Nick Lantz (PLAYWRIGHT) received his MFA in poetry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and returned there in 2007 as a Jay C. and Ruth Halls Poetry Fellow. His first book of poetry won the Breadloaf Writers' Conference Bakeless Prize and will be published in 2010 by Graywolf Press. His second book was selected by Robert Pinsky for the Felix Pollak Poetry Prize and will by published by the University of Wisconsin Press in 2010.

Kelly J. G. Bremner (DIRECTOR) is a freelance director and performer, particularly in opera and devised performance.  Kelly holds advanced degrees in both music and theatre and her performance training mutually includes traditional and experimental theatre techniques.  Recent directorial credits include Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel in Edgerton, WI, Sophocles’s Electra for Pauline Oliveros’s Deep Listening Space in New York and the world premiere of her very talented husband’s opera, Scott Gendel’s  Iphigenia at Aulis  in Madison, WI.  She spent the summer of 2007 at Opera North  in New Hampshire where she worked as an Assistant Director for Puccini’s Turandot, and as a director in their scenes program. Recent devising credits include being a member of Richard Gough’s devising team for his performance of The Last Supper with the Arts Institute in Madison, The Fruit of All Evil for the University Theatre’s Open Stage program, and Greek to Me: A Choral Extravaganza of Mythic Proportions for the Madison Youth Choirs, where she staged close to 300 children in a devised performance. Her latest performance of Neil Labute’s The Shape of Things was performed in Albion, MI in early November of 2008.

Scott Gendel (COMPOSER) is a freelance composer and professional vocal coach.  He received his DMA degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he also designed and taught an undergraduate composition curriculum as part of the faculty.  Scott’s opera “Iphigenia at Aulis” was performed as part of the Universiry Opera season, with multiple grant sources.  Scott was also the very first winner of the ASCAP / Lotte Lehmann Foundation Song Cycle Competition in 2005.  He is currently Composer-In-Residence with the Madison Festival Choir, and company accompanist for the Madison Opera.  Recent commissions and performances include New Music New York, the Joy in Singing Foundation, soprano Claudia Waite, and numerous others.

Julia Faulkner (WOMAN) has had a distinguished international career, with appearances on many of the world’s great opera and concert stages. She made her Metropolitan Opera debut in 1994 in the title role of Arabella and sang frequently at the Vienna and Bavarian State Operas.  An equally distinguished recording artist, Julia Faulkner has received critical praise for her work on the Deutsche Grammophon, EMI, and Naxos labels.  A new recording of the songs of Lee Hoiby with the composer at the piano was released in January of 2009 to critical acclaim.  Julia Faulkner is also a highly sought-after voice teacher, with students singing professionally world-wide.

Robert Schleifer (MAN) has appeared nationwide in many prominent theatre productions, including the recent Broadway National Tour of the Deaf West co-production of BIG RIVER.  Robert is a member of Actors' Equity Association.  His Chicago credits include seven seasons with famed Goodman Theatre as Mr. Adams and the Ghost of Christmas Past in A CHRISTMAS CAROL and a recent appearance in a signed performance of THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK at Steppenwolf Theatre.  Robert's performance as Ariel in THE TEMPEST (Milwaukee Shakespeare Co.), Don Pedro in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING(Amarayllis Theatre in PA), Hamlet in HAMLET DREAMS and the Stage Manager in OUR TOWN (Bailiwick Rep) were received with great acclaim.  Robert was honored with the After Dark Outstanding Performance Award with the role of Dr. Dysart in EQUUS, and Best Actor Awards for the roles of Stinger in POLICE DEAF NEAR FAR and Holy Ghost in the Jeff Award-winning musical POPE JOAN. He has had the privilege of teaching his classes and workshops all over the world including at Opera Programs in Austria and Italy.  Currently, He is on the Faculty of the prestigious CONSERVATORY of ACT ONE STUDIOS in Chicago.  My website is www.ActZone.org.