The Cast
JULIA MARIA JOHNSON as Mary Magdalene
JULIA MARIA JOHNSON as Mary Magdalene
JULIA MARIA JOHNSON as Mary Magdalene
Julia Maria Johnson is a soprano from Spokane, Washington. At the 2024 Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, she was a Washington State District Winner and a Northwest Region Encouragement Winner. In the 2023/2024 season, Ms. Johnson has been thrilled to be performing both new and standard operatic/musical works with companies including Opera Naples, Opera San Jose, Genesis Opera Theater, Pacific Opera Project, The Opera Buffs, New Opera West, The Castleton Festival, and Lyric Opera of Orange County, as well as singing on many premiere recordings for composers in Los Angeles, where she is currently based. Favorite roles include Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro), Phyllis (Iolanthe), Pamina (Die Zauberflöte), and Musetta (La Boheme). Since earning her M.M. in Voice Performance from the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music in 2021, she has also joined the Voice Faculty at California Lutheran University. Her creative compass is guided by collaboration, storytelling, improvisation, and above all, unbridled joy. She is honored and thrilled to be a part of this very special project with Modern Opera Company. (Click headshot to visit Julia's website.)
EGAN CARROLL as Peter
JULIA MARIA JOHNSON as Mary Magdalene
JULIA MARIA JOHNSON as Mary Magdalene
Egan Carroll is in his junior year of a vocal performance degree at California State University, Northridge. He is also an alumni from the Santa Monica College Applied Music Program where he received his AA in Music. He’s been singing opera since 2015 and has sung roles such as Rinuccio (Gianni Schicchi), Tamino (The Magic Flute), Eisenstein (Die Fledermaus), Parpignol (La Boheme), and most recently Prince Tirifilo in CSUN’s Prodution of Cenicienta!. He is a frequent soloist for the Song of the Angels Flute Orchestra and various other groups around the greater Los Angeles Area. He also sang chorus for Wayne Shorter/Esperanza Spalding’s Jazz Opera fusion project “Iphigenia” alongside Esperanza Spalding and others.
KRISHNA RAMAN as Jesus
KRISHNA RAMAN as Jesus
KRISHNA RAMAN as Jesus
Indian American tenor and New Jersey native Krishna Raman made his professional debut in the 2022–2023 season, portraying Don Curzio and covering Don Basilio in Opera San José’s novel production of Le nozze di Figaro by Mozart. Following that, he performed the title role in Charpentier’s Actéon at the USC Thornton School of Music. He finished his season performing as a studio artist with Teatro Nuovo and attending the American Bach Soloists Academy. Performances from the 2021–2022 season included singing the role of Tamino in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte at the International Lyric Academy in Vicenza, Italy, and premiering the role of Max in All the Truths We Cannot See: A Chernobyl Story by Uljas Pulkkis and Glenda Goss. Krishna earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Vocal Performance from Carnegie Mellon University, and recently completed his Master of Music in Vocal Arts at the University of Southern California. Currently based in Los Angeles, California, Krishna teaches voice lessons both virtually and locally to students of all ages and backgrounds. (Click headshot to visit Krishna's website.)
MANFRED ANAYA as John
KRISHNA RAMAN as Jesus
KRISHNA RAMAN as Jesus
Salvadoran-American tenor Manfred Anaya makes a name for himself performing a diverse set of repertoire: two world premieres, a baroque opera, and a half dozen performances of Bizet’s Carmen just to start. He has worked with esteemed young artist programs such as Des Moines Metro Opera, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, and Cincinnati Opera, performing comprimario roles and ensemble features. Most recently, he was the tenor soloist in Beethoven’s Ninth with the South Bay Wind Ensemble. Mr. Anaya is an alumni of CSU - Northridge and CCM at the University of Cincinnati. In the coming season, he will be debuting with Opera Santa Barbara as Don Basilio in their production of The Marriage of Figaro.
CHLOE ARMANTROUT as Young Mary
CHLOE ARMANTROUT as Young Mary
CHLOE ARMANTROUT as Young Mary
Chloe Armantrout is an 11-year-old student at Brentwood School. She is thrilled to be in her first Modern Opera Company performance and excited at the opportunity to play Young Mary. Favorite past roles include appearances with ACT-1 Children's Theatre and St. James Episcopal School in Into the Woods (Cinderella), A Broadway Musical Revue (Ariel, Little Mermaid), Honk (Dot), The Wiz (The Yellow Brick Road Leader), and Cats (Grizabella). When not singing, Chloe enjoys sewing, playing the flute, and playing with her dogs and older brother. Special thanks to her amazing voice teacher, Julia Gregory, and to her family and friends for their support.
LAURA BARROWS as Mother Mary
CHLOE ARMANTROUT as Young Mary
CHLOE ARMANTROUT as Young Mary
Laura Barrows is honored to be a part of this production. She received her Bachelors of Music from Cal State University Northridge. She most recently appeared as the Wardrobe in Beauty and the Beast with Actors Repertory Theater of Simi Valley, and Papagena in Landmark Opera’s production of The Magic Flute. Laura has played many roles with VCGSRC, including Utopia (Zara), Mabel (The Pirates of Penzance), Patience (Patience), Aline (The Sorcerer) and Elsie (Yeoman of the Guard). With The Musician Club she performed in Dido and Aeneas (Belinda). She has been a part of Riverside Lyric Opera in Amahl and the Night Visitors, Gianni Schicchi, Suor Angelica, and HMS Pinafore. She has performed in many musicals, including A Little Night Music, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Cabaret, Gypsy, Pippin, and Into the Woods. She is excited to be joining this cast and crew and is grateful for this wonderful opportunity.
BRITTA STERLING as Martha of Bethany
BRITTA STERLING as Martha of Bethany
BRITTA STERLING as Martha of Bethany
Britta Sterling is an LA-based soprano who has performed in operas and operettas with various companies around Los Angeles, including Independent Opera Company, Mesopotamian Opera, Mission Opera, Glendale Centre Theater, Opera en Castellano, Cal State Los Angeles Opera Theater, Celestial Opera Company, and CSU Northridge Opera Theater. She performed as a featured soprano soloist and chorister with the Roger Wagner Chorale on their Goodwill Heritage Tour of Japan and South Korea. Britta graduated from CSU Northridge with a Bachelor’s Degree in vocal performance.
GWYN MACKENZIE as Mary of Bethany
BRITTA STERLING as Martha of Bethany
BRITTA STERLING as Martha of Bethany
Gwyn Mackenzie is a soprano and classical pianist from Woodland Hills, and a staunch supporter of valley girl activities like shopping for candles and brunch with dogs. She began her musical training at the age of 3 and has studied at institutions and programs such as the Colburn School of Music, the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, and the Boston University Tanglewood Institute. She graduated from Columbia University with a BA in Music, Concentration in English in 2020 (shout-out to Zoom graduation), and has performed in roles with the Modern Opera Company and the New Opera Workshop. She was student co-director and featured soloist of the Barnard-Columbia Chorus and Chamber Choir for most of her college tenure. After pausing with the world, and entering a new position at the University of Southern California as the Assistant to the Vice Provost for the Arts and an Administrative Assistant to the Provost, she is excited to return to performing with a group of people who share a true appreciation for the value of all kinds of music in our world.
JAKE T. ANGEL as Lazarus
JAKE T. ANGEL as Lazarus
JAKE T. ANGEL as Lazarus
Jake T. Angel, tenor, is a native of Texas City, TX. A graduate of the Houston Grand Opera High School Voice Studio, Jake holds a Bachelors in Music Education from Baylor University in Waco, TX, where he studied voice with Dr. Robert Best. Teaching privately and in the public school setting, Jake’s high school choirs have won superior titles and statewide recognition. Jake’s favorite recent theatrical credits include Danny Zuko in Grease and Seymour Krelborn in Little Shop of Horrors. Jake is also excited to be releasing an EP later this year!
ANDREW HEBERT as Hezron
JAKE T. ANGEL as Lazarus
JAKE T. ANGEL as Lazarus
Andrew Hebert is a bass-baritone originally from the east coast. After achieving his MM from East Carolina University, he moved to LA to work as a producer and teleprompter in the film industry and pursue a career in opera. Since moving to LA, Andrew has worked as a choir member in multiple Pacific Opera Project operas, such as Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’Amore, Mozart’s Die Zauberflote adapted version of “SuperFlute,” and Gilbert
and Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance. He has also appeared as bass soloist and section leader in local LA churches. Prior performances include Mr. Lindquist in Sondheim’s A Little Night Music, Mercurio and Console in Monteverdi’s L'incoronazione di Poppea, and M. Javelinot in Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmélites.
MATTHEW ZUNICH as Eldad and Uncle
MATTHEW ZUNICH as Eldad and Uncle
MATTHEW ZUNICH as Eldad and Uncle
Matt Zunich is best known for his work in the world of commercial voice acting. He recently completed a role in his animated feature film debut, "Isla Monstro," due out later this year. He’s a graduate of USC School of Cinematic Arts, and has been studying voice and music with Adelaide Sinclair for over three years. He’s also a co-founder and manager of the nonprofit charity the Los Angeles Ghostbusters, a cosplay organization that raises money for the Starlight Children’s Foundation. In addition to ghost busting, Matt is also a passionate Star Wars fan, volunteering with 501st and Rebel Legions to visit children’s hospitals as a Stormtrooper or Kylo Ren! At his core, Matt believes in using his art to spread joy in his community. He is honored and humbled to join the cast of Mary — A Musical! (Click headshot to visit Matt's website.)
ELISE WALTERS as The Artist
MATTHEW ZUNICH as Eldad and Uncle
MATTHEW ZUNICH as Eldad and Uncle
Elise Walters is a multifaceted interdisciplinary artist and a proud alumnus of the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College, where she studied Opera Vocal Performance and Theatre & Dance. Since relocating to Los Angeles from New York in 2020, she has continued to enrich the community through teaching and participating on multiple nonprofit boards, enhancing arts education and promoting innovative artistic collaborations. Her professional background includes roles in Advancement and Media and Communications at the Manhattan School of Music, and at the Interschool Orchestras of New York. Recent credits include choreographing Aladdin for Storybook Theater, performing as a soloist at San Luis Obispo's New Year's Eve Gala, and appearances in productions such as Little Red Riding Hood and Pirates of Penzance. Elise’s commitment to the arts and community engagement continues to inspire and uplift audiences, making lasting impacts in the creative community.
The Creative and Production Teams
GAYLA D. MORGAN, Co-Bookwriter, Composer/Lyricist
GAYLA D. MORGAN, Co-Bookwriter, Composer/Lyricist
GAYLA D. MORGAN, Co-Bookwriter, Composer/Lyricist
Gayla D. Morgan began writing for the stage with a one-woman cabaret about her lack of a love life, Reflections on Being Single (Denver Center for the Performing Arts). Other shows include Conch Republic — The Musical! ( Monnie O. King, book), which was produced 5 times by Key West Fringe Theatre, receiving a 10th-anniversary production by Seaglass Theatrical in 2023; and Barry Gets It (Chris Widney, book), which was a finalist in L.A.’s Moving Arts Festival. She is currently working on a musical that is the third part of a trilogy of LGBTQ plays, titled The Man I Love Sings (Elwhy Jones & Phil Reissman, book).
Her charming rom-com musical, A Dog Story (Eric H. Weinberger, book), was produced Off Broadway, garnering superb reviews by critics and audiences alike. It has been produced regionally and internationally, is licensed through Broadway Licensing, and its cast album was nominated by BroadwayWorld for Best New Off Broadway Cast Album.
Gayla is an emeritus composer/lyricist member of the NYC Advanced Lehman Engel Musical Theater Workshop, a graduate of the University of Denver with a Bachelors in Music Education with an emphasis in strings, and a professional actress, singer, and violinist. And she is, most importantly, a devoted dog-lover.
Having spent 18 years (!) developing Mary — A Musical, she is immensely grateful to Jessica, MOC, and the cast and crew for the show's growth that has been realized through this workshop. (Click headshot to visit Gayla's website.)
JEAN MORNARD, Co-Bookwriter
GAYLA D. MORGAN, Co-Bookwriter, Composer/Lyricist
GAYLA D. MORGAN, Co-Bookwriter, Composer/Lyricist
Jean Mornard has been a singer all of her life and around theater all of her adult life, both on and off stage, so it made sense that she would finally collaborate on a musical. Jean received her bachelor’s degree in theater from the University of Minnesota, with a concentration in stage management and technical theater. At the same time she was playing in a bar band which caused her to start voice lessons to preserve her voice. Her savvy teacher started introducing light, and then heavier, classical music to her repertoire and by the time they got to Puccini, Jean was hooked on singing opera. She has sung lead roles in Tosca, The Merry Wives of Windsor, and The Impresario; sang the world premier of "Crazy Rabbit Songs" by Mark Warhol; and performed the soprano solo in Verdi’s "Requiem" at Boston’s Symphony Hall.
She moved to Boston in 1989 with her husband, Michael, to study voice, which is where she met Gayla. After moving back to her native Minnesota, and right around the same time they began collaborating on Mary, Jean felt she was being called to the Episcopal priesthood. She and Michael moved to New York City (ironically, she moved to Boston originally because she didn’t think she could make the move from Minnesota to New York!) to attend General Seminary and Jean is now rector at Grace Episcopal Church in Huron, SD.
Working with Gayla on Mary has been both a creatively and a spiritually uplifting experience and Jean is very proud of the result.
JESSICA SCHNEIDERMAN, Director
JESSICA SCHNEIDERMAN, Director
JESSICA SCHNEIDERMAN, Director
As the founder of Modern Opera Company, Jessica Tivens-Schneiderman, who is originally from Calabasas, CA, has produced and directed a range of contemporary musical works. Her directorial debut in 2014 was Modern Opera Company’s unofficial first production of Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors. She has since directed productions of Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods, Street Scene, The Medium, and the New York City premiere of Weiss and De Los Santos’ chamber opera, Service Provider. After relocating to Los Angeles in the summer of 2021, Ms. Schneiderman re-started Modern Opera Company with the goal of producing and directing workshops of new musical theater and operatic works.
Ms. Schneiderman is also a dramatic soprano, and has spent most of her life as a professional in opera and crossover music. As an operatic performer, Ms. Schneiderman’s most recent roles are the title role in The Merry Widow with Mission Opera, Olympe de Gouges in the West Coast premiere of Van Sciver and Kunkle’s Girondinesfor Mission Opera, selected scenes and arias with The Verdi Chorus, and Leonore in excerpts from Beethoven’s Fidelio as well as soprano soloist in Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with Symphony of the Vines in Paso Robles, CA. In addition to directing Service Provider in the winter of 2020, she also portrayed the role of Autumn. Other favorite performances include Agathe in Der Freischütz with Bronx Opera and Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticanawith North Shore Music Festival. Ms. Schneiderman has also performed leading roles with Festival Opera Walnut Creek, Harrisburg Opera, Metro Lyric Opera New Jersey, and as a young artist with San Francisco Opera’s Merola Program and with Seattle Opera. She has been a soloist at Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden, and more.
In the crossover music arena, she has performed and recorded with David Foster, Josh Groban, and Mike Garson, former pianist for David Bowie. With Garson as producer, she recorded her first full-length album in 2007, Unlimited. It is available for purchase on most music streaming platforms.
CALEB GLICKMAN, Music Director
JESSICA SCHNEIDERMAN, Director
JESSICA SCHNEIDERMAN, Director
Praised for his “superb” leadership of the orchestra, Caleb Yanez Glickman was recently appointed Associate Conductor of Opera Modesto, where he will work as a central part of the music staff bringing opera to California’s Central Valley. He is also the music director of the Hollywood Youth Orchestra, which he leads in programming dedicated to cultivating community interest in classical music.
He was music director of Pacific Opera Project’s award-winning production of The Pirates of Penzance, and has led several other productions with POP, including Scalia/Ginsburg, Trial by Jury, and Die Fledermaus. In addition to POP and Opera Modesto, Caleb has recently worked with Opera in the Ozarks, Opera Southwest, Opera Saratoga, and Savannah Opera.
Mary - A Musical marks another chapter of Caleb’s zealous advocacy of bringing new music, both opera and musical theater, to life. He was recently the music director for Opera Modesto’s world premiere production of Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Fallen Giant, an American Lyric Theater Co-commission. He is also spear-heading a project entitled Transport: a first-of-its-kind double bill of Jake Heggie’s Another Sunrise and Handel’s Judas Maccabeus with The Why Collective in New York City. (Click headshot to visit Caleb's website.)
PARKER WALTERS, Stage Manager & Snare Drum
SEAGLASS THEATRICAL, Associate General Manager
SEAGLASS THEATRICAL, Associate General Manager
Parker Walters has a profound and deep love for the arts. He comes from Buffalo, NY, and grew up in a family of musicians. He was equally raised with musical theatre and with rock music and bands; rock music is where his personal passion lies the most. In his late teens and early young adult years he was involved in the local music scene in Buffalo. He is excited to be involved in the performing arts in Los Angeles and expanding his portfolio.
SEAGLASS THEATRICAL, Associate General Manager
SEAGLASS THEATRICAL, Associate General Manager
SEAGLASS THEATRICAL, Associate General Manager
Seaglass Theatrical was founded in 2015 to produce A Dog Story (book by Eric H. Weinberger, music and lyrics by Gayla D. Morgan) Off Broadway. Since that successful [dog!] run, the company has produced shows and readings in NYC and regionally, including the NYC Equity reading of Piece of Mind (book and lyrics by Geoffrey Goldberg, music by Steve Sweeting) starring Ed Dixon (Drama Desk winner Georgie; Broadway: Les Miserables, Sunday in the Park with George) and the late Rebecca Luker (3-time Tony award nominee: Show Boat, The Music Man, Mary Poppins); as well as the Key West 10th anniversary production of Conch Republic — The Musical (book by Monnie O. King, music and lyrics by Gayla D. Morgan).
Now expanded to general management services, Seaglass Theatrical is thrilled to be part of Modern Opera Company’s workshop production of Mary — A Musical. (Click “headshot” to visit Seaglass Theatrical's website.)
MODERN OPERA COMPANY, Producer
Originally devised as an outlet for singing actors to connect and share their gifts in unique and informal settings, Modern Opera Company unofficially began with a 2014 performance of Amahl and the Night Visitors for a charity function. In 2018, the company began doing semi-staged concert readings of contemporary operas and musicals. Works presented included Sweeney Todd, The Medium, Into the Woods, and Street Scene. After two successful seasons, the company expanded to offer opera and musical theater creators a place to workshop and present their works-in-progress to an audience, performed by top-level performers. In the winter of 2020, MOC presented its first showcase of new operatic works, featuring the New York City premieres of Joiner’s Connection Lost: A Tinder Opera, and Weiss and De Los Santos’ Service Provider.
After relocating to Los Angeles, CA in 2021, MOC has become solely focused on presenting new operatic and musical theater works. MOC seeks to enhance the musical and theatrical landscape of Southern California by providing an intimate, safe space for composers and performers to realize their artistic goals as they explore works-in-progress, and to showcase the diverse, passionate, local talent found in the Los Angeles metro area.
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