Alumni Success

Brett Colby, ’02, continues his operatic career, performing over twenty different opera and operetta roles, singing each season with American and German opera companies.  He has played comic tenor roles to much critical success, and has also performed leading roles in musical theater productions.

Gail Bennett, ’01, completed her degree at Brigham Young University then began her professional career performing multiple roles in The Producers in Las Vegas.  She appeared on the national tour of Mary Poppins as understudy to the title role, which she performed extensively.  Gail has worked continuously in regional theaters across the country, and also does film and voiceover work.

Emily Geller, '11, was a Tyler Young Artist at Opera on the James for the spring 2012 season, where she covered the role of Giannetta in their mainstage production of L'elisir d'amore, and performed roles in two of their community productions. For the 2012/2013 season she will be a Resident Artist at Tri-Cities Opera and will begin work on her MM in Opera at Binghamton University.

Hunter Brown, ’10, entered the highly competitive National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts “Young Arts” competition upon return from the summer, and his musical theater performance earned him a spot as a national finalist to be considered for recognition as a U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts.  In his freshman year at Elon College, he was cast in the leading role of Georg in She Loves Me.

Janice Van Dyk, ’07, won Gold and Silver Medals at the World Tap Championships held in Riesa, Germany, in 2007.  After two years at Boston Conservatory, she is now a theater major at Rollins College, where she has choreographed student performances.

Austin Eyer, ’00 & ’02, completed his musical theatre degree at NYU.  On Broadway he has been seen in Curtains, as the Prince in The Little Mermaid and toured in the national cast of Billy Elliot.  Austin also serves on the faculty of the CAP 21 musical theater conservatory in New York.

Lauren Rader, '11, won first place in her division at the South Texas NATS competition, as well as the Alice Dutcher Thornton Award for the singer with the most career potential in the entire competition.  She has been admitted to several graduate schools and will pursue her Masters degree at one of them!

Jennifer Finch, ’07, performed the leading role of June in the musical Gypsy at Rollins College before graduating.  She is currently performing in the Washington, D.C. area.

Sasha Piastro, '03, earned her MM from Penn State and has performed with many regional opera and musical theater companies, including Emerald City Opera, Pittsburgh Music Theater, Center Stage Opera and Pittsburgh Opera.  She is now working on her DMA in voice performance at Shenandoah Conservatory and is an adjunct voice instructor at Lycoming College and at Susquehanna University.

Lauren Gibbs, ’01, danced the role of the Serpent in the World Premiere of the opera Altes Testament in Austria following the 2001 season.  Back in New York, after flying high for three seasons in Wicked on Broadway, Lauren decided to “take it easy” as a Rockette (member of the special show troupe).

Mallory Gleason, ’06, completed her degree in Music Theatre at Belmont University and is now performing at Pigeon Forge in Tennessee.

Westley Holiday, ’02, graduated from the University of Central Florida and returned to Bavaria the same season to perform a leading role in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.  He subsequently saw Europe from north to south performing with Carnival Cruise Lines.  Westley has performed in regional theaters and off-Broadway, and now leads the creative New York cabaret group, Bending Threads.

Frank Holmes, ’05 & ’06, following his outstanding performance with MTB of the role of Jesus in Godspell, toured Europe performing Hair in Germany, Holland and Italy.  He subsequently joined the cast as lead in the show Lekkerr Los!!! In Valkenswaard, Holland, and is now performing in New York.

Sara Jones, ’02, ’03, ‘08, graduated from the University of Central Florida where she performed in Dancing at Lughnasa her senior year, receiving an Irene Ryan Award.  She subsequently performed a leading role in Jacques Brel at Orlando’s Mad Cow Theater and performed her One-Woman Show in New York.

Keston John, ’04, after graduating from the University of Central Florida has now moved to LA, where he has begun a promising film career with over five nationally released films to his credit, and has been cast in the television show Lie to Me.

Kristin Johnson, after three years as a Rockette (special show troupe), joined the cast of Young Frankenstein, and performed in the national tour.

Rebekah Lane, ’04, graduated from the University of Central Florida and continues as lead actress with the MicheLee Puppets, performing health education shows annually for thousands of Central Florida youth.  In addition she has appeared in several regional theater productions, most recently in Company with Orlando’s Mad Cow Theater.

Stephanie Leone, ’10, returned to  Rollins College following the summer and was cast in the leading role of Sandy in a concept production of Grease at the Annie Russell Theater.  She recently performed the role of Roxie Hart in Chicago, at Titusville Playhouse.

Isai Jess Muñoz, ’03, debuted with the New York City Opera in King Arthur and as a vocal soloist with the Alvin Ailey Dance Company.  He has sung roles with many regional opera companies, excelling at character tenor roles, and has appeared several times as a soloist at the Verbier Festival in Switzerland.  He earned his Doctor of Music degree at The State University of New York at Stony Brook, and after several years teaching voice in New York City, has now accepted a position as Assistant Professor of Voice at Indiana Wesleyan University.

Christian Robles, ’07, graduated from Rollins College and is now performing leading roles at The Holy Land Experience in Orlando and is on call at Disney World.

Brandi Russell, ’06, became the leading singer and choreographer for the show Lekkerr Los!!! In Valkenswaard, Holland.  In 2008 she won Holland’s Popstar television show and is now a celebrity in Europe!  She has had several hit singles, and will soon be releasing her first album.

Jennie Siriani, ’01, was in the cast of the World Premiere of the opera Altes Testament in Austria following the 2001 season.  She performed for several months in the New York production of Tony and Tina’s Wedding.  She recently presented her one-woman show, Liza and Me, in Orlando.

Charlie Stevens, ’07, graduated from Rollins College and performed leading roles at The Holy Land Experience in Orlando, in addition to working at Disney World.  He is now pursuing a performing career in New York.

Katherine Tokarz went from Bavaria to a full season at the Moulin Rouge in Paris.  She returned to the U.S. the following year and has appeared on Broadway in Wicked, A Chorus Line and in Rock of Ages.  She recently appeared in LA in the new musical Leap of Faith.  The production starred Raúl Esparza and Brooke Shields, and featured an original score by Alan Menken and direction by Rob Ashford.  She was recently cast in a tv reality show.

Tamia Zuleta, ’00, graduated from the University of Central Florida, then returned to Germany the following year to perform the role of Anita in West Side Story for a full summer season of 24 performances.

Amanda Leakey, '11, auditioned at Orlando Shakespeare Theatre upon returning from the summer, and was cast in the leading role in the musical Miss Nelson Is Missing, as well as in several smaller roles in their repertory productions for this season.