ADULTS’ PERFORMANCES
KIDS’ PERFORMANCES
MTC’s Spring Gala Fundraiser
Now A Weekend-Long Event!
THURSDAY, MAY 21
KIDS
Begins at 7:00pm!
FRIDAY, MAY 22
ADULTS
Begins at 8:00pm!
SATURDAY, MAY 23
BY MTC STUDENTS
Premieres at 11:00am!
The MTC Voice: Online Edition winners will be announced on...
SUNDAY, MAY 24 at 5:00pm
Proceeds benefit the scholarship fund and programming of Music Theatre of Connecticut. 10% of each contestants proceeds will go to a charity of their choice!
OUR CONTESTANTS!
KID CONTESTANTS
Maddy Alecia
Coach: Elissa DeMaria
Chosen Charity: Operation Hope
Maddy is thrilled to be a contestant on MTC Voice and have the opportunity to support local theatre. Maddy has studied voice, acting, piano and dance since the age of 6 and is always happiest when performing. Most recently Maddy performed in Matilda (Lavender) at Fairfield Center Stage. She has also appeared in Annie (Pepper) & The Christmas Elf (Emmy) at Downtown Cabaret Theatre, Annie (Pepper) at Westport Country Playhouse/ BMA & Annie(Orphan) at the Kweskin Theatre. Prior to gearing up for the voice, Maddy was working on her role as Patrice in the Tomlinson Middle School production of 13. Other favorite roles include: Annie (Molly) and Lion King Jr. (young Nala) at BBC in Fairfield. Maddy would like to thank Frank Root and Julie Hallama for all of their encouragement, Elissa her MTC Voice coach, and family friends for all of their support.
Nick Behson
Coach: Nicolas Dromard
Chosen Charity: The Actors Fund - COVID-19 Emergency Relief
Nick Behson is 15 years old and has been doing musical theatre for a few years. As well as being vocally experienced, Nick also plays 5 instruments. He has never done a show at MTC, but he’s seen 3 shows here, and he’s really excited to be a part of this!
Robbie Crandall
Coach: Paulette Oliva and Peter McClung
Chosen Charity: Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS
Robbie has most recently appeared in the national tour of Les Miserables (Gavroche). Regionally he has appeared in Beauty and the Beast (Chip), the pilot production of Matilda Jr. (Nigel), Ragtime (Little Boy), The Hundred Dresses (Willie), A Christmas Carol (Young Scrooge), WiIly Wonka Kids (Charlie Bucket), You're a Good Man Charlie Brown (Snoopy) and many others. He is represented by Bercy Talent and David Gilbert at Zuri. Robbie is a proud member of AEA.
Hannah Pressman
Coach: Nicolas Dromard
Chosen Charity: No Kid Hungry
Hannah Pressman is excited to be a contestant on the MTC Voice. She has appeared on the MTC MainStage as the Little Girl in Ragtime and in the children’s ensemble of Evita. She has also appeared in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and The Who’s Tommy at the Ridgefield Playhouse. Hannah has performed in many MTC School of Performing Arts productions and benefit concerts such as Seussical (Gertrude McFuzz), Alice in Wonderland (The White Rabbit), and Willy Wonka (Mrs. Bucket). Other favorite roles include: Into the Woods (The Baker’s Wife) and Beauty and the Beast (Chip). Hannah would like to thank Kevin, Jim, Deb and the entire MTC family as well as her MTC Voice coach, Nic Dromard, and her family and friends.
Ryan Ryan
Coach: Jodi Stevens
Chosen Charity: Room to Read
Ryan Ryan has been enjoying the stage since she was three years old. With dance instruction in ballet, tap, lyrical and jazz at both Ballet Etudes Studio and the Westport YMCA Company dance programs, she has performed in multiple Nutcracker performances at the Westport Country Playhouse, ten annual dance showcases, multiple Wesport Art About Town performances, the opening of the new Westport Library and has competed in more than seventeen multi-discipline regional dance competitions in both solo and group numbers. Ryan began her love of theatre while working with the Westport Community Theatre at age 7. She has studied voice and acting for theatre, film and television at the Music Theatre of Connecticut School of Performing Arts since 2017. Her musical theatre productions include Shrek The Musical, Suessical The Musical, The Jungle Book, The Disney pilot theatre production of The Descendants, Matilda and, most notably, the professional production of Ragtime at the MTC Theatre, where she is currently working on her role as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. Ryan has performed with the a cappella group, Back Track and does annual workshops with Camp A Capella. At age 6, she had her first solo singing performance while playing piano, followed a year later by Le Miserable’s Castle on A Cloud, a cappella in front of her entire school. Ryan is enthusiastic and joyful as she looks forward to an exciting career in theatre.
Christian and Emma Seoane
Coach: Desirée Davar
Chosen Charity: Weston Volunteer EMS
Hello, we are Emma and Christian Seoane! We live in Weston, CT and attend Weston Middle School. Emma is 14 and Christian is 13. We have been performing in shows together since 2012. A couple of our favorite MTC shows we have performed in are Matilda and Disney's Descendants. In addition to performing in shows Emma enjoys singing all the time and Christian enjoys playing his tenor saxophone. MTC holds a special place in our hearts because every class and show has been an extremely fun experience and the people are truly amazing. MTC has impacted us through the friends we have made, by giving us the opportunity to work with professional teachers, and has overall been an amazing introduction to musical theatre!
ADULT CONTESTANTS
Greg Cole
Coach: Frank Mastrone
Chosen Charity: The Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County
A Pennsylvania native, Greg Cole moved to Connecticut in 2010. Shortly after, he attended a production at MTC, the first of many wonderful evenings at this exceptional theatre. Now serving as an MTC board member, he lives with his husband in North Stamford. While he pursues wide musical interests, Greg mainly sings early choral music. He is thrilled to have the opportunity to perform one of his favorite standards from the American songbook and support MTC.
Tina Himaya
Coach: Paulette Oliva
Chosen Charity: LE&RN
TINA HIMAYA - Tina is thrilled to be participating in this Fundraiser for MTC, and even more excited to reconnect with her favorite "stage mom" of all time, Paulette Oliva. She is no stranger to non-profit work. Tina raises funding and awareness all year long for Lymphedema and Lymphatic Disease with The Lymphatic Education & Research Network (LE&RN). Of course, that's who she'll be singing for today. She co-wrote and starred in a original script called "WHAT ABOUT US? Living with Lymphedema" in NYC. After two successful runs, the team was thrilled to be given the opportunity to perform it once again in New York's Capital on none other than World Lymphedema Day! If you'd be interested in sponsorship for the show, e-mail us at whataboutuslwl@gmail.com. Each year she marches alongside LE&RN and Kathy Bates on Capital Hill in Washington D.C. for Lobby Day, to help persuade the NIH to allocate money to Lymphatic Research. In March 2019, Tina was honored at The New York State Capital in Albany by The House and Senate for her advocacy efforts. Just a few favorite credits include: Natalie in The New York Regional Premier of "Next to Normal" (Westchester Sandbox Theatre), Joy in "Cinderella" (La Comedia Dinner Theatre), Crystal in "Little Shop of Horrors" (The Devon Theatre), "Let’s Air It!" Pilot - Sketch Comedy (NYC Metro Channel), "The Divine Sarah: A New Musical" - Vocalist (Original Demo Recording, NYC), and The Seasons Soloist in "RENT" (M.O.C. Musicals with Director Bob Cline). Tina sang and won the award for Most Outstanding Vocal at the 6th Annual Omni Music & Actor Awards, honoring Academy Award Winner Lou Gossett Jr. in LA. She’s also a National Foundation for Advancement in the ARTS Merit Award Winner in Musical Theatre. Tina runs her own Social Marketing Business with Arbonne International. Visit: www.ChristinaHimaya.Arbonne.com. When out of quarantine, you can catch her at The Duplex Cabaret & Piano Bar in NYC Singing and Slinging. She'd like to thank Paulette for asking her to be a part of this wonderful cause. For Rocco Notarfrancesco, and Pam Ross. tinahimaya@gmail.com.
Mike Mushak
Chosen Charity: Person-to-Person
Mike Mushak lives in Norwalk, CT, with his loving husband David and loving dog Coco. He is a landscape architect and he and David own and operate Tuliptree Site Design, a landscape design firm. Mike tried to learn to sing like Ethel Merman to scare the deer and groundhogs out of his garden. You be the judge!
Michael Pane
Coach: Paulette Oliva
Chosen Charity: ElderHouse Adult Day Care
Michael Pane grew up in West Hartford, CT and lived in Litchfield county for several years before moving to the Berkshires where he performed with several local jazz groups. He now lives in Asheville, NC where he works with adults with disabilities. He is thrilled to be a part of this MTC fundraiser!
Robert Sciglimpaglia
Coach: Kirsti Carnahan
Chosen Charity: Connecticut Food Bank
Robert Sciglimpaglia was born in Stamford and resides in Norwalk with his wife, Jenny of 31 years and he is a board member here at MTC. His twin daughters Mary and Patti were star softball players at St. Joseph University in Hartford, CT, and his third daughter Katie plays D1 softball at St. Peter's University in Jersey City, NJ. Rob is a local attorney, and he is also a professional actor and voice over artist being a member of SAG-AFTRA since 2011. He has appeared on national television many times, as well as in many short and feature films. He also has appeared in several stage shows in both community theater, and Off Broadway. On top of his day job, Rob owns an award winning production company, "Belair Productions, LLC". Rob wrote the book "Voice Over Legal" which hit number 1 on the Amazon Best Seller list in the Entertainment law category. He is probably best known as the Dad in the 2012 Super Bowl commercial "Happy Grad." Rob is thrilled to venture off into a new area in entertainment for him; singing. And he is thrilled to do so for charity and MTC.