Ms. Straus, is a soprano and actress residing in Washington D.C. and a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University Music. Ms. Straus has participated in masterclasses with artists such as Arianna Zukerman, Ann Baltz and Jennifer Casey Cabot. She has performed a variety of roles including: Jou-Jou (Merry Widow), Papagena (Die Zauberflote) and Gianetta (The Gondoliers). As a featured soloist she has performed as the soprano soloist for works like Vivaldi’s Gloria and Mozart’s Exultate Jubilate. She is excited to make her DMV stage debut as Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Shakespeare Opera Theatre!
A proud graduate of the 2016 Honors Conservatory at the Theatre Lab, Cassandra Newman is thrilled to be working with Shakespeare Opera Theatre. Recent credits include Melanie in “Subtraction” and Mary Prendick in “The Island of Dr. Moreau” for the Theatre Lab, multiple roles in “Atheist’s Paradise” for the Edge of the Universe Players and the lead in “Cecilie La Rue, Vampire Hunter,” a web series pilot she wrote and produced. Her play “Truth and Reconciliation” is published with Lazy Bee scripts.
Local Credits: Arena Stage – A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Studio Theatre – The Steward of Christendom, Woolly Mammoth Theatre – Half Off, Kennedy Center – Little Women, Metro Stage – Stars in the Morning Sky, American Century Theatre – The Children’s Hour, Rep Stage – More Fun Than Bowling & Les Liasions Dangereuses, Ford’s Theatre – A Christmas Carol, Adventure Theatre – A Little Princess, Round House Theatre – More Fun Than Bowling, Source Theatre – Dumb Supper & A Cry of Players. Film/ TV Credits: Buffy: The Vampire Slayer, Homicide: Life on the Streets, That Night, Blue Mouse, Rebel Rebel. Directing credits: Circus Millennia, Arts on the Horizon, Kennedy Center & Arlington Children’s Theatre. Jen is a graduate of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, attended Ithaca College and has a degree in Theatre from UMW. Locally, she studied acting with Joy Zinnoman at Studio Theatre, physical theatre at Living Stage as well as mask work and LeCoq clowning with Dody DiSanto. She is grateful to her family and Dr. Lind for helping launch her out of retirement!
Michael Harris returns to SOT as a teaching artist after masterfully portraying Falstaff in Merry Wives of Windsor in the 2016 season. In the 2017 season he will take on the role of Nick Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
A versatile artist, Mr. Harris has served as the Artistic Director of the Baltimore Improv Group (BIG) since 2010. Mr. Harris has been an invited performer at Comedy and Improv Festivals throughout the country. In the DC area, he has performed with Studio, Signature, and Spooky Action Theaters. He is a company member of Lean & Hungry Theater, and is an alumnus and faculty member of the National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts in Georgetown. He regularly produces comedy videos as part of the duo, The Siegfried Olsson Band. You can find the videos on Youtube at The Siegfried Olsson Band or follow on twitter @siegfriedolsson
Playing Master Page/Simple in The Merry Wives of Windsor, Fight Captain for Merry Wives and Falstaff, Aaron Sulkin is considered to be one of the greatest eaters of salad on the east coast. He is honored to have the privilege of working with such talented artists and truly wonderful and strange people.
Soprano Jennifer Sin is originally from Fairfax, Virginia and currently lives in Astoria, NY. She has sung Norina (Martina Arroyo Foundation), Zerlina (Martha Cardona Theatre), Susanna, La fee (New York Opera Theatre), Queen of the Night (New York Opera Studio, BASOTI), and various other roles. Jennifer will be singing Nanetta and is excited to be performing in her hometown!
Gregory Stuart has sung/acted with SOT since its inaugural production. He has performed leading roles in operas locally and regionally. A soloist in world premieres of Paul Leavitt’s Cantata Emmanuel, his Magnificat and in premieres of his Requiem in Washington, Paris, at Lincoln Center, NYC and on CD. As an actor he has tread the boards at Spooky Action Theatre, Studio Theatre, three Shakespeare Festivals, Pittsburgh Playhouse, Bay Theatre, Seacoast Repertory Theatre, performed in many musicals including a national tour of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and directed several operas and plays. He’s the Manager of External Affairs for Vocal Arts DC.
Molly Pinson Simoneau, Alice Ford in Falstaff, Shallow in Merry Wives of Windsor, was most recently seen on stage in Reston Community Theater’s 2016 production of Terrence McNally’s Master Class, her performance in which garnered praise from DC Metro Theater Arts for her “gorgeous tone.” Her operatic roles include Giorgetta in Puccini’s Il Tabarro, the Plaintiff in Trial by Jury, and Marianne in Der Rosenkavalier. Molly also performs with the DC Metro Area chapter of Opera on Tap.