Sondheim Tonight! A Celebration of Genius at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park™

Amy Owens is known for her “high-flying vocals” and “scene-stealing” charisma on operatic and symphonic stages, as well as her innovative, multi-disciplinary pursuits in music and entrepreneurship (Opera News). Her performing career has taken her to some of America’s most beloved venues, including the Kennedy Center, where her Fall 2019 debut as the soprano soloist in Carmina Burana under the baton of Gianandrea Noseda earned praise for “a perfect combination of purring, sensuous phrasing and pure-toned innocence” (Washington Classical Review). A well-known favorite soloist for Carmina Burana, she has performed the work twice with National Symphony, as well as with Omaha Symphony, Virginia Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic, Mobile Symphony, and MidAmerica Productions for her Carnegie Hall debut in 2017. She is frequently sought after to create roles for world premieres of American Opera, including the title role in Augusta Read Thomas’ Sweet Potato Kicks the Sun with Santa Fe Opera in 2019, where she shared the stage with legendary beatboxer Nicole Paris in the first commission for the groundbreaking initiative “Opera for all Voices.” Amy kicked off the 2022-2023 season performing Grenados’ Canciones Amotorias with the Brooklyn Art Song Society, followed by her main stage debut with Virginia Opera as Mabel in Pirates of Penzance, where she was praised by Opera News for her “silvery, focused soprano caressing each melodic contour.” In 2023 she appeared with the New Mexico Philharmonic in Beethoven Symphony No. 9, on tour with the Santa Fe Opera in The Telephone, and as Chrisann Brennan in The Revolution of Steve Jobs with Utah Opera. As a principal artist for the 2023 season with Utah Festival Opera and musical theater, she plays Emily in Our Town and Phoebe in Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder. In the 2021-2022 season, Amy made her debut with Chicago Opera Theater in Becoming Santa Claus under Lydiya Yankovskaya, and covered the roles of Controller and Tina in Dallas Opera’s production of Flight. She also appeared with Dayton Philharmonic and Lubbock Symphony for performances of Messiah, Oberlin Contemporary Music Ensemble, Brooklyn Art Song Society, and the Florida Keys Concert Association. Other notable roles include Cunegonde in Candide with Utah Symphony, where she was praised for her “dazzling array of vocal abilities” and “remarkable acting talent,” Johanna in Sweeney Todd with Michigan Opera Theater, and Florestine in On Site Opera’s North American premiere of La mére coupable, a notoriously difficult score which Owens was hailed as handling with “keen sensitivity,” “gleaming coloratura,” and “impressive accuracy and thrilling high notes” (Broadway World, Bachtrack, Musical America). Her affinity for new music also makes her a sought-after soprano for developing contemporary works, including the Metropolitan Opera workshop of Eurydice, and multiple workshops with American Opera Projects. She covered the role of Faustina in the world premiere of The Phoenix at Houston Grand Opera in 2019, sang as a last-minute replacement in Opera America’s 2016 New Opera Showcase at Trinity Church NYC, was featured in The Intimacy of Creativity Festival in Hong Kong in 2017, and has premiered art song frequently with the NYFOS Next series. Amy was a resident artist with Utah Opera, Wolf Trap Opera, Santa Fe Opera, and Central City Opera, and was a grand prize recipient from the Sullivan Foundation in 2014. She also holds awards from the Jensen Foundation (2019 finalist) and Metropolitan Opera National Council (Eastern Region Finalist 2015). She is a multiple prize-winner with the George London Foundation and was a featured soloist on their recital series with Anthony Dean Griffey and Warren Jones in 2018. As a multi-disciplinary artist, Amy performed at the 50th annual New Orleans Jazz Festival with renowned musician Glen David Andrews in the Blues Tent in 2019, and as a budding conductor, she was selected to participate in the Hart Institute for Women Conductors at Dallas Opera and the International Conducting Workshop Festival in Bulgaria. She released two collaborative albums in 2019: a debut album of original music, HAETHOR, which received acclaim in the electronica world as “an enchanted force” (Impose), and Songs of Leonard Bernstein, including previously unrecorded vocal music. Other discography includes her performance as Mater Gloriosa in Utah Symphony’s recording of Mahler Symphony 8 and in New York Festival of Song’s Picnic Cantata. As an educator and producer, Amy co-founded The Collective Conservatory and developed a unique curriculum to forge new and innovative paths for online musical collaboration during the pandemic in 2020. She has also served as the artistic director and co-founder of Bel Canto Productions in Westwood, NJ and production manager for Access Opera, two organizations with missions to increase accessibility and broaden the definition of opera for a wider audience. She developed a unique online education program for vocalists in 2021 called Vocal Revolution and maintains a robust online studio focusing on technique and vocal freedom. In 2022 she co-directed Opera Storytellers, a children’s day camp run through Santa Fe Opera, developing a groundbreaking process for youth to compose and perform an original opera in five days. She also produced a two-week festival for students from her private vocal studio, where she produced multiple concerts and conducted a scenes program in Santa Fe, NM. She assumes the role of director of the Young Voices of Santa Fe Opera in Fall of 2023. Amy enjoys developing her interests as a multi-genre vocalist, producer, conductor, accordion player, dancer, yogi, educator, writer, composer, and wellness advocate. She holds a M.M. degree in vocal performance from Rice University and a B.M. in vocal performance from Brigham Young University.

EMILY SKINNER has unequivocally established herself as one of Broadway’s most engaging and versatile performers. She was recently nominated for Best Featured Actress in a Musical by the Drama Desk Awards for her performance in the current Broadway hit SUFFS. The previous year she was seen on Broadway in John Kander, Fred Ebb and Lin Manuel Miranda’s NEW YORK NEW YORK, directed by Susan Stroman. Before that, Skinner received raves for her performance as Desiree Armfeldt in the Berkshire Theatre Company’s production of A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, the Stepmother in the pre-Broadway production of the Britney Spear’s musical ONCE UPON A ONE MORE TIME, and as Cher’s Mother and Lucille Ball in the Broadway production of THE CHER SHOW. In the fall 2017 Broadway season, she had the honor of being directed by Hal Prince in his last show PRINCE OF BROADWAY at Manhattan Theatre Club and she was nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award for her performance. She was also seen that same year Off-Broadway in Transport Group’s much lauded production of PICNIC, where she was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for her performance as Rosemary. Previous to that, she appeared as The Witch in INTO THE WOODS at Houston’s Theatre Under The Stars and as Phyllis in FOLLIES at The Repertory Theatre of St Louis, garnering rave reviews for both performances. She workshopped the new musical SCKBSTD by the Grammy winning singer/songwriter Bruce Hornsby and created the role of Monique McCandless in Stephen King/John Mellencamp's musical THE GHOST BROTHERS OF DARKLAND COUNTY at the Alliance Theatre and on a multi-city national rock n' roll concert tour. Another career highlight was when Dame Julie Andrews selected Emily to star in the musical based on her children's book THE GREAT AMERICAN MOUSICAL, which premiered at Godspeed's Norma Terris Theatre. She appeared previously on Broadway starring in the acclaimed musical BILLY ELLIOT. Handpicked by Oscar-winning director Stephen Daldry, she had the honor of being the very first American selected to play the role of Billy's dance teacher, Mrs. Wilkinson. She received a Broadway World Award for her performance. Emily was nominated for a Tony Award (along with Alice Ripley) and received a Drama League Award for her performance as Daisy Hilton in the brilliant but short-lived SIDE SHOW. Her other original Broadway credits include JEKYLL & HYDE, JAMES JOYCE'S THE DEAD (opposite Christopher Walken), THE FULL MONTY, DINNER AT EIGHT (Outer Critics Circle Nomination), A CHRISTMAS CAROL, as well as The Actors Fund productions of THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS, and DREAMGIRLS. She has sung multiple times at Carnegie Hall with The New York Pops, and appeared there as well in the New York debut of Richard Thomas' infamous JERRY SPRINGER THE OPERA (with Harvey Keitel). Photo by Maryann Lopinto As a soloist, she guested with the New York Philharmonic, Boston Pops, St. Louis Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Virginia Symphony, Dallas Symphony, San Diego Symphony, and the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra. Emily has also headlined New York engagements at Merkin Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, Town Hall, Joe's Pub at the Public Theatre, Birdland, 54 Below, Lincoln Center's American Songbook Series, Feinstein's at the Regency, as well as her solo acts BROADWAY HER WAY and A BROAD WITH A BROAD BROAD MIND at various performing arts centers and cabaret venues around the country. Off-Broadway, Emily performed in the acclaimed City Center Encores! revivals of NO STRINGS, PARDON MY ENGLISH, A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN, and FIORELLO, as well as in various productions and workshops at Manhattan Theatre Club, WPA Theatre, The Transport Group, Paramount Theater at Madison Square Gardens, York Theatre, Playwrights Horizons and the Roundabout Theatre. Photo by James Michael Avance Regionally, she appeared in numerous leading roles at The Kennedy Center, Signature Theatre, Long Wharf Theatre, Old Globe Theatre, Ford's Theatre, McCarter Theatre, Baltimore CenterStage, St. Louis MUNY, American Conservatory Theatre, Guthrie Theatre, Goodspeed, Bucks County Playhouse, Lyric Theater of Oklahoma, Virginia Rep and elsewhere.. Her CD recordings include not only multiple cast albums and audio books, but 20th Century Fox's animated feature ANASTASIA; RAW AT TOWN HALL, DUETS, UNSUSPECTING HEARTS, UNATTACHED(all with Alice Ripley); ELEGIES FOR ANGELS, PUNKS, AND RAGING QUEENS; WHEN I GROW UP; THE STEPHEN SONDHEIM ALBUM; WALL TO WALL SONDHEIM; BELIEVE: THE SONGS OF THE SHERMAN BROTHERS; THE STEPHEN SCHWARTZ ALBUM; multiple BROADWAY BY THE YEAR Live at Town Hall recordings, and her self-titled solo CD which may be found at Amazon.com.

Conductor, Music Director and Pianist Evan Roider maintains an active schedule performing across the United States and abroad. Equally at home on the symphonic stage and in the orchestra pit, he is quickly becoming known as a conductor of great versatility. The 2023-2024 season includes engagements with San Diego Symphony, Utah Symphony, Charlotte Symphony, Sarasota Orchestra, Tucson Symphony, Toledo Symphony, and the No Name Pops. During the 2022-2023 season, he appeared with Pacific Symphony and The Manhattan Transfer, Tucson Symphony and Pink Martini, and the Greensboro Symphony with Michael Feinstein. He has assisted on Pops programming at both the National Symphony Orchestra and the Dallas Symphony. Currently, he serves as Music Director/Conductor for the National Tour of Wicked, having toured with Les Misérables and Cats. As a Music Director, Evan has led productions of Mack and Mabel, A Chorus Line, Company, Into the Woods, The Music Man, Avenue Q, Spring Awakening, and The Wizard of Oz, among others. He was Assistant Conductor for Candide at Carnegie Hall with the Orchestra of St. Luke's (w/John Lithgow), and in 2019, was awarded the Best Music Director award from Broadway World CT for his work on Evita (ACT of Connecticut). Active in the development of new works, Evan spent two summers at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center as part of the National Musical Theater Conference as well as the Cabaret & Performance Conference. He served as music director and pianist for Broadway in Ravello (Italy), a production that was broadcast on Italian National Television, and premiered new arrangements of Leonard Bernstein works at Grand Performances Los Angeles. At Barrington Stage, he was the Associate Music Director for the critically acclaimed production of The Pirates of Penzance, a production the New York Times called, "exhilarating". As a pianist, Evan is a strong advocate of new music, having worked with composers Jake Heggie, William Bolcom, Gwyneth Walker, and Ben Moore, among others. In 2014, he made his debut in China with Cardiff Singer of the World Yang Guang and in 2015, he spearheaded a residency featuring Jake Heggie and Sister Helen Prejean (Dead Man Walking). He has performed at SongFest, Liederfest, the Indiana University Summer Music Festival, the Amalfi Coast Music Festival, and the New Orleans International Piano Competition Institute, having coached with Graham Johnson, Martin Katz, William Bolcom, Nelita True, John Perry, Margo Garrett, and Aldo Ciccolini, among others. Evan is a graduate of the College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati, where he earned a Masters in Orchestral Conducting, having received a BM in Piano from the Hartt School in Connecticut.

GARY GRIFFIN(director) Sondheim credits: London: PACIFIC OVERTURES DonmarWarehouse. Olivier Award. Chicago: GYPSY, SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, FOLLIES, PASSION. Chicago Shakespeare Theater. COMPANY, SATURDAY NIGHT (U.S Premiere) Pegasus Players.ASSASSINS, Apple Tree Theatre. St. Louis: A FUNNY THING HAPPENED.., INTO THE WOODS The Muny. Washington DC: ROAD SHOW Signature. Stratford Festival: A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC. Broadway credits: THE COLOR PURPLE, HONEYMOON IN VEGAS, THE APPLE TREE. San Diego: DANCING IN THE DARK, The Old Globe.

LEN CARIOU is an internationally recognized, Tony Award-winning, Emmy-nominated actor whose career spans over six decades on Broadway and regional stages, in film, and television. A member of the Theatre Hall of Fame, he is celebrated in particular for originating the role of Frederick Egerman in Sondheim's A Little Night Music, and for his legendary performance as the title character in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. He was recently honored at the 78th Annual Theatre World Awards with the John Willis Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre along with Off-Broadway Alliance’s Legend of Off-Broadway Award. Cariou remains highly regarded for classical repertoires performed at the Stratford Festival and Guthrie theatres including King Lear, which he assayed twice. His one-man show Broadway and the Bard embraces both the dramatic and musical elements of his sojourn in his beloved profession. Len is also known for playing the patriarch of the family in Blue Bloods, one of CBS's highest rated primetime programs. Len is a member of the Order of Manitoba and an Officer of the Order of Canada.

Philip Rosenberg is an award winning New York City based Lighting Designer whose work has been seen on Broadway, Off-Broadway, in regional theaters across the country and on the West End in London. Broadway credits include: Mrs. Doubtfire the Musical, Pretty Woman the Musical, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, The Elephant Man, and It’s Only a Play. Regional theatre credits include: Kennedy Center, La Jolla Playhouse, Ford’s Theatre, The Guthrie Theater, The Old Globe, TheatreWorks, Hartford Stage, Huntington Theatre Company, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Dallas Theatre Center, The Alley Theatre, Arena Stage, The McCarter Theatre, Manhattan School of Music, Portland Stage Company, TACT, Barrington Stage Company, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Dorset Theatre Festival, Bay Street Theatre, Goodspeed Opera, Two River Theatre Company, George Street Playhouse, and Westport Country Playhouse. Prior to launching his own design career, Philip was Associate Lighting Designer on over 35 Broadway Plays and musicals. Philip is a graduate of the University of Arizona Theatre Arts Program. RESUME

BIO With his rich voice, dynamic versatility and charisma, Santino Fontana has cemented himself as one of Broadway's favorite leading men. Last seen starring on Broadway in his tour de force dual role in Tootsie for which he received the 2019 Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk, and Tony Awards. He is perhaps best known to audiences as the voice of villainous Prince Hans in the Academy Award Winning Disney film Frozen. Television audiences saw him on the most recent season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and recognize him from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Shades of Blue, Mozart In The Jungle, Fosse/Verdon, Royal Pains, Nurse Jackie and more. His other Broadway credits include Hello Dolly, Act One, Cinderella, The Importance of Being Earnest (Clarence Derwent Award), Brighton Beach Memoirs (Drama Desk Award), Billy Elliot, and Sunday in the Park with George. He also received Lortel and Obie Awards for his off-broadway performance in Stephen Karam’s Sons of the Prophet. As an interpreter of the American Songbook he won the renowned Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival when he was 18 and has sung with orchestras, big bands, and smaller ensembles including the New York Philharmonic, NY Pops, National Symphony Orchestra, Houston Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Master Voices, Westchester Philharmonic, Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Sesame Street Muppets, Phoenix Symphony, and at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, Birdland, and the Bravo Festival at Vail. @santinofontana

BIO Tony Yazbeck most recently starred as Cary Grant in the new musical Flying Over Sunset on Broadway at Lincoln Center Theatre. He began his career at the age of 11 on Broadway in Gypsy with Tyne Daly. For the 2014 Broadway revival of On the Town, he won the Astaire Award and was nominated for the Tony, Drama League, and Outer Critics Circle awards for his virtuosic performance. He also starred in the Susan Stroman/Harold Prince–helmed Japan and Broadway productions of Prince of Broadway for which he received the Chita Rivera Award as well as Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award nominations. His other Broadway credits include Finding Neverland (J.M. Barrie), Chicago (Billy Flynn), Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (Phil Davis), Gypsy with Patti LuPone (Tulsa; Outer Critics Circle nomination), A Chorus Line (Al), Oklahoma!, and Never Gonna Dance. Off-Broadway credits include A Chorus Line (City Center), The Cradle Will Rock (Classic Stage), The Beast in the Jungle (Vineyard Theatre), The Scarlet Pimpernel and Crazy For You (both at David Geffen Hall), Fanny Hill (York Theatre), and for New York City Center Encores! he has appeared in Little Me, On the Town, Gypsy, The Apple Tree, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, and Pardon My English. Regional theatre credits include Alliance, Barrington, Williamstown, Hartford Stage, Goodman, The Muny (St. Louis), Goodspeed (Connecticut Critics Circle Award), Signature (Helen Hayes Award), Trinity Rep, Paper Mill, and Old Globe. Mr. Yazbeck starred internationally in Kiss Me, Kate at the Royal Albert Hall in London under the baton of John Wilson. His television and film credits include The Good Fight, Billions, Smash, and the feature documentary Every Little Step. In concert he has appeared with the San Francisco Symphony under Michael Tilson Thomas; Carnegie Hall with the New York Pops under the baton of Steven Reineke; with National Symphony Orchestra at Wolf Trap with Michael Barrett; he was featured on the PBS Great Performances special The Bernstein Centennial Celebration at Tanglewood with the Boston Symphony Orchestra; and he was most recently featured on PBS with The Kennedy Center at 50. Mr. Yazbeck also stars in his own song and dance show. He recently premiered his solo concert at Lincoln Center’s American Songbook series. His debut album, The Floor Above Me, has been released digitally and on CD by PS Classics. He made his New York directorial debut at David Geffen Hall this past February 2024 with Children of Eden. Tony can next be seen on the new FX series American Sports Story: Gladiator later this year.