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Home , 5th Avenue Theatre, A Little Night Music, Donna McKechnie, Girl Crazy, John Doyle (director), Juno (musical)

Broadcast December 23 at 7 pm & December 25 at 1 pm on WOWT Channel 6

Ernest Richardson, principal pops conductor Parker Esse, stage director/choreographer Maria Turnage, associate stage director

ROBERT H. STORZ FOUNDATION PROGRAM

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year/ Jingle Bells JAMES LORD PIERPONT/ARR. ELLIOTT Christmas Waltz VARIOUS/ARR. KESSLER Happy Holiday - The Holiday Season /ARR. WHITFIELD Joy to the World TRADITIONAL/ARR. RICHARDSON Mother Ginger (La mère Gigogne et Danse russe Trepak from Suite No. 1, les polichinelles) from Nutcracker PIOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY from Nutcracker PIOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY We Are the Very Model of a God Bless Us Everyone from Modern Christmas Shopping Pair A Christmas Carol from Pirates of Penzance ALAN SILVESTRI/ARR. ROSS ARTHUR SULLIVAN/LYRICS BY RICHARDSON

Silent Night My Favorite Things from FRANZ GRUBER/ARR. RICHARDSON

RICHARD RODGERS/ARR. WHITFIELD Snow/Jingle Bells IRVING BERLIN/ARR. BARKER O Holy Night ADOLPH-CHARLES ADAM/ARR. RICHARDSON Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow /ARR. SEBESKY We Need a Little Christmas /ARR. WENDEL Frosty the Snowman WALTER ROLLINS/ARR. KATSAROS Hark All Ye Shepherds TRADITIONAL/ARR. RICHARDSON Sleigh Ride

2 ARTISTIC DIRECTION

Ernest Richardson, principal pops conductor and resident conductor of the Omaha Symphony, is the artistic leader of the orchestra’s annual Christmas Celebration production and internationally performed “Only in Omaha” productions, and he leads the successful Symphony Pops, Symphony Rocks, and Movies Series. Since 1993, he has led in the development of the Omaha Symphony’s innovative education and community engagement programs. A recipient of the 2016 Nebraska Governor’s Arts Award for Excellence in Arts Education, Richardson has encouraged and supported countless young musicians. Nationally, Ernest has been at the forefront of symphonic video/live music productions, conducting live-to-movie scores of the Harry Potter series with CineConcerts, and other films includingIndiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jurassic Park, Star Trek (2009), and Star Wars. May 2020 marked his live-in-concert album debut with indie rock band Guster on OMAHGAH!, featuring their live performance with the Omaha Symphony in February 2019. Richardson also serves as music director and principal conductor of the Steamboat Symphony Orchestra in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and is the founding artistic director and CEO of the Rocky Mountain Summer Conservatory. He began studying the at the age of three with his father, Dr. Vernal Richardson. He continued his string education at Indiana University, later concentrating on the at the University of Michigan. He studied conducting with Samuel Krachmalnick and Gustav Meier and composition with William Albright and William Bolcom. An avid fly fisherman, Richardson can be found on trout streams in Colorado and municipal lakes in Nebraska. He has also earned a black belt in tae kwon do and has been known to help his sons build award-winning pinewood derby cars and craft his own batons. He lives in Omaha with his wife and children plus a varied menagerie of cattle dogs, , and exotic birds.

Parker Esse, stage director/choreographer is a multi-award-winning, dynamic and story-driven director- choreographer. After performing regionally in national tours and being a featured performer on Broadway in the Tony Jingle Bells Award-winning , which was taped for PBS Great Performances, Parker followed his to the other side of the JAMES LORD PIERPONT/ARR. ELLIOTT creative table. He collaborated as associate director and/or choreographer on Broadway’s critically acclaimed and Tony- nominated Finian’s Rainbow and A Tale of Two Cities; five Center Encores! productions ofGirl Crazy, Finian’s Rainbow, , Juno, and Stairway to Paradise; the National Tour of 101 Dalmatians: The Musical; and, regionally, Happy Holiday - The Holiday Season the world premieres of and Pirates! at Goodspeed Opera House and , Dancing in the Dark IRVING BERLIN/ARR. WHITFIELD at The Old Globe, and and the pre-Broadway run of at The Kennedy Center. Parker then exploded onto the scene as choreographer on the groundbreaking Oklahoma! for the grand re-opening of the historic, Tony Award-winning Mother Ginger (La mère Gigogne et at The Mead Center for American Theatre. He then went on to choreograph such shows as and Wynton Marsalis’ A Bed and a Chair: A New York Love Affairdirected by at Encores! les polichinelles) from Nutcracker and Jazz at . Recently, Parker choreographed the high-octane and critically acclaimed productions of Anything PIOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY Goes at Arena Stage starring and Soara Joye-Ross, La Traviata directed by Francesca Zambello at The Kennedy Center for National Opera, and the world premiere of Jukebox Hero at the Ed Mirvish Theatre in , and We Are the Very Model of a he was director/choreographer for Lyrics and Lyricists’ Oklahoma! at 75 for the 92nd St. Y. He just choreographed for Arena Stage. Parker is an eight-time Nominee for Best Choreography, winning for Oklahoma!, which was Modern Christmas Shopping Pair internationally acclaimed as of a generation of reimagined revivals, as as the star-studdedThe Pajama Game from Pirates of Penzance starring Broadway legend Donna McKechnie at Arena Stage. This past season, Parker received his third Helen Hayes Award ARTHUR SULLIVAN/LYRICS BY RICHARDSON for Best Choreography on starring Corbin Bleu at Arena Stage. Parker also choreographed the new, highly acclaimed “Revisal” of with Stephen Schwartz at Goodspeed Opera House, where he has also choreographed five My Favorite Things from musical revivals. He is a two-time CT Outer Critics Circle nominee for Best Choreography for Fiddler on and , which was taped and archived for The New York Public Library of Performing Arts at Lincoln Center. Parker was director/ The Sound of Music choreographer for the pre-Broadway workshop, NYC readings of Hazel: The Musical and Chéri based on the classic French /ARR. WHITFIELD novel by Colette. Parker received his BFA from ’s Tisch School of the Arts. He is also the co-founder and artistic director of The Broadway Series and a proud member of Actors Equity Association and Stage Directors O Holy Night and Choreographers Society. ADOLPH-CHARLES ADAM/ARR. RICHARDSON

We Need a Little Christmas Maria Turnage, associate stage director is honored to be again with the Omaha Symphony this JERRY HERMAN/ARR. WENDEL season. As a leading performer, Ms. Turnage has toured internationally and regionally in cities such as , Moscow, , New York City, , , San Francisco, and . As an associate/assistant director she has worked on Equity showcases, concerts, benefits for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids, world premieres, and classic musical theater Hark All Ye Shepherds productions. Maria was observer to director Molly Smith’s Anything Goes at Arena Stage; creative team assistant for the pre- TRADITIONAL/ARR. RICHARDSON Broadway trial of the new musical Jukebox Hero: The Music of Foreigner at Toronto’s Ed Mirvish Theatre; associate director of Fiorello! at School of Music; and associate director for 92nd St Y Lyrics and Lyricists’ Oklahoma! at 75. Most recently she was associate director to Jay Binder’s out-of-town trial Love and Other Fables and associate director for The Full Monty at Casa Mañana. Maria is co-founder/co-artistic/managing director of The Broadway Master Class Series. She partners with international organizations like Destination Imagination’s DI Global Finals, co-directing Tony-winning Broadway stars in the DI Opening Ceremonies and developing Master Artist Workshops for 18,000 international participants. Maria received her

BFA from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. 3 VOCAL PERFORMERS

Siri Howard, soprano is a Broadway actress, recording artist, and concert performer who began her professional career at age 10 and has continued to perform on some of the world’s most prestigious stages. On Broadway Siri has appeared in Les Misérables and The Sound of Music (Broadway Revival ). National Tours include The of the Opera, , Les Misérables 25th Anniversary Production, and The Sound of Music starring Richard Chamberlain. Regionally Ms. Howard has been seen in (Marian Paroo)- IRNE Nomination Best Lead Actress, North Shore Music Theatre; starring Emma Thompson, Live from Lincoln Center; (Nellie Forbush), Gulf Coast Symphony; (Hodel), Maine State Music Theatre; 25th Anniversary Production (Fredrika), with the Philadelphia Orchestra; Les Misérables (Cosette), Maltz Jupiter Theatre, Maine State Music Theatre, and North Shore Music Theatre; Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (Angel), The Rev Theatre; Oklahoma! (Laurey), Gulf Coast Symphony. Siri has also appeared as a soloist with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, the Steamboat Springs Symphony Orchestra, and The Florida Orchestra. Ms. Howard has a deep love for classical music, and has performed concerts of Bernstein’s Songfest, Berg’s Wozzeck, Mozart’s Requiem, and operas such as Le Nozze di Figaro, the NY premiere of Orpheus Descending, Dido and Aeneas, and La Bohéme. Ms. Howard has performed with the USO for veterans and active duty military, as well as the New Year’s Eve Ball Drop in 2016. She has appeared on multiple annual Carols for a Cure Broadway albums, and as a featured artist on the concept album of Solomon. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance from University of Maryland College Park, and a Master of Arts in vocal performance from the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College. Siri teaches voice and master classes, and coaches around the USA. She is married to director, actor, and singer Max Quinlan, and is proudest of her role as mother to their two-year-old son, Jack.

Max Quinlan, is a Broadway resident director, Broadway performer, Jeff Award-winning actor, casting associate, audition coach, teacher, and director. Most recently, Max served as the associate director for the world premiere of ’s Unmasked at Paper Mill Playhouse. Previously, Max was the resident director for both the 2014-2016 Broadway Revival of Les Misérables as well as the National Tour of The Phantom of the Opera from 2017-2019. Max is the creator and director of the Broadway Isolation Project, a digital video series created during the pandemic. Other directing highlights include , , , , Detroit, and the short film Sammy’s Fedora. Performance highlights: Broadway (Les Misérables revival; OBC, dance captain/ fight captain), National Tours ( , Che; Les Misérables 25thAnniversary, Marius; Ragtime, The Little ), regional theatre (The Light in the Piazza, Fabrizio – Jeff Award winner; , Jesus – BWW Award winner, Jeff Award nomination; Joseph…Dreamcoat, Joseph; Ragtime, Younger Brother; , Freddy). In addition to theatre performance, Max has been a guest concert soloist with the Utah, Indianapolis, Chicago, Omaha, Florida, and symphony orchestras. He is currently working at the Weiss School in South Florida as the head drama teacher. A proud member of AEA since 1998, Max earned his BFA in from the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music. Max is the proud husband to actress Siri Howard and father to their son, Jack. 4 DANCERS

Phillip Attmore’s Broadway credits include Hello, Dolly!, ..., On the 20th Century, , Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Other highlights include I Married an Angel, , and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes at NYCC Encores!, as well as Phillip Attmore: Moments Musicaux, Fosse, Stormy Weather, and on tour and regionally. Film/TV credits include So You Think You Can Dance, Judging Amy, Sisters, Silent Tongue, and The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Phillip is a three-time Astaire Award winner, an ACCA Award winner, ’s Breakout Performance Award winner, and an NAACP Theatre Award nominee.

Lissa deGuzman is excited to be celebrating this year’s holiday season with the Omaha Symphony. She started this year finishing the run of a new musical,Bliss, at the in , WA. Before the pandemic hit, she was starting Between the Lines, a new musical making its Off-Broadway debut. Other credits include Broadway’s (ensemble, Ann u/s), the National Tour of (Jasmine), and regional performances at , Goodspeed Opera House, and Studio Tenn. @lissadeguz

Kimberly Immanuel is overjoyed to be making her Omaha Symphony debut! She was most recently in Berkshire Theatre Group’s production of , the first Actors’ Equity-approved show to happen since the start of the pandemic. National Tour: White Christmas. Off-Broadway:The Fantasticks, , Heartbreak House. Select Regional: 42nd Street (The Ordway, Drury Lane Theatre), Singin’ in the Rain (La Mirada Theatre), (), Chasing Rainbows (Paper Mill Playhouse), Waterfall (5th Avenue Theatre, Pasadena Playhouse), and The Little Mermaid (The Argyle Theatre). BFA, NYU Tisch. kimberlyimmanuel.com

Erica Mansfield performed with the Omaha Symphony for four years and is thrilled to spread the Christmas spirit in a new way this year! Mrs. Doubtfire marks Erica’s 10th Broadway show where she will be understudying Miranda Hillard. Other Broadway credits include Kiss Me Kate where she was the Dance Captain, the Tony Award- winning Bandstand (u/s June), Finding Neverland (u/s Mary Barrie), On the Town (u/s Claire De Loone) with Misty Copeland, On the with , Evita starring Ricky Martin, How to Succeed in Business Without Even Trying (u/s Miss Jones) starring , the Tony Award-winning musical (u/s Fastrada), and the Broadway and National Touring companies of Mamma Mia! (u/s Sophie). Erica also originated the first national revival tour of understudying Cassie, Sheila, Maggie and Judy. Recent regional credits include North Shore Music Theatre where she played Donna in Mamma Mia, Westchester where she revisited the role of Cassie in A Chorus Line, and The Papermill Playhouse in the world premiere of The Sting starring Harry Connick Jr. She has performed in four , two Kennedy Center Honors, Good Morning America, The Today Show, The View, and Jimmy Fallon along with television appearances on Showtime and HBO. Thank you to Parker, Maria, and the Omaha Symphony for keeping me a part of the Christmas family. May your days be merry and bright during this time.

Tony McDonald-Neidenbach is thrilled to be back for the Omaha Symphony’s Christmas concert again this year! Tony has appeared on Broadway in Disney’s and in the National Tour of Something Rotten!, RTC’s Anything Goes, and Disney’s Freaky Friday. He has appeared on TV in High Maintenance, and the 65th and . Happy Holidays to all!

Charles South is a professional performing artist, choreographer, and director. Charles grew up in South Florida - the sunshine state! - and has been in love with performing since he learned to walk. He can be found most nights in Aladdin on Broadway and will return when circumstances allow. Charles returns to the Omaha Symphony with a huge heart of gratitude and energy! Charles has been lucky to grace the Omaha stage for many of these past years and can’t wait to bring it all to you at home. Charles received a B.F.A. for musical theatre and a dance minor from the Hartt Conservatory in Hartford, CT. Other credits include Aladdin tour OTC, international tour, Carmen La Cubana (Paris engagement), , Goodspeed Opera House, Pa Shakespeare Co, and more. Charles was also involved with a new Broadway-bound musical, Some Like It Hot, coming to the NYC season in 2021. Charles sends love to Parker, Maria, and the entire Omaha family! Let’s Park it!

5 OMAHA SYMPHONY MUSICIANS

Violin 1 Bass Horn COMBO Susanna Perry Gilmore Nate Olson Brett Hodge J. Gawf – Keyboard Ann Beebe Bill Ritchie Daniel Kitchens James Giles – Bass Christopher Hake Ross Snyder Derek Dreier – Drums Ricardo Amador Marina Krol Phyllis Duncan Maria Harding Tenor Sax Anne Nagosky Patrick Tsuji Darren Pettit Lisa Meyerhofer Patrick Pfister Violin 2 Jason Stromquist Keith Plenert Jay Wise Frank Seligman Alexandra Rock Kevin Tompkins Heather Baxter Scott Shoemaker Ethan Millington Tracy Dunn Juliet Yoshida Carmelo Galante Timpani Rosario Galante Jack Rago Viola Thomas Kluge Bassoon Percussion Judy Divis James Compton Robert O’Brien Bozhidar Shopov Karen Sandene Paul Matthews Sherrie Goeden Aaron Williams Sarah Curley Scott Quackenbush Harp Christopher Haas Katherine Siochi Paul Ledwon Dan Nesbitt Gregory Clinton Keyboard Samuel Pierce-Ruhland Christi Zuniga Kathleen Long

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Omaha Symphony is grateful to the following organizations for the development of safety protocols associated with producing this concert.

- Special Thanks -

Todd & Terilyn Esse

- Trade Sponsors - J. Gilbert’s, Le Bouillon, M’s Pub, Market Basket, Nosh, Spezia, Fashion Cleaners, and Blooms 6