Joe Alkire ·
Bob Bowen ·
Gwyneth Bruch ·
Martha Dickman
Chris Lee ·
Stephen Peithman ·
Rebecca Plack ·
Lenore Sebastian ·
Peter Shack ·
Roy Spicer
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JOE ALKIRE has appeared with the Davis Comic Opera Company, as Georg in She Loves Me, Jack Point in Yeomen of the Guard, Robin Oakapple in Ruddigore, Nigel in Something's Afoot and Major General Stanley in The Pirates of Penzance. He has appeared at the Woodland Opera House as Ham in Two by Two, Charles in Blithe Spirit and as T.R. in Tintypes. He also appeared at the Davis Musical Theatre Co. as Harold Hill in Music Man. Other favorite roles include Cervantes in Man of La Mancha and Georges in La Cage Aux Folles. Most recently, Joe appeared as Emile in South Pacific and as Amos in Chicago at the Magic Circle Theatre in Roseville. |
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BOB BOWEN, as the Promotions Manager for the City of Davis, facilitates a variety of theatre, cultural and 'visitor' events in and around Davis. In addition to creating the Davis Children's Nutcracker, Bob has been involved in theatre productions with the Davis Comic Opera Company, the Woodland Opera House, Davis Players and the Best of Broadway. He has played leading roles in everything from Naughty Marietta to Dames at Sea, and choreographed the DCOC production of Something's Afoot. The father of four children, Bob has also written, directed, and choreographed works for children's theatre including this spring's production of Monkey Business at Patwin Elementary School. He is most appreciative of his lovely wife Kate's ongoing patience, love, and support, and son Spencer's help in learning his lyrics. |
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GWYNETH BRUCH has played an active role in theatre throughout the Sacramento area, including productions at the Sacramento Theatre Company, the Woodland Opera House, the Davis Comic Opera Company, and the Davis Musical Theatre Company. She is the winner of several Elly Awards and Chesley Awards for her performances. She also appeared in a new play in the Black Swan Theatre in Ashland, Oregon. Gwyn is the head of the drama department at Davis Senior High School, where she also teaches English to at-risk sophomores and choreographs the school's Jazz Choir. She gives special thanks to her husband Russ and son Andrew for their constant love and support. |
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MARTHA DICKMAN'S degree in voice from the University of Montana led her to a weekly radio show, recitals, and singing with two dance bands. In 1944 she married Marine Corps officer James Gasser and for the next twenty-five years lived in six different U.S. states, Guam, and Thailand. Wherever they were, Martha continued performing and directing choirs. When her husband died suddenly in 1970, she came to Davis and has been involved in music here as a vocal director, producer and performer with the Davis Comic Opera Co. and other groups. For many years, she taught private voice lessons. Her second husband, Avrom Dickman, died in 1981. Her longtime companion, Richard Cramer died in 2000. Now semi-retired, she enjoys going to concerts, traveling, and visiting her children and grandchildren. |
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CHRIS LEE has provided musical direction and accompaniment in the Davis and Sacramento area for the past 12 years. Working behind the piano and keyboards, he has been involved with a variety of productions at the Davis Comic Opera Company, the Davis Musical Theatre Company, the Woodland Opera House, and schools throughout Davis, Woodland, and Sacramento. A native of the Bay Area, he also continues to work as a studio musician, arranger and songwriter. Currently, Chris teaches History at Davis Senior High School and lives in Davis with his wife and son - and a slew of synthesizers, guitars and recording equipment. |
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STEPHEN PEITHMAN is the host of Musical Stages, broadcast Saturdays at 8:00 PM on KXPR-FM (90.9). A charter member of the Davis Comic Opera Co., he has both performed and directed for that company over the past 30 years. He also has worked with the Woodland Opera House and the Davis Musical Theatre Company. The author of eight books, he has been an editor for Sunset and San Francisco magazines, and is consulting editor of Stage Directions, a national theatre magazine, which he co-founded in 1988. He also is Vice President for Public Relations for the American Association of Community Theatre. In his "real life" he is Director of Community Relations for American River College in Sacramento. |
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REBECCA PLACK has sung the roles of Mary Turner in Gershwin's Of Thee I Sing with Ithaca Opera and the Witch in Sondheim's Into the Woods at Cornell University--but many Davis residents still remember her best as Maria in West Side Story, which she performed while a senior at Davis High. Since then, she has earned degrees in voice from Manhattan School of Music and the San Francisco Conservatory, and in musicology from Princeton and Cornell universities. She has also recorded Gershwin songs for radio in Ferrara, Italy. This spring, Rebecca makes her New York recital debut at the Hungarian Embassy, singing songs of Franz Liszt. She lives in Davis, where she is writing a Ph.D. dissertation on early recordings and teaching voice. |
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LENORE SEBASTIEN is honored to be a part of her 12th CWC annual benefit concert. She has appeared in 47 leading roles in 13 theatre companies, and has been nominated for six Elly award, winning two. Favorite roles have been Mrs. Lovett Sweeney Todd, Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus, The Old Lady in Candide, Katisha in The Mikado, and Fraulein Schneider, opposite husband Gil as Herr Schultz in the UC Davis 2001 production of Cabaret. Lenore has directed productions of Kismet and Amahl and The Night Visitors at DCOC, Inherit The Windat The Woodland Opera House, and Stalag 17 at Chautauqua Playhouse. Next project for Lenore & husband Gil is Sentimental Journey, a musical revue of the fabulous songs of World War II, coming to Chautauqua Playhouse April 15-May 21. |
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PETER SHACKPETER SHACK is a native New Yorker who grew up with healthy doses of music at Carnegie Hall and shows on Broadway. He graduated from Columbia with a major in history and a minor in music, but seemed to spend most of his time rehearsing for something or other. He went on to Georgetown Law School and the Peace Corps, but the pattern continued. Peter has performed in many Davis Comic Opera productions. His favorites have been The Mikado (Koko), A Little Night Music (Fredrik) and Die Fledermaus (Eisenstein). A 22-year resident of Davis, his favorite time of all is with his wife and son. Peter was with the Attorney General's Office for 30 years, and now is of-counsel with Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP. He is currently the President of the Board of Directors of Citizens Who Care. |
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ROY SPICER has followed a musical calling for over 30 years. As a pianist, organist, vocalist, and conductor - he continues a full-time life of music. He received his music education in Organ Performance and Choral Conducting from California State University at Northridge and has participated in performance tours in Western Europe and the Soviet Union. His local theatre credits in stage direction, musical direction, and performance include productions such as The Pirates of Penzance, Into the Woods, Nunsense, Little Shop of Horrors, Annie Get Your Gun, Carousel, Little Mary Sunshine, Fiddler on the Roof, Kismet, Candide and most recently Guys and Dolls, and Quilters for The Woodland Opera House. Roy is Director of Liturgy and Music for Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Woodland and an active member of the Diocesan Liturgical Commission for the Diocese of Sacramento. |