DW will direct LA CENERENTOLA for the New World School of the Arts (University of Florida / Miami-Dade College) in Miami. The production will take place in the theatre at the north campus of Miami-Dade College and will feature advanced students from the NWSA opera department. Performances are set for Friday, April 13 and Saturday, April 14 – both at 7:30 PM.
DW completed a series of Fall master classes in Miami at the New World School of the Arts (University of Florida / Miami-Dade College). His work included staging scenes from LA TRAVIATA and THE BARBER OF SEVILLE for the students’ performance at the Colony Theatre in Miami Beach on December 6, 2011. (See Feedback page.)
DW is teaching business communications and ESOL at the LAL Language Centre in Ft. Lauderdale. He holds a CELTA (Level 5) Diploma – teaching English to speakers of other languages – awarded by the University of Cambridge in England. He is working with the school on creating a new business communications curriculum.
DW will produce and direct the Belleayre Festival Opera (Belleayre Music Festival) production of LA BOHEME for the Summer 2012 Season. This will be his fourteenth main stage production for the Festival, where he serves as Artistic Director of the Belleayre Festival Opera. MARA WALDMAN will be Music Director/Conductor.
The Belleayre Festival Opera production of LA TRAVIATA played to a capacity audience on Saturday, July 23rd. The production, starring DIANA McVEY (Violetta), MATHEW EDWARDSEN (Alfredo Germont) and STEFANOS KORONEOS (Giorgio Germont), featured a company of fifty performers and musicians. MARA WALDMAN was Music Director and Conductor. Donald Westwood produced and directed. (See Feedback Page.)
The supporting cast included SAMANTHA JEFFREYS (Flora), VICTORIA DEVANY(Annina), GEORGE KASARJIAN (Gastone), RYAN ALLEN (Barone Douphol), ERIC JORDAN (Dottore Grenvil), DAVID SEATTER (Marquis d’Obigny), ANGELA CHRISTINE SMITH (Olympe), MONIQUE PELLETIER (Juliette), MICHAEL GALLANTE (M. Jardin), DANIEL LOCKWOOD (M. Jollicoeur), and LOUIS DALL’AVA (M. Beaumont). The chorus – 24 members of the Community Chorale of the Catskills – was under the director of RICHARD TUCKER. Techical Director was BRIAN RICE.
DW produced OKLAHOMA! (www.aimmgt.com)for the 2010/2011 National tour. Director/Choreographer: NORB JOERDER. The tour was managed by a team of NYC managers, with bookings under the direction of Columbia Artists Theatricals. The entire cast and staff deserve the greatest recognition for their dedication and excellent work on the tour. (See Feedback Page.)
DW produced and directed the Belleayre Festival Opera's production of LA CENERENTOLA, presented on Saturday, August 28, 2010 at the Belleayre Music Festival, Highmount, New York. JESSICA RENFRO (Cinderella), TIMOTHY W. SPARKS (Prince Ramiro), RYAN ALLEN (Don Magnifico), JUSTIN RYAN (Dandini), ERIC JORDAN (Alidoro), CHARLOTTE DETRICK (Clorinda), TRACY THORNE (Tisbe), DAVID SEATTER (Don Fido). Music Director/Conductor: JOHN COVELLI. Chorus Director: RICHARD TUCKER. Technical Director: BRIAN RICE. (See Feedback Page.)
DW's opera for young audiences, THREE LITTLE PIGS, was performed by the Children's Opera Theatre at the Belleayre Music Festival on Sunday, August 29, 2010. ERIC JORDAN (Papa Wolf), NICOLE MERCER (L’il Wolf), SAMANTHA JEFFREYS (Daffodil), SHARON GEE (Rosie), AMBER WOMACK (Violet). Music Director/Conductor: JOHN COVELLI. DW directed. The Festival commissioned THREE LITTLE PIGS and presented its premiere in 2007.
Jacksonville Lyric Opera’s LA CENERENTOLA, produced and directed by Donald Westwood, completed its March 2010 run with performances in Key West, Key Largo, and Marathon, FL. The cast included QUINN PATRICK (Cinderella), TIMOTHY W. SPARKS (Prince Ramiro), STEFANOS KORONEOS (Don Magnifico), STEVEN JEPSON (Dandini), CHARLOTTE DETRICK (Clorinda), TRACY THORNE (Tisbe), NATHAN RESIKA (Alidoro), DAVID SEATTER (Don Fido), CASEY SACCO and HEATHER SACCO (Mice – Cinderella’s friends). Music Director was LOUIS MENENDEZ. (See Feedback Page.)
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, produced and managed by DW for AIM Management (www.aimmgt.com), completed its 09/10 run in February 2010. Twenty-seven performances. Twenty-seven standing ovations. Performance venues included the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts (Jacksonville, FL), Lucas Theatre (Savannah, GA), Coral Springs Center for the Arts (Coral Springs, FL), and Miramar Cultural Center (Miramar, FL). (See Feedback Page.)
“In terms of talent and energy, it
would be hard to ask for more.”
– Florida Times-Union
“A very solid cast from
top to bottom. Perfect looks, excellent voices, and
fine performances are evident from the opening to the closing curtain.”
