Bios

 

Colleen Brooks (Witch)

“Brooks communicates beautifully in her singing” (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel online) and delivers “outstanding musical authenticity” (San Francisco Classical Voice). Colleen Brooks, mezzo-soprano, has performed in North America, Europe and Asia and has been featured locally in productions with Florentine Opera, Skylight Music Theatre and Milwaukee Opera Theatre. 

She was an apprentice artist with Florentine Opera for their 2008-09 season where she performed the roles of Kate Pinkerton (Madama Butterfly) and Third Lady (The Magic Flute) and was most recently heard there as Mariana in Luisa Fernanda and Celeste in Songbird.  Additional roles performed include Dora Marx in the world and Thailand premieres of The Snow Dragon, Wagner’s Mezzos in The Skylight Ring, Isabelle Eberhardt in Missy Mazzoli’s Song from the Uproar, Queen Chandra Devi in the European tour of The Silent Prince, Sorceress in Dido and Aeneas, Huntsman in Venus and Adonis, Azucena, Ježibaba, Rosina, Donna Elvira, Hansel, Garcias in Don Quichotte, Nora in Vaughan William’s Riders to the Sea, Catherine in A View from the Bridge, Piramo in Piramo e Tisbe, and Mrs. Webb in a workshop performance of Rorem’s Our Town. Colleen earned a DMA in vocal performance at the College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) in Cincinnati, OH, a master’s degree in vocal performance from Indiana University, and bachelor’s degrees in vocal performance and biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Colleen was a Wisconsin District Winner in the Metropolitan Opera Competition in 2009 and a participant in San Francisco Opera’s Merola Opera Program in the summer of 2010.

www.colleenbrooks.com 

 

Kristen DiNinno (Hansel)

Dr. Kristen DiNinno is a mezzo-soprano who performs professionally in opera and music theatre, as well as teaches K-12 and collegiate students. Kristen has performed with companies such as Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Des Moines Metro Opera, Florentine Opera, Shreveport Opera, Skylight Music Theatre, and more. She received her Bachelor of Music with a dance minor at Otterbein University, a Master of Music in Voice at the Manhattan School of Music, and a Doctorate of Music at The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. While at The University of Michigan, Kristen's dissertation recitals focused on female composers and early music. She additionally studied Music Theatre Styles for pedagogy at Shenandoah University with Edrie Means Weekly and studied Musical Theatre voice under Joan Lader. Kristen has enjoyed teaching at Interlochen in the summers where she taught voice. She has led classes with Florentine Opera for high school students and music theatre classes at First Stage Children's Theater in Milwaukee. She currently teaches K-12 music in the Milwaukee Public Schools while also teaching Applied Voice at Carroll University in Waukesha, Wisconsin. She has previously taught at The University of Michigan and Holy Family College where she has taught courses such as Advanced Vocal Pedagogy, Vocal Literature, Applied Voice, and Voice for Theater majors. Kristen also currently performs as one of the lead vocalists for the band, “Groove Therapy.”

 

Nathan Krueger(Father)

Nathan Krueger, baritone, is Professor of Music at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, where he also serves as Associate School Director for Personnel in the School of Media, Arts and Communication. He holds degrees from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh (BM), the University of New Mexico (MM), and the University of Arizona (DMA). Krueger has performed extensively across North America in concert and recital, showcasing a diverse repertoire. Recent engagements include appearances with the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus and the Madison Choral Project. He has also been featured as a soloist with the Gustavus Adolphus University Choirs and the South Shore Chorale, and has presented electro-acoustic works in recital and at notable events such as Electronic Music Midwest and the Society of Composers Inc. Region V Conference at Ohio University. His solo performances have been highlighted at the SEAMUS, Milwaukee Fringe Festival, Green Lake Music Festival, Peninsula Music Festival, and Token Creek Music Festival. Krueger’s operatic credits include appearances with the Milwaukee Florentine Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Santa Fe Opera, Madison Bach Musicians, Milwaukee Opera Theatre, Arizona Opera, the Santa Fe Desert Chorale, and Opera Southwest. His recordings can be heard on the Naxos, Clarion, and Navona labels.

 

Marissa Lake(Gretel)

American soprano Marissa Lake is known for her agile coloratura, expressive stage presence, and versatility across a wide range of repertoire. She has performed in productions across the United States, Canada, and Europe. Currently based in Montreal, QC, Lake recently completed her Master of Music degree at McGill University’s Schulich School of Music. While at McGill, she performed leading and featured roles, including the title role in Handel’s Semele, the Dew Fairy in Hänsel und Gretel, and Galatea in the world premiere of Dean Burry’s Il guidizio di Pigmalione. Lake is looking forward to making her role debut as Josephine in H.M.S Pinafore with Lakeshore Light Opera in 2026. In 2025, she made her role debut as Mabel in Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance with Stafford Opera Troupe and appeared as Gretel in Hänsel und Gretel with No Strings Theatre in Toronto, ON. Lake is also one of the finalists in the 2025 Patricia Crump Vocal Competition in Milwaukee, WI. Additional credits include Amor in Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice (Kenosha Opera Festival), Oberto in Handel’s Alcina (Chicago Summer Opera), Adele in Die Fledermaus (Stafford Opera Troupe), and Barbarina in The Marriage of Figaro (Lawrence University Opera). Originally from Wilmot, Wisconsin, Lake earned her Bachelor of Music degree from Lawrence University, where she studied with John T. Gates. She continues to expand her repertoire across opera, operetta, and musical theatre.

 

Erin Sura(Mother)

Mezzo-Soprano Erin Sura recently performed the roles of Schwertleite (Die Walkure) TUNDI Productions; Second Wood Sprite (Rusalka 2023/2025) Milwaukee Opera Theatre; Madam Garcia (Notes on VIARDOT) Music On Site; Fricka (Das Rheingold) and 2nd Norn (Gӧtterdӓmerung-cover performance) TUNDI productions; Mrs. Fairfax (Jane Eyre) Lake Country Playhouse; Tisbe (Cenerentola) Barn Opera/Vermont Opera; Ruth (Pirates of Penzance) Madison Savoyards; and solo animal/ensemble (L’Enfant et les sortilege) Florentine Opera.  Other notable roles include the title role in Carmen, Mother (Amahl and the Night Visitors); Mad Margaret (Ruddigore), Prince Orlofsky (Die Fledermaus), 2nd Lady (Magic Flute), Jo (Little Women), and Dido (Dido and Aeneas.) Active in concert work as well Ms. Sura has performed as a soloist in Handel’s Messiah, Beethoven’s 9th Symphony; and the Verdi Requiem. Upcoming performances include Tisbe (Cenerentola) May 2026 with Opera Vermont.

 

Angela Deptula (Sandman/Dew Fairy)

Krista Williams (Sandman/Dew Fairy)

 

Creative Team

 

Edson Melendez is a Kenosha native and Racine resident who has performed as a Singer, Actor, Stage Director, and Arts Administrator in South-East Wisconsin and beyond. Edson earned a B.M. in Vocal Performance from Arizona State University and an M.M  in Vocal Performance from DePaul University in Chicago Il. Edson has been heard and seen on stage with Florentine Opera, Phoenix Opera, Milwaukee Opera Theatre, Elgin Opera, Candid Concert Opera, North Shore Opera Hour, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Desert Palms Theatre, and Racine Theatre Guild among others. As a Stage Director Edson has directed both opera and non-musical theatre. He was the Stage Direction Apprentice at the renowned San Miguel Institute of Bel Canto in San Miguel, Mexico, where he worked closely with international opera directors Joe McClain and Ragnar Conde. He was the Stage Direction Fellow at Chicago Summer Opera, Production Assistant in Stage Direction for Florentine Opera's production of "Luisa Fernanda", and Stage Director for Kenosha Opera Festival.  Edson has also been a clinician at the university level and a private dramatic coach.