BIFF CAST & BAND

CAST

Tom Auclair (Prof) is thrilled to be working with Michael O'Dell again and with this incredible cast. Colorado Springs credits: Assassins, In the Next Room (or the Vibrator Play) and Christmas Story at the Fine Arts Center and The Pillowman at Springs Ensemble Theatre. Regional credits: The House of Blue Leaves, Batboy: The Musical, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Grey Gardens and Into the Woods, among others. 

Satya Chavez (Izzy) is studying theater and music at The University of Colorado. A few of her latest achievements have been; Performing as Jo March in CU's Little Women The Musical, Marcy Park in The Turner Foundation's regional tour of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Aida in Arts Off-Broadway’s Aida, A National Youth Theater Award for her performance of Bloody Mary in South Pacific, The Old Globe Theatre's Globe Honors Scholarship for the category of Musical Theater and a $1000 first place prize for The University of Colorado's CU Idol.

Carlos Jimenez (Marcus) is so excited to be doing this project and feels very honored to perform this as an original cast member. He is currently appearing as Sonny in Vintage Theatre's In the Heights. Previous shows he has been in were Evening on Broadway, Footloose as Ren, Joseph and... Dreamcoat as Benjamin, Oliver as Charley - all with Inspire Creative and A Chorus Line as Mark with Ignite Theatre. Carlos has also been the choreographer for a couple of Inspire Jr. shows such as Willy Wonka Jr. and Aladdin Jr. He wants to thank Mom, Dad, Frenchy, and Sammy for all of their love and support.

 

Meagan Mahlberg (Grace) has recently finished a Masters Degree in Voice Performance at the University of Colorado at Boulder.  Meagan earned her Bachelor Degree from CU in 2008 also in Voice Performance.  During her time at CU, Meagan has studied and performed operatic roles such as Countess from Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, Susannah from Floyd’s Susannah, Violetta from Verdi’s La Traviata, Elvira from Mozart’s Don Giovanni and Queen of the Night from Mozart’s The Magic Flute with CU opera, as well as for a benefit concert with the Boulder Youth Symphony; Marcellina from Mozart’s Le Nozze Di Figaro; Elektra from Mozart’s Idomeneo; Echo from Strauss’s Ariadne auf Naxos; Bergere, Shepardess, and Frog in Ravel’s L’Enfant et les Sortilege; and Bianca from Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia.  

Meagan has studied abroad in Austria twice.  In 2007 she attended AIMS in Graz and in 2009 she was fully funded by scholarships from Allied Arts and Mu Phi Epsilon to attend LIED AUSTRIA.  In the summer of 2010, she spent five weeks singing Verdi and Rossini concert work in northeast Italy with the Piccolo Festival.

For the last seven years, Meagan has studied with voice teacher Julie Simson.  However, she has also worked with Charmaine Coppom and Patti Peterson.  Recently, Meagan has studied briefly with Bonaldo Giaiotti while in Italy.  Meagan coaches with Nicholas Carthy, Christopher Zemliauskas and Mutsumi Moteki.  Meagan has sung in various master classes including a Mu Phi Epsilon sponsored master class with Christine Brewer, and most recently she has sung in multiple master classes with Alessandro Corbelli.

In 2010, Meagan took second place in the Denver Lyric Opera Guild voice competition and made it through two rounds of the Met competition. In 2007, Meagan won the Anderson’s Voice Scholarship Competition at CU and was a finalist in 2006 and 2005.  She has received multiple scholarships for school including full tuition scholarships all four years of undergraduate study as well as full tuition plus stipend scholarship for graduate study.  Meagan has received multiple high marks in NATS competitions, and solo/ensemble competitions.  

“A beautiful legato line” - “Rich, colorful tone that is very pleasing to hear” - “great musical preparation and character/emotional development” - These are among a many wonderful comments Ms. Mahlberg has received from various competition judges.  

In addition to a heavy focus on classical repertoire, Meagan has premiered numerous modern pieces including one written for her voice by friend and composer Ryan Spencer.  “This Quiet” was written in 2007 and premiered at the renowned CU Pendulum Concert Series during the same year. 

Alejandro Roldan (GG) is very pleased to be joining the cast and crew of Waiting... He is a classically trained vocalist who studied at Roosevelt University and the University of Northern Colorado.  Currently playing Usnavi in In the Heights at Vintage Theatre (August 2nd-Sept 8th).  He has been actively involved in Colorado theatre for the past two and half years, performing all over the state.  Recent Credits include Jacques Brel (Man #2), Hair (ensemble), Godspell, City of Angels (Jimmy Powers) Next to Normal (Henry), Kiss of the Spider Woman (Swing/Ensemble) and Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (James Monroe).  Thanks mom and Padre for all you do!

BAND 

Aaron Bagby (Percussion) is an in-demand percussionist, drummer, and educator in the Boulder-Denver area.  With an average of over 150 shows yearly, Aaron maintains an active and diverse performance career which includes jazz-funk, R&B, symphonic, swing, musical theater, and many more.
As a drummer, Aaron has worked with a variety of musicians and groups along the Front Range in Colorado. Aaron currently performs with Honey Comb, Third Stream, and is the house drummer at Crossroads Church of Denver. Also active as a freelance drummer, Aaron has had the pleasure of working with many talented artists and ensembles; his recent work includes collaborations with the Kory Brunson Band, Tony Franklin, the Doug Walter Vibraphone Trio, and others. Aaron has also performed numerous musical theater productions with organizations such as the Metropolitan State University of Denver Theater Department, the University of Colorado-Boulder Theater Department, and a regional tour with the Turner Foundation.

Equally at home in orchestral settings as well, Aaron served as Principal Percussionist in the Longmont Symphony Orchestra for two years. His current orchestral work includes engagements with the Boulder Philharmonic, the Musica Sacra Chamber Orchestra, and the Cantabile Chamber Orchestra. Aaron remains active as an on-call percussionist for faculty and student performances through Regis University and the University of Colorado-Boulder College of Music.

Also active as an educator, Aaron is an affiliate faculty member at Regis University. His responsibilities include coordinating the percussion department and teaching music theory, aural skills, and basic musicianship. In addition to his work at Regis University, Aaron teaches the percussion sections of the marching band and concert bands at Boulder High School. Aaron also maintains his own private studio where he offers drum set and percussion lessons to members of the Boulder-Denver community.

Over the course of his career, Aaron has had the privilege of performing with many well-known and talented artists and ensembles. He has performed with such artists as Jeff Coffin, Michael Spiro, Andres Cardenes, Geraldine Walther, and Sarah Morrow while his projects have opened for bands and artists such as Soulive, and the Marco Benevento Trio. Aaron has also appeared with the Ohio Valley Symphony, the Boulder Youth Symphony, and the Lipz Big Band. In 2008, he held a residency in Carnegie Hall with the National Wind Ensemble and performed in the JFK Center for the Performing Arts later that year.

Bagby holds a Bachelor’s degree in Percussion Performance from Ohio University, magna cum laude, and a Master’s in Percussion Performance from the University of Colorado-Boulder, summa cum laude. Several notable and influential instructors include Guy Remonko, Douglas Walter, Roger Braun, and Bruce Gerken.

When he is not engaged in performing or teaching music, Bagby enjoys running, hiking, and bicycling in the Rocky Mountains. He is a Central Ohio native.

Michael O'Dell (Keyboards) A former Berklee College of Music student (jazz studies, film scoring, and vocal jazz - studied under jazz vocalist Roberta Davis) and a graduate of Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory of Music in Cleveland (Bachelor of Music Degree - studied under composer Dr. Loris Chobanian), Michael has music directed, accompanied, arranged, conducted, and composed for a plethora of shows in the New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco areas.

Among his other favorites gigs: Ragtime, Sweeney Todd, On The Town, A Little Night Music, A New Brain, and Last Call a.k.a. Happy Hour/The End (the George Furth/Doug Katsaros musical), and as Assistant Music Director (Michael Farrell, Music Director) for the headlining cabaret show, A Tribute to Bobby Darin Starring John Ferdenzi (directed by Clifford Bell) at the famous Hollywood Cinnabar Grill and Cabaret in the Roosevelt Hotel. Most recently Michael composed original incidental music for The Unexpected Man and Peter & Wendy for Lafayette Town Hall and also served as Music Director for Theatre Q’s Torch Song Trilogy, for which he composed the jazzy "Who Woulda Thought?". He has also worked in California at the Willows Theatre and Cabaret, Lamplighters, Alameda Civic Light Opera, Venus Rising Theatre Company, Theatre on San Pedro Square, and also The Manatee Players in Tampa. Michael has had the privilege to work as Musical Director for the west coast premiere of Meshuggah-Nuns with Director/Writer/ Composer Danny Goggin.

As an actor, Michael played "Willie Conklin" in Diablo Theatre Company spectacular Ragtime, "Man #2" in Last Call, "Mabel" in Radio Gals, and "Merlin" and "Graynor" in the Shadowbox Cabaret rock operas, Dawn of Infinite Dreams and Lone Season. He also originated the character of "Floyd, the accompanist" in the hilariously popular Shadowbox Cabaret "The Santa Babies" skit for their annual Holiday Hoopla Christmas Cabaret. As a jazz vocalist, Michael has had the privilege of studying with Madeline Eastman, Kurt Elling, and Karrin Allyson at the prestigious Stanford Jazz Workshop and Jazz Camp West. And as jazz pianist, Michael studied with west coasters Mark Levine and Peter Horvath. Michael also provided the background vocals for the title track of the award-winning independent film, My Sweet Killer [music by Sean Abreu].

Other work:   Stage Manager for the 2008 NYC International Fringe Festival's Becoming Britney; Composer for the ten minute musical titled American Bombshell for the U.S-ification of America Conference Festival at Center Stage in NYC; Music Director/Pianist/Composer for Australian singer/actress Louise Van's cabaret shows at The Duplex and Don't Tell Mama; appearing as "Fagen Beauregard"/Music Director/Pianist/Arranger for the 2009 The New York International Fringe Festival's hit Poppy Bulova: An Enchanted Evening With Poppy Bulova; Music Director/Pianist/Sidekick for Jason Sofge's one-man show, Fat Man Tapping: The Biggest Show Under One Roof at The Laurie Beechman Theatre; Composer for the fairy tale-based musical, The Souls of Her Feet with Kristen Caven (the first part of the trilogy, Shoes, a Mirror, and Big Pink Rose); Music Director/Arranger for 23 Coins A New Musical at Nicu's Spoon Theatre Company in NYC. Michael also has composed video greeting cards for the San Francisco-based company The Hi Note. In 2010 & 2012, Michael was Music Director for the National Tour of In The Mood, the music revue celebrating the music of the 1940s.

Currently, Michael is Music Director at Rocky Mountain Theatre Kids’ summer camp for their productions of Footloose, Gleeful 3, and The Hobbit.  He will be a full-time instructor with them starting this fall.  Michael also teaches piano, voice, and songwriting lessons in Boulder.  Occasionally, you may find Michael playing his chalkboard piano on Pearl Street Mall in Boulder.  In his spare time, Michael thinks about his next project and sleeps and drinks coffee and bikes.