About the Cast

About the Cast

Bob Ruiz

Bob Ruiz

Nazi / Policeman

Bob Ruiz  is a lover of music and theatre. He has spent his life appreciating performances from the audience. To be a part of such a moving production has opened

Matthew Allarie

Matthew Allarie

Nazi / Policeman / Gun Seller

Mattew Allarie is a senior electrical student at Kennebec Valley Community College in central Maine. Previously, he has performed in high school, at Lakewood theater, and studied acting at City College

Louis Schwartz

Louis Schwartz

Frederick Stein / Chorus

Louis Schwartz is honored to be a part of such a beautiful production. He is a laboratory technician in the automated chemistry lab at The Cleveland Clinic. He is a

Richie Pokrywka

Richie Pokrywka

Chorus

Richie Pokrywka is a student at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he is studying to receive his Bachelor of Arts in Musical Theatre and his Bachelor of Science in Business

David Miller

David Miller

Chorus

David Miller is thrilled to share this experience with his son Henry. Many thanks to Cathy and Jeff for their vision and to the incredibly talented cast for the opportunity

Jacob Liptow

Jacob Liptow

Chorus

Jacob Liptow is recent graduate from Kent State University’s College of Architecture and Environmental Design. Along with his architectural training, he has studied classical violin and piano since the age

Craig Housum

Craig Housum

Chorus

Craig Housum has been singing in choirs since the age of nine with the Ohio Boy Choir which included singing for President Reagan at the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony,

Charles Garrard

Charles Garrard

Charles (“Chuck”) Garrard (Chorus) has been acting and singing since the age of twelve, performing with his father and in many musicals. Favorite roles include Billy Bigalow in Carousel, and

Lisa Falkenberg

Lisa Falkenberg

Chorus

Lisa Falkenberg is very honored to be performing in this powerful and beautiful work. After singing with the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus for 30 years she is excited to be on

Al Cowger

Alfred Cowger

Willie Stein / Franz Prüfer / Chorus

Alfred Cowger spends almost as much time singing as lawyering these days, even though he’s an attorney. He performs with Good Company, the North Coast Men’s Chorus, and the St. Andrew’s

Terry Smith

Terry Smith

Ignatz Bubis / Nazi / Policeman

Terry Smith (Nazi / Policeman / Ignatz Bubis) is thrilled to be part of this awesome production! As an actor, his favorite roles include Lord Capulet in Romeo and Juliet;

Merrie Drees

Merrie Drees

Chorus

Merrie Drees is excited to be in her first opera!  Most recently she was seen as Jovie in the the Beck Center’s production of Elf. She is a Kent state

Susan Schapiro

Susan Schapiro

Chorus

Susan Schapiro has returned to the stage after a 41-year hiatus, Mary Poppins, Jekyll and Hyde, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and Titanic. Now she

Dallas Stark

Dallas Stark

Chorus

Dallas Stark is grateful to be performing in this production of The Sparks Fly Upward alongside such a talented cast. Some of her recent roles have been in Sister Act (Sister

Laura Schapiro

Laura Schapiro

Chorus

Laura Schapiro is delighted to be performing in her first theater production since college. She was previously in The Magic Flute, Into the Woods, and The Music Man. She loves

Kara Ross

Kara Ross

Chorus

Kara Ross is a classically trained Mezzo Soprano from the Cuyahoga Falls area. She has been involved with many opera productions around Cleveland since 2016. She has worked with The Cleveland

Sharon Shaffer

Sharon Shaffer

Chorus

Sharon Shaffer has been a professional singer, actor, and voice teacher for over 35 years. She has had a prolific performance career and has appeared in leading operatic, musical theatre

R. Stephen Gracey

R. Stephen Gracey

Julius Rosenbaum / Digital Design

Stephen Gracey is a content strategist by day—he does “web stuff”—and joined the Sparks crew not only as singer, but as graphic designer and website builder. He holds a Bachelor

Kathryn Wolfe Sebo

Kathryn Wolfe Sebo

Lina Rosenbaum

Kathryn Wolfe Sebo is honored to perform with this talented and versatile cast. She has been a cantor in Cleveland for 36 years and has served The Temple-Tifereth Israel since

Lifan Deng

Lifan Deng

Jacob Rosenbaum

Lifan Deng is delighted to portray the role of Jacob in this powerful story. A recent graduate of Case Western Reserve University, Lifan holds a Bachelor of Arts in music

Lisa Bendix

Lia Bendix

Lotte Rosenbaum

Lia Bendix is thrilled to be returning to the stage after a long hiatus. By day she manages scholarships for a college access non-profit, by night she teaches French and

Seth Hobi

Seth Hobi

Max Rosenbaum

Seth Hobi, bass-baritone, comes originally from the Cleveland area, and is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance at Cleveland State University. He currently studies voice with Amanda Powell

Owen Connor Stout

Owen Connor Stout

Karl Rosenbaum

Owen Connor Stout is thrilled to be playing Karl Rosenbaum in the Cleveland premier of The Sparks Fly Upward. Connor received his master’s degree in Opera Performance from the University of

Lizzie Walsh

Lizzie Walsh

Rita Rosenbaum

Lizzie Walsh is a sophomore at Solon High School and a member of the drama club. She loves to perform with Solon’s show choir and in the Solon Marching Band

Tana Field

Tana Field

Rosa Stein

Tana Field, mezzo-soprano, is an active recitalist and performer and has sung throughout the United States and Europe. She had the privilege to premiere the role of Rosa Stein in

Henry Miller

Henry Miller

Peter Stein

Henry Miller is a rising 7th grader at Orange Middle School. He was recently seen as Gabe in his school's production of The Lightning Thief and as Tigger in Heights

Abigail Pokrywka

Abigail Pokrywka

Berta Stein

Abigail Pokrywka is an energetic nine-year-old who loves to sing and perform. Abby’s first on-stage show was at age four months in the play Anne of Green Gables at Magnificat High School. She

Ross A. Williams

Ross A. Williams

Hans Weber

Ross A. Williams (he/him) recently relocated to Cleveland after an 18-year stint in New York City. He is the founding artistic director of New York Shakespeare Exchange (NYSX), an off-off-Broadway

Leslie Tinnaro

Leslie Tinnaro

Ruth Weber

Leslie Tinnaro is honored to be part of this incredible opera. Musical theatre has given her the opportunity to play many roles. The role closest to her heart—and one she’s

Julia Cooke

Julia Cooke

Berta Grynszpan / Chorus

Julia Cooke is honored to work on such an impactful story with a group of wonderful people. She is a rising senior Theatre: Acting and Directing major with Music and

Benjamin Hayes

Benjamin Hayes

Cantor / Herschel Grynszpan / Chorus

Benjamin Hayes, tenor, is from Akron, Ohio. He received his Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Mount Union, and Master of Music in Vocal Performance from

Elisabeth Roter

Elisabeth Roter

Rabbi / Chorus

Elisabeth Roter is proud to be part of this meaningful production. This is Elisabeth’s first opera, although she is active in community theater. Favorite roles include Rose in Working: A

Harvey Bernstein

Harvey Bernstein

Lotte’s Boss / Chorus

Harvey Bernstein is excited and moved to join the Sparks family with this awesome and extremely talented cast. Harvey’s last performance was “Working A Musical” at Geauga Center For The Arts

Cheryl Eitman

Cheryl Eitman

Candle Blesser / Chorus

Cheryl Eitman is a professional substitute cantorial soloist at many synagogues in the area, but primarily at The Temple-Tifereth Israel.  She has performed locally at Cain Park (Fiddler on the