Lyric Opera 2022-2023 Issue 10 - West Side Story

27 | Lyric Opera of Chicago JULIA FLECKENSTEIN | PAULINE, u/s ANYBODYS Lyric debut Fleckenstein’s regional credits include Cabaret, Chicago Sings Broadway Pop, and Can-Can at Porchlight Music Theatre and Newsies at Casa Mañana. She holds a BFA in Musical Theater (Dance Emphasis) from the Chicago College of Performing Arts. PAIGE FRASER | V ELMA Previously at Lyric: West Side Story (2018/19). A graduate of the Ailey/Fordham BFA program, Fraser has danced professionally with Ailey II, Visceral Dance Chicago, and Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, and her commercial dance credits include performances with Beyonce and Chanel Iman. A Princess Grace Award recipient (2016) and one of Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch” (2017), Fraser’s other theater credits include The Lion King (Ra ki Tour 2019 and Broadway 2021-current), serving as Dance Captain/Swing. She is the Chief Artistic Of cer of The Paige Fraser Foundation, and is currently getting her MA in Art Management from University of Denver. MORGAN MCDANIEL | CLARICE Previously at Lyric: Dancer/ Carmen (2022/23). The dancer graduated from the Ailey/ Fordham BFA program, where she worked with esteemed choreographers including Jae Man Joo, Francesca Harper, Elizabeth Roxas-Dobrish, and Tina Bush and performed with the Metropolitan Opera in their production of Der Fliegende Holländer. She joined South Chicago Dance Theatre as an emerging artist, and she spent a season with Visceral Dance Chicago. McDaniel had a residency with Ballare Carmel in Monterey, California, where she performed work by Noelle Kayser, Jennifer Archibald, and Ihsan Rustem. AYDEN PRATT | ANYBODYS Lyric debut Pratt appeared in the national tours of Moulin Rouge! The Musical (Swing), Hello, Dolly! (Ensemble), and A Chorus Line (Tricia, China Premiere). They danced for the 2021 Met Gala. Ballet credits include The Nutcracker , Cinderella , and Serenade , and they served as associate choreographer for Cabaret (Mac, Haydn Theatre). Pratt has been a trainee with the Rochester City Ballet, and holds a BFA from Montclair State University. LAURA SAVAGE | GRAZIELLA Previously at Lyric: Carousel (2014/15). Savage has been seen in dozens of shows in the greater Chicago area. Highlights include Cassie in A Chorus Line (Porchlight Theatre), Peggy Sawyer in 42nd Street, Rumpleteaser in Cats (Paramount Theatre), and Dyanne in Million Dollar Quartet (Marriott Theatre). She is a Jeff nominated actress ( The Spitfire Grill, Boho Theatre) and choreographer ( Cruel Intentions at Kokandy Productions), and appeared on and choreographed for the Empire television program (Fox). She will be seen later this season in Gypsy at the Marriott Theatre. THE SHARKS ANDRES ACOSTA | NIBBLES Lyric debut The New York-based actor has toured with West Side Story (Bernardo), Jersey Boys (Gyp), and Flashdance (Joe). Other highlights include Nikos in Legally Blonde (Muny), Tommy Devito in Jersey Boys (North Shore), Michael in Smokey Joe’s Cafe (North Shore), Bernardo in West Side Story (Asolo Rep), Evita (Asolo Rep), In the Heights (PCLO), On Your Feet (Gateway), and A Walk On The Moon (George Street). Acosta holds a BFA from Florida State University. MARK DANIEL AGUIRRE | CHINO Lyric debut Aguirre began his professional acting career fresh out of high school, making his off-Broadway debut in Disney+’s Trevor: The Musical . He recently appeared as Bennie in Collard and Rosenblatt’s Like the Wind at SoHo playhouse. His other credits include the title role in the short Mikey’s Army , which had its world premiere at the Outfest Fusion QTBIPOC Film Festival in LA earlier this year. ALEX APONTE | LUIS, u/s CHINO Lyric debut Aponte’s recent credits include Kinky Boots (Angel) and 42nd Street (Ensemble) at Music Theatre Wichita, and Seussical (Mayzie La Bird) at Texas State University. He holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Texas State University. DEAN DE LUNA | ANXIOUS Lyric debut A graduate of the Boston Conservatory with a BFA in Dance and a minor in Movement Science, de Luna has numerous Broadway and international tour credits. Regional highlights include My Fair Lady, In the Heights (Philadelphia), 42nd Street, and Newsies