Preludes Bios

Cast Biographies

Ruben Piirainen (he/him), Rachmaninoff, Music Director

Ruben Piirainen is a pianist, music director, conductor, composer, and restaurant owner (Bay View’s Sabrosa Cafe & Gallery). Previously on the music staffs of Skylight Music Theatre, Interlochen Arts Camp, and Florentine Opera, he has also appeared with Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Present Music, Brew City Opera, Opera for the Young, Kenosha Symphony Orchestra, Festival City Symphony, and numerous projects with Milwaukee Opera Theatre. He holds degrees in piano performance from Lawrence University and Bowling Green State University and is currently on the piano faculty at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music as well as music director at Unitarian Universalist Church West in Brookfield.

Joe Picchetti (he/him), Rach

Joe is thrilled to be returning to MOT for Preludes! He was last seen on the MOT stage as Zach in A Chorus Line. Other regional credits include Photograph 51 and Still (Renaissance Theaterworks), A Christmas Carol (Children's Theatre of Madison), The Lion in Winter (Milwaukee Chamber Theatre), Twelfth Night and The Comedy of Errors (Summit Players Theatre), Stones in His Pockets (Windfall Theatre), A Number (Splinter Group), and 'Neaeth the Hills of Bastogne (Sunstone Studios MKE). He would like to thank Jill Anna for her guidance, support, and friendship; his father James for his teachings of courage and generosity; and finally his family, friends, and Maddy for their never-ending love and support.

Jenny Wanasek (she/her), Dahl

Jenny is thrilled to be working with Milwaukee Opera Theatre after previously performing in MOT's production of A Chorus Line. She has a lively career spanning acting, singing, and directing. She has acted and/or directed for Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Renaissance Theatreworks, Chamber Theatre, Next Act, Great American Children’s Theatre and in appeared in many musicals at Skylight Opera Theatre, First Stage, the Marcus Center, and Northern Lights Summer Playhouse including James and the Giant Peach, Man of La Mancha, I Do! I Do!, Most Happy Fela, Animal Farm, The Mikado, Lady in the Dark, and Into the Woods. Most recently she was in Chapatti and Unnecessary Farce at Milwaukee Chamber Theatre. Ms. Wanasek is a Co-Founder, with husband Mark Weinberg, of The Center for Applied Theatre which uses theatre techniques to enact social change.

Natalie Ford (she/her), Natalya

Natalie is thrilled to return to live theatre with MOT, where she previously appeared as Martha Jefferson in 1776 and Elizabeth in Thank You, Next! Other favorite Milwaukee roles include Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady, Cinderella in Into the Woods, and Catherine in Pippin at Skylight Music Theatre, Emily in Elf the Musical and Baba Yaga/Mother in Gretel (which she also music directed) at First Stage, and Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar at In Tandem Theatre. Natalie has also been seen on Chicagoland stages at the Marriott Theatre, Music Theatre Works, Drury Lane Theatre, Theatre at the Center and Chicago Opera Theatre.

Natalie is equally as passionate about her teaching, and has an independent voice studio for teens and adults. She has been a teaching artist with Skylight, First Stage, the Civic Music Association of Milwaukee and the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, and performs clinics at local area high schools. Natalie is currently in training for her Alexander Technique Teaching Certification. She has a Master of Music in Voice from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Valparaiso University. She is a proud member of the Actors Equity Association (AEA) and the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS). She lives in Wauwatosa with her husband, two kids and their pandemic-acquired kitty. www.nataliefordsings.com.

Gage Patterson (he/him), Chaliapin

Gage is very excited to be returning to this project after so long away. He is a graduate of Carthage College where he received a BA in Music Theatre. Previous credits include Little Shop of Horrors (Plant Voice) and Shrek the Musical (Shrek) at the Box Theatre, In Tandem Theatre’s Merry Chris-Mess, The 25th Annual Putnam Country Spelling Bee (William Barfee) with All in Productions, Spring Awakening (Otto) with Three Brothers Theatre, and Memories Ballroom’s It's A Wonderful Life Live Radio Play. He would like to thank the entire production team for the opportunity to come back to work on this project, his parents for their constant support, and Anna for always being there for him.

Joel Kopischke (he/him), Chekhov, et al

Joel is thrilled to be back working with Milwaukee Opera Theatre and Jill Anna, after previously appearing in A Chorus Line, 1776, & Victory for Victoria. He has been performing professionally for over 40 years, singing loudly and having fun on stage, TV, radio, and film. Joel has recently performed White Rabbit Red Rabbit with Sunstone Studios & Cooperative Performance, Toil & Trouble (Sunstone Studios), and productions with Mad Rogues, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre’s YPW Showcase, Schmitz & Giggles, and Musical Mainstage. He has also been seen at Skylight Music Theatre, Northern Sky, First Stage, Milwaukee Symphony, Present Music, TAP, Theatre RED, Melody Top and Off-Broadway. He has released two humorous holiday CDs "I Got Yule, Babe" and "Ground Control to Santa Claus" and wrote the story & lyrics for the musical Dairy Heirs. www.JoelVoice.com

Creative Team Biographies

Jill Anna Ponasik (she/her), Stage Director

Now in her 13th season as producing artistic director of Milwaukee Opera Theatre, Jill Anna continues to find great joy in connecting artists and audiences through opera.

An eager creator, always excited to collaborate, Jill Anna has helped develop work with The Decameron Opera Coalition, Skylight Music Theatre, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Present Music, Renaissance Theaterworks, The Florentine Opera, In Tandem, First Stage Children’s Theatre, Quasimondo Physical Theatre, Danceworks Performance Company, Wild Space Dance Company, The Alchemist, Theater RED, Carroll University, The University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, and The University of Wisconsin Parkside. She holds degrees in vocal performance from the University of Minnesota and the Rice University Shepherd School of Music.

Doug Clemons (he/him), Assistant Director

Ecstatic to be dipping his twinkle toes into the world of directing, Doug has performed with FAB Wisconsin theatres including Northern Sky Theater, Skylight Music Theatre, Fireside Theater, First Stage, and Third Avenue Playworks. Regional/concert credits include the New York Musical Theater Festival, Cherry Lane Theatre (NYC), Chicago Musical Theater Festival, Skokie Theatre, Utah Light Opera, Florentine Opera, Racine Symphony Orchestra, and backup for Michael Bublé. Upcoming: Something Rotten (Asst. Director; Sunset Playhouse) and Love Stings (Actor/Asst. Director; Northern Sky Theater) A million thanks to the MOT family. Endless love to Matt. www.DougClemons.com

Marty Butorac (he/him), Synthesizer I

Marty has been performing in the Milwaukee area since coming to town in 1984 with degrees in Piano Performance and Composition from the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music (BM ‘82) and Western Michigan University (MM ‘84). Besides piano performance, Marty specializes in contemporary audio production, especially live sound reinforcement associated with new music. Marty was sound designer for MOT’s 2016 production of Song From the Uproar.

Dave Bonofiglio (he/him), Synthesizer II

David Bonofiglio holds a BFA in piano performance from Cardinal Stritch University. Selected credits as music director: Little Shop of Horrors, The Full Monty, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Oklahoma!, Urinetown and Pippin for Skylight Music Theatre; Little By Little, Scrooge In Rouge, A Cudahy Caroler Christmas, and Jesus Christ Superstar for In Tandem Theatre; Sunday In The Park With George for Windfall Theatre. As assistant music director: A Christmas Carol for Milwaukee Repertory Theatre. As cover piano/conductor for Ernest Shackleton Loves Me, Once On This Island and La Cage Aux Folles for Skylight Music Theatre. As keyboardist and programmer for Skylight: Powder Her Face, Les Misérables, In The Heights, and La Cage Aux Folles.

Jim Padovano (he/him), Lighting Designer

Jim returns to Milwaukee Opera Theatre to light this production of Preludes after lighting our outdoor Heroes Concert. He has been very busy this winter and spring designing lights for Wisconsin Lutheran High School’s production of Crazy For You and Always a Bridesmaid for Falls Patio Players. The next few weeks will find Jim designing for Dare to Dream Theatre in Sheboygan. He will also design for Wauwatosa East high school and Falls Patio Players again. Later this season Jim will design the lighting for Milwaukee Opera Theatre’s L’Orfeo. He hopes you enjoy the performance.

Lisa Quinn (she/her), Costume Designer

Lisa is humbled to be able to finally debut with MOT. She will admit, she is one of those people who have poorly played the Prelude that causes Rach so much pain. Recent area shows she designed include She Loves Me, Hairspray, Mamma Mia!, and The Producers (Sunset Playhouse), Miss Holmes, Songs for a New World, and Big Fish (Waukesha Civic Theater), as well as numerous area high school and college productions. Coming up - Something Rotten and Newsies (Sunset Playhouse). Thanks to William for the continued support to be able to say "yes" to all the theater things.

Colin Gawronski (they/them), Sound Designer

Colin Gawronski is a lighting designer and theatrical technician native to Milwaukee who has worked extensively with Danceworks, Inc, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, and Black Arts MKE/Brozeville. They have worked with other local companies such as Renaissance Theaterworks, Milwaukee Opera Theatre, UWM Dance, Next Act, Wildspace, PrideFest Milwaukee, Bard and Bourbon, Gina Laurenzi Dance Project, and In Tandem Theatre. Colin has also worked with the Sacramento Music Circus, the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival and with the Indianapolis and Chicago Fringe Festivals. Favorite productions include: Stew, Out of Many One, Fire in the Mirror, Ignite: A Hip Hop Experience (since 2013), Secrets of the Wide Sky, Russian Transport, Frankie and Johnny, Stories From a Life, The Glass Menagerie, Serendipity, Mauritius, Thrill Me, In a Black Mood, My Fair Lady, Lamps for my Family, and Vagabondare. Give Love Always.

Danny Brylow (he/him), Stage Manager

Danny has contributed to the burgeoning field of contemporary opera as a stage director, librettist, translator, performer, and administrator. Most recently, he directed the premiere of Utterance, a new music theater piece featuring Renaissance music by Orlande de Lassus and contemporary music by Amanda Schoofs; and Orsa ibernata, a ten minute video opera for which he also wrote the libretto. His English-language adaptations of Don Giovanni (with singer Tim Rebers), Wagner's Ring Cycle, The Magic Flute, and The Tales of Hoffmann have been performed by such companies as Skylight Music Theatre, Milwaukee Opera Theatre, and Arbor Opera Theater.

Danny is a graduate of Bennington College, the Wesley Balk Opera/Music-Theater Institute, and Nautilus Music-Theater's Composer Librettist Studio. Next, he will direct his new English adaptation of Monteverdi's L'Orfeo (co-written with singer Joseph Krohlow) for Milwaukee Opera Theatre, where he has served as Company Manager since 2015.