Project Summary | Videos | Creative Team | Show Specifications | Community Engagement | Music | Photos | The Squad | Partners
Creative Team
Glen Roven (Lead Composer)
Years involved: 2016–2018
Appeared in:
• Century Club Presentation, May 13, 2017 as Pianist
Late composer, lyricist, conductor, pianist; Founder and Artistic Director for Roven Records, distributed worldwide by Naxos; twelve-time Emmy Award nominee and four-time Emmy Award winner; collaborated with Quincy Jones, Wynton Marsalis, Frank Sinatra, Julie Andrews, Aretha Franklin, Renee Fleming, Kathleen Battle and hundreds of other celebrities for film, television, Broadway, Carnegie Hall and many other international venues and orchestras.
In the wake of Mr. Roven’s shocking and sudden passing, we will continue on his memory and legacy through upcoming performances of BOUNCE all across the nation in honor of his intense dedication and love for this project. Thank you, Glen. RIP
Charles R. Smith, Jr. (Story and Libretto)
Years involved: 2013–Present
Award-winning author, photographer and poet with over thirty books to his credit. Numerous accolades including a Coretta Scott King Award for Illustration (2010) for his photographs accompanying the Langston Hughes poem, “My People” and a Coretta Scott King Honor Author Award (2008) for his biography on Muhammad Ali, “Twelve Rounds to Glory.”
Grethe Barrett Holby (Concept & Direction)
Years involved: 2013–Present
Directed/choreographed at The Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center Festival, Houston Grand Opera, La Scala, and opera companies across the US. Original cast member of Einstein on the Beach; collaborations with Leonard Bernstein, Lou Reed, Robert Wilson and Yusef Komunyakaa; founder of Ardea Arts, Family Opera Initiative and American Opera Projects. A Rockefeller Fellowship recipient, she holds a B.S. and M.S. from MIT.
Beth Gutcheon (Additional Libretto)
Years involved: 2017–Present
Beth Gutcheon has ten novels in print. Her eleventh will be published by Morrow / HarperCollins in March of 2018. She is also a vested member of the Writers Guild of America, with some dozen studio feature screenplays to her credit, as well as the narration for the documentary Children of Theatre Street, which was nominated for an Academy Award.
Frank X Walker (Additional Lyrics)
Years involved: 2017–Present
Former Kentucky Poet Laureate, Frank X Walker is a founder of the Affrilachian Poets and the author of nine collections of poetry including, Turn Me Loose: The Unghosting of Medgar Evers. Voted one of the most creative professors in the South, he is the originator of the word, Affrilachia. The Lannan Poetry Fellowship Award recipient has degrees from UK and Spalding University as well as four honorary doctorates from the University of KY, Spalding University, Centre College, and Transylvania University.
Tomás Doncker (Additional Music)
Years involved: 2014–2016
Composer, producer. Guitarist for James Chance & The Contortions, Defunkt, J. Walter Negro & The Loose Jointz. Collaborated with Bootsy Collins, Yoko Ono, The Itals, & Prince Charles Alexander. Current projects with Ivan Neville, Bonnie Raitt, Meshell Ndegeocello, Living Colour’s Corey Glover, P-Funk keyboardist Amp Fiddler Shamekia Copeland, & Bill Laswell.
Ansel Elgort (Hip-Hop Tracks)
Years involved: 2016–2017
A DJ, producer, singer, and actor, Elgort has performed in major EDM concert venues and festivals around the world. He was nominated the 2017 Golden Globe Best Actor for his role in Baby Driver. Currently in production on The Goldfinch, based on the Pulitzer-winning novel, his past credits include Carrie, The Fault In Our Stars, and the Divergent series. He is signed with Island Records and is a graduate of LaGuardia Arts High School here in New York City.
Everett McCorvey (Music Director/Conductor)
Years involved: 2015–Present
Appeared in:
• UKOT World Premiere, Nov. 10–12, 2017 as Music Conductor
Professor of Voice, OperaLex Endowed Chair in Opera Studies, and director and executive producer of the University of Kentucky Opera Theatre; artistic director of the National Chorale, New York City; director of the American Spiritual Ensemble; vice-chair of the Kentucky Arts Council. Professional Credits: the Kennedy Center, Metropolitan Opera, Teatro Communale (Italy), Radio Music City Hall.
David Wolfson (Orchestration & Music Director)
Years involved: 2016–Present
Appeared in:
• A Cocktail Introduction to BOUNCE, Apr. 16, 2018 as Pianist
• APAP 2018 Showcase, Jan. 12, 2018 as Pianist
• East Flatbush Showcases, Jun. 25–27, 2016 as Pianist
Wolfson is enjoying an eclectic career, having worked as conductor, composer, music director, orchestrator, arranger, pianist, and copyist for performances in venues ranging from Broadway theatres to elementary school cafetoriums. This is the seventh Ardea Arts production he has been involved with in some capacity. He teaches at Hunter College. To hear his original music, please visit DavidWolfsonMusic.net.
Professional Cast and Student Performers
Long-term cast and supporters
Seth A. Ibarrondo (Poet)
Appeared in:
• A Cocktail Introduction to BOUNCE, Apr. 16, 2018
• APAP 2018 Showcase, Jan. 12, 2018
• UKOT World Premiere, Nov. 10–12, 2017
• Century Club Presentation, May 13, 2017
• East Flatbush Showcases, Jun. 25–27, 2016
A long-time, staunch supporter and performer for BOUNCE, Seth was born in New Rochelle, NY. He has always been a musician since the time he could remember. It wasn’t until many years later that Seth was discovered by an A&R from Atlantic Records after a performance in New York City’s Meat Packing District, asking him to come on board as a songwriter. Seth has written for Hip Hop & RnB superstars such as Trina, Lil Kim, Twista, Trick Daddy and many more. After encouragement from family & friends, Seth began to pursue a career in acting alongside his passion for creating music. He is currently working on his debut EP with longtime friend, producer and composer Gary Haase.
Troy Press (Announcer/MC)
Appeared in:
• A Cocktail Introduction to BOUNCE, Apr. 16, 2018
• APAP 2018 Showcase, Jan. 12, 2018
• UKOT World Premiere, Nov. 10–12, 2017
• Century Club Presentation, May 13, 2017
• East Flatbush Showcases, Jun. 25–27, 2016
Also a long-time, staunch supporter and performer for BOUNCE, Troy’s acting credits include principal roles in short films like This Is My Cap (runner-up at the Harlem Film Festival for Best Comedy Short) and Her Finale. He’s also appeared onstage as Bryce in The Devil Tree, which won Best Play at the 2015 Players Theatre Book Festival. Troy is a host for Fox Sports 1, ESPN Radio/TVl. He currently works for the Brooklyn Nets.
Phillip Gay (Isaac “Ike the Flight” Harris)
Appeared in:
• A Cocktail Introduction to BOUNCE, Apr. 16, 2018
• APAP 2018 Showcase, Jan. 12, 2018
• UKOT World Premiere, Nov. 10–12, 2017
• Century Club Presentation, May 13, 2017
Phillip Gay, An American bass-baritone, is praised by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review as having an “impressive” and “sonorous” voice. An alumnus of the Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artist Program, he has sung numerous roles for countless operas. This season, he will reprise his roles in The Summer King with Michigan Opera Theatre. Gay holds degrees from Lamar University and University of Illinois at Urbana: Champaign.
Patrice E. Turner (Mrs. Lucas)
Appeared in:
• A Cocktail Introduction to BOUNCE, Apr. 16, 2018
• UKOT World Premiere, Nov. 10–12, 2017
• Century Club Presentation, May 13, 2017
• East Flatbush Showcases, Jun. 25–27, 2016
An accomplished classical, jazz, and gospel pianist, soprano Patrice E. Turner received a Master of Arts and Bachelor of Music and Music Education from Ohio State University. She also earned a Master’s and Doctor of Music and Music Education from Columbia University. Artist-in-residence at the First Corinthian Baptist Church, she teaches at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Her numerous credits include her CD: Introducing Patrice E. Turner, concerts at Smetana Hall, Apollo Theater, Carnegie Hall, and Konserthuset.
Justin A. Ibarrondo (Police Officer)
Appeared in:
• A Cocktail Introduction to BOUNCE, Apr. 16, 2018
• APAP 2018 Showcase, Jan. 12, 2018
• UKOT World Premiere, Nov. 10–12, 2017
• Century Club Presentation, May 13, 2017
• East Flatbush Showcases, Jun. 25–27, 2016
Justin Ibarrondo, born in New Rochelle, NY, started to pursue a career in acting after spending many years as an entertainment manager to his brother Seth (Poet) and taking on the role as Creative Director for several projects they have worked on. His need and desire to create led him down the path of chasing a lifelong dream of becoming an actor, where he did so once his brother’s music and songwriting career was on the rise. Justin is also an accomplished artist who spends most of his downtime with acrylic & canvas, accompanied with a passion for writing poetry.
Others ordered by year of appearance; first by leads, then alphabetically
2018
Adam Richardson (TJ “The Future” King)
Appeared in:
• A Cocktail Introduction to BOUNCE, Apr. 16, 2018
Richardson is rapidly gaining acclaim as a multi-talented baritone for his powerful operatic, concert, and theatre performances. He debuted successfully internationally as a soloist in 2014 with the American Spiritual Ensemble. He earned his M.M. (’11) from The Juilliard School. He also holds a B.F.A. (’09) from Carnegie Mellon University. Richardson is well-recognized and received several awards, including the Encouragement Award from the Harlem Opera Theatre, Young Talent Award from the Lotte Lenya Competition, and second place from the Pittsburgh National Arts and Letters.
Alison Buchanan (Mrs. Harris)
Appeared in:
• A Cocktail Introduction to BOUNCE, Apr. 16, 2018
Known for a “luscious voice with incredible richness and clarity,” soprano Alison Buchanan has been regaling audiences around the world with her versatility, “great dramatic flair,” musicality, and “depth of emotion.” She has performed with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and gave a Martin Luther King concert for National Sawdust in Brooklyn. Buchanan made her debut at the Harare International Festival in Zimbabwe, traveled to Brazil performing with Marin Alsop with the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra as Serena in PORGY & BESS, and then to Barbados for the Classical Pops Festival.
Alan Dai (Chorus)
Appeared in:
• A Cocktail Introduction to BOUNCE, Apr. 16, 2018
Dai is a self-taught vocalist, beatboxer, and composer currently based in New York City. A native of sunny Los Angeles, he enjoys recording, producing, mixing, and mastering music as a freelancer, and hopes to one day start his own professional studio. He also has an interest in Computer Science, and aspires to combine those skills with his love for music. He is a recent graduate from Columbia University, earning a B.A. in Music.
Samuel Li Weintraub (Kwame Lucas)
Appeared in:
• A Cocktail Introduction to BOUNCE, Apr. 16, 2018
• APAP 2018 Showcase, Jan. 12, 2018
Samuel made his Broadway debut last year at age 5, as an original cast member in the revival of Miss Saigon as Tam. He has also been seen in a commercial for Play-Doh, and will appear on Season 3 of Amazon Prime’s Creative Galaxy. He is a very busy 6-year-old! He attends kindergarten, studies karate, piano, and dance, and loves cars and singing.
Kenny “The Blenda” Rodriguez (Ball Bouncer)
Appeared in:
• A Cocktail Introduction to BOUNCE, Apr. 16, 2018
Blenda Rodriguez first picked up a basketball because he wanted to do everything his big brother, Elvis, did, and he’s never looked back.
Blenda was also influenced greatly by the Globetrotters and another ball handling marvel, Pistol Pete Maravich. “The tricks the ’Trotters and Pistol Pete did were unreal to me; I didn’t think those things were possible.”
His passion for basketball led him to create his own ball handling show that he performed in NBA arenas and schools, which took him throughout the U.S., London and Japan. Blenda was rated the number one ball handler in 2007 at a StreetGodz event freestyle battle, where he competed against the top eight ball handling free-stylists from New York, California, Illinois, and Virginia.
Blenda was also featured in the DVDs “One Love True Balling, Volume 2” and “One Love Pure Heat, Volume 3,” with NBA stars Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and more. The Globetrotters’ scouting staff discovered his incredible skills, and after a tryout, Blenda became a member of the most famous basketball team on the planet.
Blenda also enjoys martial arts, and the discipline and hand-eye coordination translate seamlessly to his ball handling prowess.
Jack “Black Jack” Ryan (Ball Handler)
Appeared in:
• A Cocktail Introduction to BOUNCE, Apr. 16, 2018
Jack “Black Jack” Ryan first became a Harlem Wizard in 1997, became the first white Harlem Wizard Showman in 1999, and has enjoyed providing basketball entertainment ever since. He was recognized as the main character for a 2013 documentary entitled Doin’ It In the Park, and was also a subject of interest in a documentary called Release: The Jack Ryan Story, and a feature film is now in the works!
Robert Weintraub (Chorus)
Appeared in:
• A Cocktail Introduction to BOUNCE, Apr. 16, 2018
Weintraub, an experienced, versatile baritone, is at home performing in opera, oratorio, concert, musical theater, and contemporary music. He has been previously featured on the stages of The Ashlawn Opera Festival, and more. He received his Master’s in Opera Performance at Arizona State University and an undergraduate degree from SUNY Fredonia. He lives in Hartsdale, NY with his wife, pianist Lin Li Weintraub, their child, Samuel (Kwame Lucas), and their dog, CoCo.
2017
Ben Boutell (Coach Ellis)
Appeared in:
• UKOT World Premiere, Nov. 10–12, 2017
Boutell is a Music Education and Vocal Performance Major at the University of Kentucky. He’s excited to be in the world premiere of BOUNCE! He would like to thank Dr. Everett McCorvey and Grethe Holby for the opportunity.
Jennifer Nime Palumbo (Guest Artist)
Appeared in:
• UKOT World Premiere, Nov. 10–12, 2017 as Reporter
Nime has been in the TV news business in Kentucky for more than 20 years as a producer, reporter, and anchor. She has also worked at WDKY-TV, WYMT-TV, and ABC News in London. A mother of two children with Joe Palumbo, President of Palumbo Lumber and Development, Nime is a Cincinnati native and Ohio University School of Journalism graduate.
Susanna White (Sabrina Banks)
Appeared in:
• A Cocktail Introduction to BOUNCE, Apr. 16, 2018
• APAP 2018 Showcase, Jan. 12, 2018
• UKOT World Premiere, Nov. 10–12, 2017
White graduated from the University of Kentucky in May 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre along with a Vocal Performance minor. Her performing credits include several productions through the UK Opera Theatre. She has also performed locally in KY through Stage Right Acting. She has competed in the 2015 and 2017 Miss Kentucky Pageant earning a place in the top ten, the Spirit of Miss Kentucky Award, and the Overall Talent Award. She hopes to be a positive influence in the performing arts world not only through her work, but through her heart for loving others.
Marc-Andre Petitfrere (Basketball Ensemble & Community Ambassador)
Appeared in:
• UKOT World Premiere, Nov. 10–12, 2017 as Akili
Clark Davis (Daphne Woods)
Appeared in:
• A Cocktail Introduction to BOUNCE, Apr. 16, 2018
• APAP 2018 Showcase, Jan. 12, 2018
• UKOT World Premiere, Nov. 10–12, 2017
Davis graduated as a vocal performance major at the University of Kentucky College of Fine Arts, Opera Theatre. She served her state as Miss Kentucky in 2015 as a representative at the Miss America Pageant. She plans on moving to New York City to pursue her performance aspirations in the fall of 2018.
Benjamin S. Preacely (Kwame Lucas)
Appeared in:
• UKOT World Premiere, Nov. 10–12, 2017
Benjamin Preacely was a second grader at Trinity Christian Academy. He is the son of Michael and LeTicia Preacely and the brother of Joshua and Jayce. He enjoys reading, playing video games and family vacations. This is his first theatrical appearance.
Marcellus Barksdale (Basketball Choreographer & Director of Community Engagement)
Appeared in:
• UKOT World Premiere, Nov. 10–12, 2017 as Opposing Team Player
Treg Setty (Guest Artist)
Appeared in:
• UKOT World Premiere, Nov. 10–12, 2017 as Hector the Helicopter
Treg Setty, a professional basketball player, hails from Maysville, KY. He played for S. Illnois his freshman year before transferring to Ohio State, where he played for the remainder of college. In his senior year at Ohio, he was promoted to a starter, where he averaged 12 points and 5 rebounds per game. Setty most recently played for Leuven, a Belgian team, during the 2016-17 season.
Javone Blincoe (Basketball Ensemble & Community Ambassador)
Appeared in:
• UKOT World Premiere, Nov. 10–12, 2017 as Odell
Jon-Michael Stallard (Basketball Ensemble & Chorus)
Appeared in:
• UKOT World Premiere, Nov. 10–12, 2017
Ryan Brightwell (Basketball Ensemble & Community Ambassador)
Appeared in:
• A Cocktail Introduction to BOUNCE, Apr. 16, 2018 as Teammate
• APAP 2018 Showcase, Jan. 12, 2018 as Coach Ellis
• UKOT World Premiere, Nov. 10–12, 2017 as Ryan
Brightwell just moved to New York from Kentucky. He has been acting for a little over two years now in pursuit of his goal to make acting his career. He has played basketball since he was a young boy, and played four years of college basketball at two different colleges. Brightwell was also recently married to his wife Lizzie.
Dante Stewart (Basketball Ensemble & Community Ambassador)
Appeared in:
• UKOT World Premiere, Nov. 10–12, 2017 as Dante
Johnathon T. Davis (Guest Artist)
Appeared in:
• UKOT World Premiere, Nov. 10–12, 2017 as Opposing Team Coach
Johnathon graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1991, where he was a three year letter winner with the vaunted Wildcat basketball team. While there, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Marketing with an emphasis on Business Management. Mr. Davis has previously been registered as an Investment Company Products Principal (series 6, 63, and 26) with FINRA and is currently registered as a Uniform Investment Advisor (series 65) with the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Since 1992, Mr. Davis has been a licensed member of the financial services community. He has served in several different capacities, including Vice President and commercial lender with a Fortune 500 bank.
Jamere Walker (Basketball Ensemble & Community Ambassador)
Appeared in:
• UKOT World Premiere, Nov. 10–12, 2017 as Ajax
Ezra Garner (Basketball Ensemble & Community Ambassador)
Appeared in:
• UKOT World Premiere, Nov. 10–12, 2017 as Ezra
Matt Jones (Guest Artist)
Appeared in:
• UKOT World Premiere, Nov. 10–12, 2017 as Game Commentator
Jones is the founder of Kentucky Sports Radio, the largest independent college sports blog in America and host of KSR Radio, with 35 affiliates around the state. He has also become a prominent political figure despite his opposing views against the majority in his home state of Kentucky. On his show, Jones has interviewed Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and hosted a number of political debates.
Brian Kortovich (Ball Handler)
Appeared in:
• UKOT World Premiere, Nov. 10–12, 2017
Kortovich has defined his life by dreaming big and overcoming the odds. He overcame the loss of his father to cancer at an early age through basketball. What began as a cathartic outlet quickly became a lifelong passion and devotion, propelling Brian around the world in search of a hoop and paving the way into the NBA D-League draft and preseason camps with the New York Knicks and New Jersey Nets.
Sidyen Levarity (Basketball Ensemble & Chorus)
Appeared in:
• UKOT World Premiere, Nov. 10–12, 2017
Alicia Helm McCorvey (Mrs. Harris)
Appeared in:
• UKOT World Premiere, Nov. 10–12, 2017
Alicia McCorvey received her Bachelor’s Degree from Indiana University, her Master’s Degree from New York University and has completed her D.M.A. coursework at the University of Kentucky. She has sung with the Metropolitan Opera, Aspen Music Festival, Chautauqua Opera, Opera Carolina, the American Spiritual Ensemble, National Chorale and Miami Opera, to name a few, and in places as diverse as Japan, Brazil, England and Spain.
2016
Jonathan Kirkland (Isaac “Ike the Flight” Harris)
Appeared in:
• East Flatbush Showcases, Jun. 25–27, 2016
Television: Shades of Blue. Off Broadway: Cabin in the Sky and Generations. Regional: Sister Act, Cinderella, Showboat. Opera: Tartuffe, Albert Herring, Gianni Schicchi, Le Nozze di Figaro. Jonathan was the featured soloist in A Gospel Celebration with Wynton Marsalis at Jazz at Lincoln Center. He now plays George Washington in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s smash hit Hamilton for its Chicago production.
Jumaane Williams (Guest Artist)
Appeared in:
• East Flatbush Showcases, Jun. 25–27, 2016 as Police Officer
Jumaane Williams has been making waves in the political sphere in the past several years. Though he recently fell short in his bid to become the New York State Lieutenant Governor, Williams has been a champion of the people and the head of the gun violence task force in Brooklyn. He currently serves as the Council Member of the 45th District of New York City (East Flatbush, Brooklyn).
Aaron Ramsey (TJ “The Future” King)
Appeared in:
• APAP 2018 Showcase, Jan. 12, 2018
• East Flatbush Showcases, Jun. 25–27, 2016
A NYC native, Baritone Aaron Ramsey is excited about this extraordinary opportunity to sing and play basketball on the same stage. Credits include Once on This Island, Don Giovanni, Sondheim’s Into the Woods, and Iolanthe and L'enfant et les sortilèges with Westminster Opera Theater.
Todd Wilander (Coach Ellis)
Appeared in:
• East Flatbush Showcases, Jun. 25–27, 2016
Internationally acclaimed tenor Todd Wilander has sung over 60 operatic roles, including 9 seasons at the Metropolitan Opera. Credits include New York City Opera, Opera Hong Kong, Opera Bilbao Spain, Teatro La Fenice, New Zealand Opera, Deutsche Oper Berlin and the San Francisco Opera.
Charlotte Maria Dos Santos (Sabrina Banks)
Appeared in:
• East Flatbush Showcases, Jun. 25–27, 2016
Charlotte Dos Santos is a vocalist, writer, arranger, and recent graduate of Berklee College of Music. The Norwegian/Brazilian native has been nominated for best new single and best new artist by Scandinavian Soul Awards and was artist of the week on Norwegian National Radio. Charlotte has been featured on Bandcamp: Pick Of The Week and is now recording her debut album.
Ashley Jackson (Daphne Woods)
Appeared in:
• East Flatbush Showcases, Jun. 25–27, 2016
Ashley Jackson, Soprano and Kentucky native, is delighted to join the New York cast of BOUNCE as Daphne, the role she originated in UKOT’s 2016 workshop. Ashley most recently performed in the National Chorale's Verdi Requiem at Lincoln Center. She received her Master of Music at the University of Kentucky where she sang Les Contes d’Hoffmann, The Magic Flute), River of Time La Bohème and Pinocchio.
Len Elmore (Guest Artist)
Appeared in:
• East Flatbush Showcases, Jun. 25–27, 2016 as Game Commentator
College basketball analyst for CBS; formerly a 10-year NBA player, analyst for ESPN & Fox Sports. Currently serves on Ardea Arts’ Board of Directors.
Susan Gonzalez (Swing)
Appeared in:
• East Flatbush Showcases, Jun. 25–27, 2016 as Dr. Paulo, Opera Chick, Scout #1
Grammy-nominated Soprano Susan Gonzalez has appeared internationally on stage, film and in numerous operas. Credits include the Bolshoi Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, the BBC and recordings on Naxos, Artek, Leonarda and Azur labels.
Shanduke McPhatter (Guest Artist)
Appeared in:
• East Flatbush Showcases, Jun. 25–27, 2016 as Guest Poet
Mr. Shanduke McPhatter was first incarcerated at the age of 16. Shortly after, he became one of the first group of young men to join the New York Bloods. He lived a life of crime, fast money and violence and was in and out of incarceration for several years. Now the Executive Director and Founder of Gangstas Making Astronomical Community Changes (G-MACC), he is dedicating to helping youth overcome those very same challenges he once faced.
Darnese Olivieri (Swing)
Appeared in:
• East Flatbush Showcases, Jun. 25–27, 2016 as News Reporter, Cafeteria Lady, Librarian
A graduate of Howard University, she was a featured soloist in performance for the late Bishop Desmond Tutu. She has worked for the NYC Department of Education as an English and Drama teacher for the last 10 years. Her love and passion for performing lives on through her continued personal engagement with the performing arts and the students she is privileged to teach.
Clarence Tennell (Opposing Team Coach)
Appeared in:
• East Flatbush Showcases, Jun. 25–27, 2016
Tennell is a teacher and work-based Learning Coordinator at Business of Sports School (BOSS) in Manhattan, NY.
Officer Robert Thybulle (Guest Artist)
Appeared in:
• East Flatbush Showcases, Jun. 25–27, 2016 as Police Officer
Officer Robert Thybulle was born in April of 1976 in Brooklyn, NY. He attended P.S. 235 and graduated from Brooklyn College Academy H.S. in 1994. While stationed in Germany, he was deployed for a peace keeping mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina. For his heroic efforts, he was awarded an Army Achievement Medal, an Oversees Service Ribbon, a NATO Metal and other commendations.
He left active military service to serve in his hometown of New York City and pursue his dream of becoming a police officer. He passed the police exam and was sworn in to the New York Police Department in July of 1999. In his remaining years in the police department, Officer Thybulle hopes to continue to work in the community he loves and is dedicated to helping make East Flatbush a better place for everyone to live.
Curtis Williams (Basketball Ensemble)
Appeared in:
• East Flatbush Showcases, Jun. 25–27, 2016 as Ajax
Curtis Williams is an MFA candidate at Yale School of Drama. He holds a BA in acting from Santa Fe University of Art and Design, where he performed in Den of Thieves, Our Lady of 121st Street, Confessional, and Middletown.
2015
Phillip K. Bullock (Lead)
Appeared in:
• A Cocktail Introduction to BOUNCE, Apr. 16, 2018 as Coach Ellis
• BOUNCE Workshops 2015 as Issac “Ike the Flight” Harris
Bullock, a native of Washington, D.C., has been featured in operas, recitals, and concerts across the United States. Recently, he has performed the role of Jake, in Porgy and Bess, at the Sächsische Staatsoper in Dresden, Germany. This past summer, he was seen in concert performances with the National Music Festival Orchestra. Bullock has both workshopped and premiered several leading roles in new commissioned works with arts organizations around the country. In past seasons, he has worked with Kentucky Opera, Sarasota Opera, St. Petersburg Opera, and Virginia Opera as a resident artist. Next season, he will return to Virginia Opera as a resident artist.
Blake Ashton Denson (TJ “The Future” King)
Appeared in:
• UKOT World Premiere, Nov. 10–12, 2017
• BOUNCE Workshops 2015
Denson received a Vocal Performance major from University of Kentucky studying with Dr. Dennis Bender. While attending UK, he has been involved in various organizations, including Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., AcoUstikats, and U.K. Intramurals. Over the years, Denson has played various roles such as Seaweed in Hairspray, Jud in Oklahoma!, Javert in Les Misérables, and, most recently, Dottore Grenvil in La Traviata.
If you were a part of BOUNCE in any capacity from 2013 to the present, and are not listed or would like your headshot or bio changed, please let us know!
Send us an email with your new or updated headshot and a short bio (150 words maximum). We will check your participation and add you as soon as we can confirm.