pinafore (Drama Desk Nomination for Outstanding Revival of a Musical 2007), Dr. Falke in Die Fledermaus, Giuseppe u/s in The Gondoliers, Lord Chancellor in Iolanthe, Featured Chorus in The New Moon, amont others.  David was on Big River National Tour with Windwood Theatricals and on Snoopy!!! National Tour with Mainstage Productions.  He has been a featured performer in such venues as Symphony Space, Medgagoria Serbia, Jenny Wiley Theatre, Forestburgh Playhouse, Cami Hall and City Center NYGASP. 4-Year Scholarship at Manhattan School of Music.

Bass-Baritone Grant Mech (Edward, Sergeant of Police) - Grant performed as a member of Opera New Jersey’s Studio Artist Program in summer of 2008, and in September 2008, debuted with Capital Opera Harrisburg, singing Colas in Mozart’s Bastien und Bastienne.  Recent appearances include Publio in La Clemenza di Tito with dell’Arte Opera Ensemble and L’imperial Commissario in Madame Butterfly with Boheme Opera New Jersey. He made his debut with New Rochelle Opera singing Marquis d’Obigny in La Traviata in June 2009.  During the summer of 2009, he appeared in concerts with the Franco American Vocal Academy and sang Agamemnon in Offenbach’s La Belle Helene with Opera du Perigord in France..  He recently performed a series of recitals in New Jersey with soprano Diana Petras and pianist Akiko Hosaki entitled “An Evening of American Song.  He is the Choral Director at Pond Road Middle School in Robbinsville, NJ.

*Soprano Nathalie Dalziel (Edith) - Past Gilbert and Sullivan roles include Chorus in Princess Ida, Josephine in H.M.S. Pinafore, Angelina in Trial by Jury, Phylla in Utopia Limited, Fiametta in The Gondoliers and Casilda in The Gondoliers. Nathalie has a vocal performance degree from Westminster Choir College. As a member of Westminster's Symphonic Choir, she sang with the Dresden Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic and the New Jersey Symphony. Since graduation, she has sung roles with Opera Delaware, most recently Barbarina in Le Nozze di Figaro, with the Philly Pops in their Holiday Festival Chorus and as a member of the Opera Company of Philadelphia Chorus.  Most recently with OCP, she appeared in Turandot and Madama Butterfly, sang in the Curtis Institute's production of Antony and Cleopatra, and in June will sing in Orphee & Eurydice.  She is a recitalist and cantor in the Philadelphia area.

*Mezzo-soprano Amy Maude Helfer (Kate) - Recently performed the role of Kate at New York City Center with the New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players (NYGASP).  Other NYGASP appearance include Pitti-Sing u/s in The Mikado, Mad Margaret u/s in Ruddigore, Tessa u/s in The Gondoliers, Melissa u/s in Princess Ida, H.M.S. Pinafore and Trial by Jury. She has portrayed Zita and La Ciesca in Gianni Schicchi, Kathy in Company and Tiger Lily in Peter Pan. Amy has performed as mezzo-soprano soloist with the New Haven Chorale and the Farmington Valley Chorale.  A Cheshire, Ct. native, she holds a Master of Music Degree in Voice Performance from Boston University, and Bachelor of Music Degrees in Voice Performance and music Education from Oberlin College Conservatory of Music.

*Jamibeth Margolis (Stage Director) - NYC directing credits include assistant director to Jerry Zaks on the 2006 Broadway revival of The Caine Mutiny Court Martial and also on A Bad Friend by Jules Feiffer at Lincoln Center Theatre. Jamibeth directed Plane Crazy and Far From The Madding Crowd at the New York Musical Theatre Festival, as well as developmental productions and readings of Owl Creek: A New Musical, Dreamweavers, Berlin, Great Googley Moo, Family Dinner, Dear Maudie, and Don’t Blame Me...I Voted For Helen Gahagan Douglas and more at prominent NYC venues. Recent regional directing credits include Do I Hear A Waltz? and Jekyll and Hyde at the Arvada Center in Denver. Jamibeth is a member of the Lincoln Center Directors Lab and specializes in the development of new plays and musicals. She has a BA in Drama/Directing from Ithaca College and is a member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers. She is also a professional casting director with twelve years of experience in NYC, including numerous shows on Broadway, Off Broadway and national tours. Jamibeth is pleased and honored to continue her association with John Atkins and William Wade on Broadway-bound Warsaw. She has directed readings of Warsaw at the Museum of Jewish Heritage: A Living Memorial to the Holocaust, the New York Musical Theatre Festival, the 48th Street Studios, and in February of this year, a staging in Patriots Theater at the Trenton War Memorial for Boheme Opera New Jersey.

Joseph Pucciatti (Conductor) - Co-Founder/Artistic Director of Boheme Opera New Jersey.  Endeavors since 2000: Guest conductor of Mozart's The Impresario with The Greater Trenton Symphony; conducted Boheme Opera NJ productions of West Side Story, Rigoletto, Turandot, Aida, Carlisle Floyd's Susannah, Don Giovanni, Cavalleria Rusticana, I Pagliacci, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Carmen, La Boheme, Lucia di Lammermoor, Madama Butterfly, Il Trovatore, La Traviata, Tosca, The Elixir of Love and Il Tabarro/Gianni Schicchi.  In 2007, he made his stage-directing debut with BONJ's production of Rigoletto, followed by his directing of a semi-staging of La Traviata.  During his 19-year tenure with the Greater Trenton Choral Society, he conducted performances of Mozart's Requiem and Coronation Mass, Beethoven's Mass in C, Handel's Messiah, Puccini's Massa di Gloria, Rutter's Requiem and Vivaldi's Gloria, among other works.  Recognition includes: Governor's Teacher Recognition Award; Honoree of the Italian American National Hall of Fame; Italian-American Society of Monroe Township Columbus Award with his wife and co-founder, Sandra; the couple were honored in 2005 by the Trenton Community Music School. Graduate of Trenton State College and a career music teacher for Trenton Board of Education, orchestra director at Trenton Central High School; Director of Princeton Junction's Congregation Beth Chaim Choir for the past 30 years; Choir Director of Trenton's Our Lady of the Angels Parish for the past 3 years; Host of BONJ Pre-Curtain Talks and Student Backstage Tours; Creator of scripts and music adaptations of BONJ Inside Opera Program.

 *Boheme Opera New Jersey debut