Production Team:

University Premiere Production,

The Catholic University of America,

April 2003

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Mark Jolin, director

Mark Jolin (B. F. A. Theatre, Boston Conservatory of Music; M. A., Speech and Drama, University of Maryland) has been teaching acting for the past thirteen years in the Department of Theatre Arts at Howard University, Washington, DC.

Click here to see Mark Jolin's vita

Robert Garofalo, conductor

Robert J. Garofalo is currently staff opera conductor and director of graduate programs in instrumental conducting at the Benjamin T. Rome School of Music of The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.  A native of Pennsylvania, he was educated at Mansfield University, the Eastman School of Music, and Catholic University.  He studied trombone with Emory Remington, composition with G. Thaddeus Jones, and conducting with Lloyd Geisler (National Symphony) and Richard Lert (American Symphony Orchestra League).

Dr. Garofalo has conducted bands, orchestras, choruses, and operas for over 35 years.  From 1989 to 1992, he was music director of Eternal Winds of Washington, a versatile professional ensemble; and from 1978 to 1988 he was conductor of Heritage Americana, a recreated Civil War era brass band that performed on period instruments.  Heritage Americana is featured in the video series The History of Bands in America and heard on the sound track of Ken Burns' TV documentary The Civil War.

Dr. Garofalo is author of 12 books and more than 50 music publications which are highly regarded in the profession.  He is President of Whirlwind Music Publications and an active guest conductor, clinician, lecturer, and adjudicator throughout the United States, Canada, and abroad.

Miya Hisaka, choreographer

Miya Hisaka Silva: Japanese-American.  Producer, director, teacher, dancer, choreographer and arts educator.  Former Founder/Artistic Director of the DC Contemporary Dance Theater (DCCDT), the first multicultural dance company in Washington, DC selected to serve as cultural ambassadors representing the United States to the world from l982-l990. Originally trained by Alvin Ailey, Martha Graham, Eric Hawkins and Merce Cunningham.  Holds a BA in Urban Studies from Columbia University and an MPA from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs/Syracuse University.  Served on Washington's Mayor's Task Force for Arts and Economic Development; a Public Service Fellow to the Maxwell School; an Arts Fellow at the National Endowment for the Arts; and recipient of 5 NEA and 7 DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities grant awards as well as the Washington's Mayor's Arts Award.  Former faculty at George Washington University, University of Toronto, and the Gallaudet Institute for the Deaf among others.

A Salvadoran resident for over 10 years, she worked in El Salvador as former faculty at the National School of Dance "Morena Celarie" (The National School), and former Director of the dance program at the Central American University "José Simeón Cañas" (UCA), and The Center for Leadership in the Arts. Currently, Director of the Dance Program at Georgetown University, her Company  El Teatro de Danza Contemporanea de El Salvador, and faculty at the Washington School of Ballet, and Joy of Motion Dance Center.

Samuel Bill, chorus master

Samuel Bill studied conducting, piano and organ at the Bratislava State Conservatory (Slovakia). While still a student he performed with and conducted the Conservatory Mixed Choir throughout Slovakia, Europe and the United States, as assistant conductor.  He was also a cofounder and assistant conductor of the St. Martin's Cathedral Choir in Bratislava, which he conducted for several radio and TV broadcasts.

After graduation from the conservatory Mr. Bill entered the Bratislava Academy of Music, where he specialized in orchestral conducting. After one year at the Academy he received an invitation and full scholarship to complete his Master's degree at Montclair State University in New Jersey, from which he graduated with honors in 1997.  Mr. Bill was a rehearsal pianist and assistant to the conductor for TheatreFest, a professional equity theatre-in-residence at Montclair State University, as well as for other theatres in the Montclair area.

He further developed his conducting skills at the Juilliard School of Music, studying with Maestro Vincent LaSelva.  Since 1997 Mr. Bill has been the associate conductor of the Montclair Chamber Ensemble.  As pianist, he has collaborated with many members of the New York Philharmonic for the Ensemble's chamber music series.  In 2001, he appeared in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall as conductor and pianist.  Mr. Bill is currently completing his DMA in orchestral conducting at the Benjamin T. Rome School of Music of The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC.

Michael Cordovana, vocal coach

Michael Cordovana (B. M., M. M., Ph. D., The Catholic University of America; additional study at The Peabody Conservatory, the Aspen School of Music, and in Germany, Austria, and Italy), is professor and chair of the voice division of the Benjamin T. Rome School of Music at The Catholic University of America.  Largely responsible for the excellence of the university's many opera productions, Dr. Cordovana is also former assistant dean of the Benjamin T. Rome School of Music.  He is also an internationally recognized vocal coach and accompanist with extensive performing experience throughout the United States.  He has been assistant conductor for The Washington Opera, The Summer Opera Theatre Company, and the Providence Opera Theatre.  From 1974 until his retirement in 1997, he was also head of the music staff of the Dallas Opera Company where, in 1989, he was responsible for the musical preparation of the world premiere of Dominick Argento's The Aspern Papers, shown on PBS' "Great Performances."  Dr. Cordovana teaches during the summer on the faculties of the Shaker Mountain Music Festival and the Amalfi Coast Music Festival.

Thomas Donahue, set designer

Thomas Donahue (Ph. D., University of Maryland), is chair, Executive Producer, and professor in the Department of Drama at The Catholic University of America; he is also a member of United Scenic Artists.  Dr. Donahue is the Executive Producer of the Festival of Religious Art, a bi-annual arts celebration hosted by the University.  He is also a founding member of the Shaker Mountain Performing Arts Festival.  As a professional designer Dr. Donahue has worked with the National Theatre, Olney Theatre Center, Pennsylvania Theatre Company, and Barter Theatre, along with many others.  His design for opera includes work with the Baltimore Opera Company, Summer Opera Theatre Company, The Young Victorians, The Peabody Conservatory of Music, and the Shaker Mountain Festival.  He is the resident scenic and lighting designer for the Department of Drama.