CAST
Sadiyah Babatunde
Woman 1
Sadiyah is a senior undergraduate pursuing a dual degree in music and marketing. Her opera experience began with The Ohio State University Opera & Lyric Theatre as a chorus member for Candide. Since then, she joined the Columbus Symphony Chorus and was a featured soloist in "The American Festival," singing the choral solos in George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. Early this month, she performed in CSC’s La Bohème. In summer 2019, Sadiyah spent her time as a counselor in Michigan at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. There, she claimed first place in the Staff Solo Competition and soloed with their esteemed Festival Band. She has gone on to place first in two Great Composers Competitions, The Ohio State University Wilson Competition, and the Ohio State School of Music Concerto Competition. Sadiyah would like to give a special thank you to Dr. Blosser who has supported her vocal development. And a huge thank you to everyone who said, “keep going”!
Luke Bornhorst
Man/Golf Man
Luke Bornhorst is a baritone vocalist from Dublin, Ohio. He is studying with Dr. Lara Semetko-Brooks at The Ohio State University for a Bachelor of Arts in Music, while also pursuing a double major in Public Affairs. Luke is an international affairs scholar while also participating in the Ohio State Chorale and Undergraduate Student Government. He is making his on-stage debut as “Golf Man” in Sweets By Kate and is excited to continue performing at Ohio State.
Isabella Gabriel
Denise/Assistant Director
Isabella Gabriel is overjoyed to be playing the role of Denise, and assistant directing for Sweets by Kate! Bella is a sophomore vocal performance major at The Ohio State University. She is an avid performer of both musical theater and classical works in the Columbus area and in her hometown of Pittsburgh, PA. In autumn semester 2021, she performed the role of Sella in the premiere of Sella the Musical under the direction of Jake Jordan and Malik Khalfani. Some of her other favorite roles include Holly in The Wedding Singer and Minnie Fay in Hello, Dolly! Bella is also a member of Women’s Glee Club at Ohio State. She would like to thank the entire production team and her cast mates for their dedication to the show, and her family, friends and mentors for their continuous support.
Sarah Julien
Doofey MacLaran
Sarah Julien, a Columbus native, will graduate in May 2022 from The Ohio State University School of Music with a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance. During her time at Ohio State, Sarah has had the privilege of studying privately with Dr. Katherine Rohrer, area head of voice. She is also a member of the Ohio State Chorale under the direction of Dr. Robert Bode. As both a teacher and an active performer, Sarah has enjoyed several operatic roles during her time at Ohio State, including Cherubino (cover) in Le Nozze di Figaro, Armalinde in Pauline Viardot’s Cendrillon, and Doofey MacLaran in the modern opera Sweets by Kate. Sarah currently teaches voice and beginning piano to all ages at RED School of Music, and serves as a section leader and soloist at Bexley United Methodist Church.
Dana Carlson-Kottke
Kate Mayfield
Dana Carlson-Kottke, soprano, has sung with Fresco Opera, Red River Lyric Opera, Druid City Opera Workshop, the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra, the University of South Dakota, the Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra, and the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point in roles such as Dew Fairy and Sandman (Hansel and Gretel), First Lady (Queen of the Night, world premiere), Beauty (Beauty and The Beast, Vittorio Giannini), Adele (Die Fledermaus), Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro), Adina (L’Elisir d’Amore), and Ms. Pinkerton (The Old Maid and the Thief). Other operatic experience includes opera scene work as Blanche (A Streetcar Named Desire), both the First and Second Ladies (Die Zauberflöte), and Beth (Little Women).
Most recently, Mrs. Carlson has sung with the Beloit-Janesville Symphony Orchestra as the soprano soloist for the Fauré Requiem and with Fresco Opera in community outreach and engagement tours/events around Madison, Wisconsin.
Natalie Mahalla
Ensemble/Assistant Stage Manager
Natalie Mahalla is incredibly excited to be both performing in and stage managing The Ohio State University’s opera, Sweets By Kate. Some of her past roles at her high school and community theater include Johanna in Sweeney Todd, the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz, Miranda in The Tempest, and Olaf in Frozen: The Musical. Natalie is currently a first year vocal performance major at Ohio State, where she studies with Lara Semetko-Brooks. Natalie would like to thank her family and friends for their support, and her fellow cast and crew mates, as well as directors, for their hard work and dedication to making this show the very best it can be. She hopes you will enjoy Sweets By Kate!
Ruth Peart
Elizabeth Brigmann
Ruth Peart, soprano, is known for her crossover work in both the classical and musical theatre arenas. Ruth has studied voice in both the classical and music theater settings; she is an active performer with the Madison County Arts Council and is an active choir member in the Ohio State School of Music’s Chorale. Peart has performed with the Columbus Children’s Choir’s New World Singers touring Spain, Austria and Hungary; has performed at the White House and Carnegie Hall. Peart has had many successes including winning first place for the Best Mozart Performance in the Great Composer’s Competition, the Audience Favorite Award at the Central Ohio Singing Competition and is the recipient of the Margaret Speaks Vocal Scholarship from The Ohio State University School of Music. Peart is a fourth-year vocal performance major at Ohio State and studies with Dr. C. Andrew Blosser. She has had many successes at Ohio State, including being cast as Elizabeth Brigmann in the opera Sweets by Kate (Griffin Candey) with the Ohio State Opera Theatre department.
Karenna Peterson
Wife
Karenna Peterson is a young, dynamic soprano currently in her third year of study at The Ohio State University where she is pursuing her Bachelor of Music in vocal performance. Karenna is a native of Lawrence, Kansas where she fell in love with classical performance, having been an avid choral and musical performer since childhood. She has been involved in many performance opportunities extending beyond singing and acting, including dance and instrumental performance. She was the winner of her community concerto competition where she performed the soprano role in “Duo des Fleurs” from Lakmé. Her operatic debut occurred this past year when she was a member of Opera Columbus’ production of Puccini’s Tosca.
Anabella Petronsi
Mrs. Webster
Anabella Petronsi is currently pursuing a PhD in music education at Ohio State where she serves as a graduate teaching associate. She graduated from the National University of Arts in Argentina with a Bachelor of Music in voice performance and from The Ohio State University with a Master’s degree in music education. Back in Argentina, she performed L’ Enfant (Ravel), Susanna (Mozart), Dame 2 (Mozart), Serpetta (Mozart), Papagena (Mozart), Despina (Mozart), Poesie (Charpentier), Mirror 1 (Albinarrate), Mariquita Sanchez (Scher), Heraldo (Lambertini) and Berenice (Rossini). She worked as Prosecretary of Production and Academic Extension for the College of Musical Arts at the National University of Arts in Argentina. She serves as assistant music director at North Broadway United Methodist Church, and sings with the Columbus Symphonic Choir, Chorale and Jazz Latin Combo at Ohio State. She also sang with Enhorabuena Company Ensemble and Opera of Columbus.
Gabriela Sanchez
Woman 3
Gabriela Sanchez is a passionate mezzo-soprano from Rockville, Maryland known for her rich and velvety vocals on the stage. Much of her stage experience has been in musical theater, with roles such as Maria in West Side Story and the Lady of the Lake in Spamalot. She has performed on stages at the Olney Historic Theater, F. Scott Fitzgerald Theater, and the Strathmore Music Center where she helped premiere the stage version of Iron and Coal by Jeremy Schonfeld. Gabriela is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in general music education from Ohio State, and studies with Dr. Katherine Rohrer.
Samantha Sayar
Soufflé Lady
Samantha Sayar is a freshman at Ohio State, pursuing a degree in music education and specializing in choral music. She is very excited to perform alongside this wonderful cast as the Soufflé Lady. Originally from Atlanta, GA, Samantha was an active thespian in high school, performing as Fiona MacLaren in Brigadoon and Mina Harker in Dracula. She is also a member of the Ohio State Chorale and the University Honors Program. Samantha would like to thank her family for their unconditional love and support and her directors for providing her with this opportunity. She hopes you enjoy the Ohio premiere of Sweets By Kate!
Alexandria Schmidt
Carla Silverton
Alexandria Schmidt, soprano, is a third-year doctoral student studying voice performance with a singing health specialization at The Ohio State University. Alex is an active performer and teacher, currently serving as a graduate teaching associate in the voice area. Recently, Alex performed with the Ohio State Symphony Orchestra as the winner of their DMA concerto competition. Her past credits with the Opera Theatre at Ohio State include Maguelonne in Pauline Viardot’s Cendrillon and Florinda in Into the Woods. After graduating this spring, Alex hopes to pursue a collegiate voice faculty position and continue doing what she loves — performing! She is so grateful for this opportunity to share this work, and hopes you enjoy the show.
Leigha Schumaker
Woman 2
Leigha Schumaker, a native of Toledo, Ohio, is a second-year student studying Vocal Performance and Operations Management. Leigha currently studies with Dr. Kathrine Rohrer. At the Ohio State School of Music, Leigha has been a member of the Women’s Glee Club and is currently a member of the Ohio State Chorale. Outside of school, Leigha serves as the soprano section leader for University Baptist Church. Leigha is very excited to be singing her first opera role as Woman 2 in Sweets by Kate.
David Scott
Joe Brigmann
David Scott is a fourth-year choral music education student and is thrilled to be finishing his Ohio State performance career as Joe in Sweets by Kate. He has previously performed as the Steward in Into the Woods, and Barigoule in Pauline Viardot's Cendrillon. David would like to thank his friends, family, and the Ohio State School of Music community for all of the wonderful opportunities over the past few years.
PRODUCTION TEAM
Ed Bak
Music Director/Vocal Coach
Pianist Edward Bak serves as an associated faculty member in the voice area at The Ohio State University School of Music. He was appointed to the full-time position in autumn 2014, following ten years' service as a vocal coach and collaborative pianist in the school. He is highly sought after as a collaborator, and appears regularly in concert with established artists and emerging talents; he has been heard in such venues as the Teatro Colón, The Monnaie, The Festival Lanaudiere, The Philips Collection, and Kolarac Hall. He is active as a chamber musician and as such has shared the stage with members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Cleveland Orchestra, and the Chicago Symphony. He has also worked with great artist teachers like Renata Scotto, Ellen Faull, Shirlee Emmons, Renee Fleming and John Shirley Quirk.
As an advocate of modern music, Bak has performed the works of many living composers, and has given world premieres of several works. He is a regular faculty member at Prelude to Performance in New York City, and at the AIMS institute in Graz, Austria.
Lara Semetko-Brooks
Director
Dr. Lara Semetko-Brooks is associated faculty in voice at The Ohio State University, where she teaches Classical, Musical Theatre, and CCM voice and where she also serves as the director of the Opera Theater at Ohio State. Dr. Brooks is an accomplished stage and musical director, having worked with The Michigan Opera Theatre, The Gilbert Sullivan Society of Kansas, Washburn Opera Theatre, Washburn Theatre, Vaud-Villities, and Lyric Theatre @ Illinois. She has musically directed Pirates of Penzance, The Mikado, Patience, H.M.S. Pinafore, Frog & Toad, War Paint, and Hansel & Gretel and stage directed Pirates of Penzance, Hansel & Gretel, Cosi Fan Tutte, Sweets by Kate, and various cabarets and opera scene programs.
As a contemporary voice specialist, Dr. Brooks is an advocate for new music, specifically new American music. She is excited to bring Sweets by Kate to Ohio audiences.
Griffin Candey
Composer
Griffin Candey is an American composer whose music has been praised for its “lyricism and emotional depth.” Recent premieres include songs for soprano Tamara Wilson (Thundercloud Over Half Dome), a TTBB work (Protocol) for Cantus Vocal Ensemble, and a chamber cello concerto (Facsimile) co-premiering in Detroit, Chicago and Sacramento. Upcoming premieres include a work for saxophonist Timothy McAllister (Kid Gloves), a viola concerto for the Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra, and a second-string quartet (City Body) for the Tuuli Quartet.
Candey currently serves as composer-in-residence with Cleveland Opera Theatre, which will premiere his The House of Bernarda Alba (libretto by Caridad Svich) in spring 2022. His operas have been performed with theaters across the country, including Boston University's Fringe Fest, Fort Worth Opera's Frontiers Festival, and at New York City’s historic Stonewall Inn. Candey is currently earning his DMA at the University of Michigan, studying with Dr. Kristin Kuster.
Devin Copfer
Chamber Brews/Violin
Devin Copfer is a performer, recording musician, registered Suzuki teacher and arts entrepreneur based in Columbus, Ohio. Devin is the co-founder and director of Chamber Brews, a chamber music ensemble committed to breaking down the barriers within classical music. She currently sits on the Advisory board of the Johnstone Fund for New Music, serves as concertmaster of the McConnell Arts Center Chamber Orchestra, assistant concertmaster of the Newark Granville Symphony Orchestra, and violinist for Columbus' Janus String Quartet.
Some of her performances include work with the BalletMet, Dr. Mark Lomax, Counterfeit Madison, the Central Ohio Discovery Ensemble, Michael Bublé, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, the Ohio Song Project, Columbus Dance Theater, the Columbus Museum of Art, Ohio Wesleyan University, The Ohio State University, Capital University and the Wexner Center for the Arts.
Braden Graves
Lighting Designer
Braden Graves is a second year MFA student in scenic design. He began designing scenery and lighting for professional and children’s theatre productions in Portland, Oregon, and has a love for musicals. He received a bachelor's degree in theatre from George Fox University and won several awards from the Kennedy Center for his student scenic designs. Braden is thrilled to be working with the School of Music, and looks forward to collaborating more in the future. Some of Braden’s passions are hiking, education, interior design and being a dad.
Sam Johnson
Chamber Brews/Cello
Sam Johnson is a teacher, performer and composer living in Columbus, Ohio. Sam earned the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from The Ohio State University School of Music (2020), the Master of Music from Ohio State (2015), and the Bachelor of Music from The University of Texas–Austin (2013). While studying at Ohio State, Sam co-founded CellOhio, Ohio State’s cello ensemble which serves central Ohio with unusual music in dynamic spaces. Sam is a founding member of Sweet Teeth, an experimental pop-punk duo whose music bends genre through an extreme approach to timbre and vocals. Sweet Teeth is currently preparing to release their fourth full-length album. Sam is a program designer and performer with Chamber Brews, a women-owned chamber music collective which centers the stories and music of women artists.
Kristine Kearney
Costume Coordinator
Kristine Kearney is the resident costume designer for the Department of Theatre, Film and Media Arts at Ohio State; and is a member of USAA Local #829, New York City. Kristine has designed costumes for the stage with the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Cincinnati Playhouse-in-the-Park, The Cleveland Playhouse, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Willamette University Theatre, and Denison University. She has also worked on several films as set costumer and tailor/seamstress. Some of her film credits include The Shawshank Redemption, Driving Miss Daisy and Fried Green Tomatoes. Kristine has won the Meritorious Achievement Award in Costume Design from the American College Theatre Festival, as well as several USITT/Ohio Valley Section Peggy Ezekiel awards for Excellence in Design. She teaches courses in costume design, costume construction and costume history.
Malik Khalfani
Conductor/Coach
Toledo native Malik Khalfani is an award-winning music director currently active throughout the Midwest. His work has been seen at Indiana University, The Ohio State University, Kent State University, Playhouse Square, Cornwell’s Dinner Theatre, Akron Civic Theatre, and others. He has been honored with awards at the Ohio Community Theatre Association’s OCTAFest, where he was recognized for Excellence in Vocal Direction and designated Outstanding in Vocal Ensemble for his work on Hairspray. Along with music direction, Malik has composed and orchestrated music for many occasions, such as the internet TV series My Jump, the musical Babes in Toyland, and productions Bach in Black and A Christmas to Remember.
Malik is very grateful to Lara, Ed, Bram, Griffin and Chamber Brews for their bright and welcoming collaboration, and to the entire cast and crew of Sweets by Kate for their dedication to telling such a challenging and intricate story. All my love!
Thom Miller
Librettist
Thom Miller is an actor, dialect/text coach and teacher living in Syracuse, NY where he is a professor of voice and verse in the Department of Drama at Syracuse University. Sweets By Kate is his first creative venture into the world of opera. He is thrilled to have collaborated on this project with his talented and daring writing partner, Griffin Candey. Thom received a BFA in acting from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and an MFA in acting from the University of Illinois, where he also received the award for Departmental Distinction. A proud member of AEA and SAG/AFTRA, he has acted off-Broadway and regionally in theaters all across the country, as well as in independent films and regional commercials. In addition to receiving regional theater awards for his performance work, he has received critical acclaim in many publications across the country including the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal and the Chicago Tribune. As a dialect/text coach, Miller has worked on Off-Broadway, regional productions and film sets with internationally acclaimed performers.
Elizabeth Mandić-Nowac
Chamber Brews/Violin
Elizabeth Mandić-Nowac, violinist, began her musical studies at age four. She is a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music (MM) and also holds undergraduate degrees (BM, BME) from The Ohio State University. Mandić-Nowac currently resides in the Columbus, Ohio area where she teaches privately and performs in numerous local ensembles. She has performed across Asia, Europe, North America and South America, collaborating in concert with internationally renowned artists such as Yo-Yo Ma, Glen Dicterow, Pinchas Zukerman, Alisa Weilerstein, James Galway, Olga Kern, Jeff Beal, Frank Huang, Robert McDuffie, Billy Childs, Michael Tree, Susan Graham, Denyce Graves and Alec Baldwin, among others. Notable teachers include Peter Winograd, Joey Corpus, Kia-Hui Tan, Robert Gillespie, Leonid Polonsky, Lee Joiner, Gregory Fulkerson, and Roger Stieg. An ardent environmental conservationist, Mandić-Nowac has worked seasonally for the National Park Service in Grand Canyon and Yellowstone National Parks.
Brooke Stiles
Stage Manager
Brook Stiles is excited to be working with The Ohio State University for the first time on Sweets by Kate! A graduate of Denison University, she has traveled the world with various theatre companies and archival projects. Recent stage management credits include The African Company Presents Richard III at Actors’ Theatre of Columbus, A Christmas Story: the Musical with Columbus Children’s Theatre, and Information for Foreigners at Denison University. @brookexxrose
Emily Way
Chamber Brews/Viola
Emily Way is a string educator and performer based in Columbus, Ohio. Raised by music educator parents, Emily is a native of Buffalo, NY, where her passion for teaching and performing began. Until her early adult years, Emily resisted following in her parents’ footsteps, pursuing a degree in viola performance from the University of Cincinnati College–Conservatory of Music. Shortly after graduating, Emily moved to Columbus and attended Ohio State, earning a post-baccalaureate licensure in music education. Emily resides in Upper Arlington with her husband Ethan, and teaches orchestra at Hilliard Station Sixth Grade School.
Bram Wayman
Chorus Master/Coach
Bram Wayman is a conductor in his second year of doctoral study at The Ohio State University. He enthusiastically pursues unorthodox approaches to the podium, from anti-privilege performance practice to the coaching of oratory in music. Bram is the founding director of the Musical Rhetoric Workshop, a practicum on musical expression techniques, and of the Collegium Musicum of the University of Texas at Austin. Before coming to Ohio, Bram taught for three years at The Watkinson School in Hartford, Connecticut. He served a year-long appointment, too, as conducting apprentice to Kent Tritle, and a summer as apprentice conductor with the Finger Lakes Opera Company. Bram holds master’s degrees from UT–Austin and the University of Missouri–Kansas City, and his undergraduate degree (intensive, with honors) from Yale. He is a proud member of the Appalachian, Adirondack, and Green Mountain Clubs.
Acknowledgements
"Thank you" from the cast and crew
Props and costumes provided by the Department of Theatre, Film & Media
Sets provided by Columbus Children's Theatre