Toledo Opera

Stephen Quint, Major General Stanley graduated from the New England Conservatory as a French horn player and played in Broadway pit orchestras for several years before finding his way up onto the stage. He has performed all thirteen of the Gilbert and Sullivan "patter" roles, most of them often, frequently, with regional opera companies across the US. His most recent Ohio appearance was in October as Ko-Ko (The Mikado) with Sorg Opera in Middletown.
Ross David Crutchlow, The Pirate King is thrilled to be returning for his third season with NYGASP. He has also had the pleasure of performing in H.M.S. Pinafore (Boatswain), Iolanthe (Private Willis), and The Mikado with NYGASP at New York’s City Center. Other credits include Atlanta’s Theater of the Stars production of Camelot (Sir Sagramore) starring Robert Goulet, The Guthrie Theatre’s The Pirates of Penzance (Pirate King u/s), Carousel Dinner Theater’s Kiss Me, Kate (Fred Graham), and Redlands Theater Festival’s Forever Plaid (Sparky).
David Macaluso, Samuel has performed with NYGASP for the past two seasons, singing in the chorus and understudying Giuseppe in The Gondoliers, the Lord Chancellor in Iolanthe, Ko-Ko in The Mikado, Jack Point in Yeomen and Sir Joseph in Pinafore. He has also performed the roles of Bob Beckett, and Pish-Tush with NYGASP. David is currently in the Off Broadway production of Naked Boys Singing. Some roles performed are; Che in Evita, Grosvenor in Patience, Frank N' Furter in Rocky Horror, Motel in Fiddler, Finch and Frump in How to Succeed, Rooster in Annie, Seymour in Little Shop... and both Frankie and Sparky in Forever Plaid. He has also performed in the national tours of Snoopy and Big River. David is a graduate of The Manhattan School of Music.
Andrew MacPhail, Frederic “Being the second cousin of Melissa Gilbert and the great-grandson of Ed Sullivan, Mr. MacPhail’s transition to Gilbert and Sullivan was inevitable”. Other roles performed with NYGASP include Ralph in Pinafore, Tolloller in Iolanthe, Marco in The Gondoliers and Nanki-Poo in The Mikado. Other credits include roles at Goodspeed Opera House, Ford’s Theater, Cherry County Playhouse and at sea. Andrew is the proud uncle of Brianna, Eoin, Ryan and Jack.
Keith Jurosko, Sergeant of Police marks his 26th season at NYGASP with this production of Pirates. He has sung nearly 700 performances in more than 20 roles since his debut with the Company, as Samuel in Pirates, in March of 1979. As a G&S specialist, Jurosko has sung with many of the country's leading regional opera companies, including Virginia Opera, Goldcoast Opera, Mobile Opera, Chautauqua Opera, Augusta Opera, Opera Anchorage, The Boston Academy of Music, Opera Delaware, The Sorg Opera, Mississippi Opera and most recently, Chattanooga Opera (as Sir Joseph Porter in H.M.S. Pinafore).
Laurelyn Watson, Mabel NYGASP since 1996-1997 season. Yum-Yum/The Mikado, Rose Maybud/Ruddigore, Constance/Sorcerer, many concerts and tours. The versatile Texas native has also performed with the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra, Opera Northeast, Euro Operetta Productions, Sorg Opera, St. Alban’s Festival Choral Society, and others in a wide range of repertoire. Graduate, University of North Texas, Manhattan School of Music and Bel Canto Institute. Winner, National Arts Club Voice Competition; Finalist, Baltimore Opera Vocal Competition.
Erika Person, Edith debuted with NYGASP as Iolanthe in NYC and England. Other favorite roles include Meg Page (Falstaff), La Ciesca (Gianni Schicchi), the Mother (Amahl…), Cherubino (Le Nozze di Figaro), Mrs. McLean (Susannah), Mercedes (Carmen), Pitti-Sing (Mikado) and Sarah Brown (Guys & Dolls). She has enjoyed appearances with Indianapolis Opera, Spoleto Festival USA, Tri-Cities Opera, the Cider Mill Playhouse and Dicapo Opera. The Californian holds degrees from the University of Redlands and Binghamton University, and studies with Jake & Jill Gardner.
Melissa Unkel, Kate marks her third season with NYGASP. Audiences will remember her as Phoebe in Yeomen of the Guard and Pitti-Sing in Mikado. She has performed a variety of operatic roles including Dorabella in Cosi fan tutte, Stephano in Romeo et Juliette, and the title role in Carmen. Solo concert engagements include Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Requiem, and the Monteverdi Vespers. Met regional finalist-2001. Ms. Unkel resides in New York and studies with Norma Newton.
Betina Hershey, Isabel is glad to be back at City Center with NYGASP. Credits: Fleta – Iolanthe, Meg – the Nat'l Tour of Phantom of the Opera, Anybodys – West Side Story (LaScala), Jackie – (guitar-playing tomboy) Pump Boys and Dinettes, Luisa – The Fantasticks. Betina is a lyricist in the BMI Lengel Musical Theater Writing Workshop, is writing her second musical for children, and teaches musical theater in Forest Hills.
Angela Smith, Ruth is thrilled to make her Toledo Opera debut as Ruth in NYGASP's production of The Pirates of Penzance. Angela is in her 8th season with NYGASP and has most recently appeared as the Queen of the Fairies in Iolanthe and Little Buttercup in H.M.S. Pinafore at the Gilbert & Sullivan Festival in Buxton, England in August. Other credits include roles performed with South Carolina Opera, Opera Delaware and Liederkranz Opera in New York.
Albert Bergeret, NYGASP Artistic Director, Stage Director, Conductor Mr. Bergeret is a career long professional specialist in the work of Gilbert & Sullivan, having performed, staged, conducted and designed every opera in the repertoire over a 35 year period. He has directed G&S productions for university students and residency programs for elementary schools. He has been hailed as “The leading custodian of the G&S classics” by New York Magazine (Peter Davis) and his work as both stage and musical director has been widely acclaimed in the press both in New York and on tour throughout the Eastern United States, Canada, and the UK. Mr. Bergeret founded the New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players (NYGASP) in 1974 and has served as Artistic Director/General Manager since its inception. He has conducted and staged all 13 of the works in the G&S canon as well as the company’s smash hit production of George Gershwin’s Of Thee I Sing. His boundless energy and clear understanding of the genre of Gilbert & Sullivan have helped to shape NYGASP’s artistic mission and develop an extensive and loyal following both at home in New York and in the cities visited on its annual tours. He has conducted programs with the Buffalo Philharmonic, Orchestra London in Ontario Canada, Northwest Indiana Symphony and the Erie Philharmonic in a program featuring Metropolitan Opera baritone Robert Goodloe. He has also conducted and directed such diverse personalities as Steve Allen, John Astin, Pat Carroll, Noel Harrison, John Rubenstein, Louis Quilico, Lando Bartolini and John Reed, O.B.E. In addition, Mr. Bergeret is a resident stage director with New York Grand Opera specializing in the seldom performed Verdi operas Stiffelio, Aroldo, Un Giorno di Regno and Ernani.
Sally Small, Lighting Design has designed lighting for the entire Gilbert & Sullivan repertoire. She has also designed many performances for Conn. Grand Opera, Conn. Opera Assn., New Jersey State Opera, New England Lyric Operetta, Mississippi Opera, New York Lyric Opera Co., American Ballet Academy, Stratford Arts Center and many other opera, ballet and Off-Broadway companies. This is her twenty-third year with NYGASP.
Gail J. Wofford, Costume Design Masters in theater arts from Texas Tech University. Co-founder of NYGASP and is resident costume designer having designed and constructed costumes for Mikado, Pirates, Pinafore, The Yeomen of the Guard, Iolanthe, Patience, Trial by Jury, Ruddigore and others. Costume coordinator for N.J. State Opera for 12 years and head of wardrobe for the N.Y. Grand Opera. Has executed projects for WNET, Channel 13, the National Tour of Dreamgirls, the film Mission Apollo and numerous opera companies throughout the US.