Soprano Donnette Rimmer is delighted to return to SOT for her second production. (She appeared as Lady Lennox in Macbeth in 2024). Originally from California, she has lived in the Washington DC area for most of her adult life. She has served as a soloist and section leader at several churches in DC and N. VA and performs regularly with local early music ensembles. Also a violinist and aspiring celtic harper, her musical opportunities have taken her to choral and instrumental ensembles in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas, Boston, Rome, the Loire Valley, and the Scottish Highlands. A retired attorney, Donnette specialised in international trade and intellectual property rights for the federal government.
Julie Silva is ecstatic to return to Shakespeare Opera Theatre as the swashbuckling Stephano! A devoted trouser role enthusiast, credits include Hansel (Hansel and Gretel with SOT), the Page (Rigoletto with Austin Opera & Opera San Antonio), Orfeo (Orfeo ed Euridice with Opera McGill), Annio (La clemenza di Tito with LOLA), Cherubino (Le nozze di Figaro with LAHSOW), and the Boy in The Boy Who Wanted to Be a Robot (One Ounce Opera). A multi-genre artist based in NYC, Julie is thrilled to call the DMV an additional artistic home. Upcoming DMV performances include work with the Wolf Trap Opera chorus (Carmen) and the Washington National Opera chorus (Aida). A special shoutout to her partner, A, and her Virginia family, the 4 A’s, for all their support on her SOT operatic adventure!
Catie Brooks is ecstatic to make her debut with Shakespeare Opera Theater as Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet. Catie is a vocalist, voice teacher, and actor currently based in Washington, D.C, and come fall she’ll be attending New York University for her Master of Music Degree in Vocal Pedagogy. Previous credits include Deb in Ordinary Days and Jacqueline in Muse: The Women of Picasso with Chameleon Theater Collective, Lucille in Monsieur et Madame Denise with Chicago Summer Opera, Phyllis in Iolanthe, and Despina in Cosi Fan Tutte to name a few. Later this summer Catie will be singing in the chorus of Carmina Burana with the National Symphony Orchestra at Wolf Trap. Catie holds a dual Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance and Music Theatre from James Madison University and currently studies with Danielle Talamantes. Despite her busy musical schedule, Catie still finds ample time to brag about her adorable rescue pitbull, Mango.
Mezzo-soprano Louise Anderson is thrilled to return to Shakespeare Opera Theatre as Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet, having previously performed with the company as Third Witch and Young Siward in Macbeth. Louise made her operatic debut at the age of nine in the children’s chorus of Macbeth at the Royal Swedish Opera, and has since appeared with companies including Norwegian National Opera, Danish National Opera, Opera San José, PASS Artist Residency New York, and Snug Harbor Cultural Center on Staten Island. She holds a Master’s degree from Manhattan School of Music, where she studied with Professor Mark Schnaible, and previously trained at the Oslo National Academy of the Arts. As an actor, she has also trained at Stella Adler Art of Acting Studio in Los Angeles and T. Schreiber Studio in New York. Louise is a prizewinner in the Alan M. and Joan Taub Ades Vocal Competition and the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition. Upcoming: Young Artist at Confidencen (summer 2025) and a feature film premiere (One of the Girls) in September 2025 where she plays one of the leads.
Nickolas James is an American tenor lauded for his uniquely bright timbre and charismatic performances. He has performed a multitude of principle roles across a wide range of styles including Lurcanio (Ariodante), Male Chorus (Lucretia), White Rabbit (A.L.I.C.E.), and many more. He has had the pleasure of working with and learning from prominent artists and educators including Dr. Arnold Rawls, Dr. Kathryn Leemhuis (Boyer College of Music and Dance), Reggie Smith, Ben Robinson (Anchorage Opera), and Dr. Chuck Chandler (DePaul University). A Dallas, Texas native, Nickolas earned his Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the Boyer College of Music and Dance in 2024 and is currently residing in Philadelphia with the best dog that ever lived, Whiskey. This production is Nickolas’ Shakespeare Opera Theater debut and he is so excited to take part in presenting this brilliant production of a timeless classic.
Joseph McBrayer, originally from Dallas, Georgia, praised by critics for his “polished lyric tenor,” is pleased to be making his role and company debut as Romeo with Shakespeare Opera Theatre. In the 2022-23 season, Mr. McBrayer began his residency as a studio artist with Florida Grand Opera, where he stayed through the 23-24 season and performed the roles of Beppe (Pagliacci), Gastone (La Traviata), Paolino (El Matrimonio Secreto), and Gherardo (Gianni Schicchi), before traveling to Santa Fe to create the role of The Mayor of Santa Fe in Joe Illick’s new opera, Zozobra’s Revenge. Mr. McBrayer has also worked with Vero Beach Opera, Capitol City Opera, and The Atlanta opera, among others. He studied voice at Kennesaw State University, then on to Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music. He is currently based out of Milwaukee with his wife Hayley, herself an accomplished soprano.
Chelsea Alexandra is thrilled to make her first appearance with Shakespeare Opera Theatre, debuting with the role of Juliet. Raised on the island of Oahu, Chelsea is now a Utah-based soprano who recently graduated with her Masters from the University of Utah. Her latest roles have been Micaëla in Bizet’s Carmen with Lyrical Opera Theater where she debuted the previous year with the role of Mimì from Puccini’s La Bohème. Her fondness for Puccini grew in Novafeltria, Italy, where she first performed the role of Mimì overseas. Since then, she has portrayed the titular role in Massenet’s Cendrillon, The Mother in Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors, Lauretta in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, Fiordiligi from Mozart’s Così fan tutte and Violetta from Verdi’s La traviata. Outside of performing, Chelsea loves to scuba dive and is passionate about empowering women through holistic approaches to sexual health and healing.
Known for her “crystalline voice,” soprano Ashlyn Rock makes her SOT debut as Juliet. After completing her Masters and Artist Diploma in Opera at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Rock recently moved back to the DMV area and since has performed locally with Trinity Chamber Orchestra, Bel Cantanti Opera, Washington Concert Opera, and Wolf Trap Opera. She made her debut at Carnegie Hall last April with the Gerda Lissner Foundation. Her performances include Marie Celeste/Duchess Christina in Philip Glass’ Galileo Galilei; Sister Constance de St. Denis (Dialogues des Carmélites); Miss Lightfoot (Fellow Travelers), Micaëla (Carmen), Isabela (La hija de Rappaccini), and soloist in John Mackey’s Songs from the End of the World for soprano and wind symphony. When she is not studying music, Ashlyn spends time caring for her adorable pet rabbit, Reginald. She also enjoys practicing yoga, hiking and camping, biking, writing poems, reading, and working on publishing her own book.
Karina Hilleard is an accomplished actor and director. Local credits include: the Washington National Opera at the Kennedy Center (Turandot), Shakespeare Theatre Company (Tartuffe), Rorschach Theater (Night of the Living Dead), Synetic Theater (Cinderella, Treasure Island), Theater Alliance (Wonderful World of Dissocia, Helen Hayes Nomination – Outstanding Lead Actress), Constellation Theatre Company (Equus, Helen Hayes Nomination – Outstanding Play), Chesapeake Shakespeare (Richard II, Christmas Carol). Internationally, she has appeared at the Bristol Old Vic (Heresies), Theatre Royal Bath (No Blind Faith) and others. Monologue Madness Champion (2013), Karina is also the Performing Arts Chair at Landon School in Bethesda, MD, where she mentors young talent. She is thrilled to join the company of Drowning Ophelia.
Sarah Daniels, lyric coloratura soprano and actor, has been lauded by critics for both her “pinpoint musicianship” (Opera News) and her “enviable swagger” (New York Classical Review) on the stage. Favorite opera roles include Chunky in the world premiere of Chunky in Heat (Experiments in Opera), Monica in The Medium (Chelsea Opera, City Lyric Opera), Constance in Dialogues of the Carmelites (Bronx Opera), and The Rooster in The Cunning Little Vixen (dell’Arte Opera Ensemble). Theatre/film roles include Molly/Karen in Charles L Mee’s absurdist play Bedtime Stories, Allison in Xeniathan: A Movie Musical, and Anne in A Little Night Music. Sarah has worked with composers Jason Cady, Matthew Welch, Alex Temple, Melanie Richards, and Raven Chacon on new solo and chamber works. An alum of Manhattan School of Music where she majored in classical vocal performance, Sarah also studied acting at Stella Adler, HB Studios, SITI Company, and currently with actor/director Tina Mitchell (of Sleep No More and SITI Company) focusing on the physical acting techniques Suzuki, Viewpoints, and Laban. Sarah currently studies voice under Francesca Mondanaro.