Opera Lancaster Announces Full Cast of DON PASQUALE After National Search

Following a national search, Opera Lancaster is thrilled to announce its cast for its upcoming production of Don Pasquale.

• Don Pasquale: Colin B. Johnson (Bass/Baritone). Mr. Johnson has performed with numerous opera houses and concert venues across the US, in Germany, and Italy. This performance marks the return of Mr. Johnson to the Opera Lancaster stage, who was in the 2013 production of Faust.
• Dr. Malatesta: Justin Ryan (Baritone). Opera News called his presence "commanding," Mr. Ryan has performed around the country with American Symphony Orchestra, Opera Columbus, Mississippi Opera, Toledo Opera, Sarasota Opera and Chelsea Opera among others.
• Ernesto: Luke Grooms (Tenor). Mr. Grooms is a Tennessee native and a product of some of the most prestigious opera training programs in the country, including Glimmerglass Opera, Chautauqua Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Sarasota Opera, and Opera North. In 2011, he performed the role of Ferrando in Opera Lancaster's Cosi fan Tutte. He also performed in Prokofiev's The Gambler at the Met Opera in NYC and was a part of the national tour of The Phantom of the Opera in 2010.
• Nornia: Rachael Eve Holmes (Soprano) Opera Lancaster received nearly 70 responses for sopranos for the role of Norina, and Ms. Holmes was the standout. A graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music and The Ralph Opera Center at Colorado State University, Ms. Holmes was recently a featured artist at Pittsburgh Opera Theatre.

Rounding out the cast is tenor Robert Hahn as the Lawyer, the Opera Lancaster chorus under the direction of Dr. Robert Bigley and the Opera Lancaster orchestra under the direction of Dr. Simon Andrews.

Directed by John Darrenkamp, Don Pasquale will be performed in English and set in the 1920s. Performances are May 29 (7:30PM), 30 (2:00PM) and 31 (2:00PM) at the Roschel Performing Arts Center at F&M. Tickets and info are available at OperaLancaster.com.

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ABOUT OPERA LANCASTER
Founded in 1952 as Lancaster Opera Workshop, OperaLancaster has produced over 100 opera productions in the Lancaster community. It is one of the only companies in the Commonwealth - outside of Philadelphia - to present fully staged productions of operas and musical dramas.

The organization is made up of a professional staff, volunteers and performers who come from the local educational, business, and arts communities. Anyone who is interested in opera and in supporting the company is welcome to participate.

OperaLancaster provides development and career advancement opportunities for singers and musicians coming out of local schools and colleges, and local music professionals who want to maintain and hone their artistic skills. Two singers, John Darrenkamp and Robert Brubaker, performed with OperaLancaster and went on to have international singing careers with the Metropolitan Opera and other companies.

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