Allie is so excited to be making her Franklin Light Opera Debut as Iolanthe! She is about to graduate from Lipscomb University with her BFA in Musical Theatre with a minor in Music. She wants to thank her family for supporting her dreams, and her Grandpa watching them happen from heaven.

Brady Klosterman (The Lord Chancellor) Brady has been acting now for 10 years this March! He started acting with the Renaissance Players in his hometown of Dickson back in 2016. In that time he has played some fantastic roles, including his first major leading role, Captain Von Trapp in The Sound of Music, last July. He has experienced a great deal in that time, both on stage, and through his own personal life. Although outside of the spotlight he is an introverted wall flower, when the spotlight hits him, a completely different person takes over! A character actor, that takes on any role (or roles) that may be given him! He strives to make every show he’s apart of special, working with his fellow cast and crew, and giving his characters a particular element of memorability to the audience. He loves to exercise his knowledge of the performing arts, and sharing his passion for theatre. He is thrilled to be making his FLO debut as the Lord Chancellor, and hopes you thoroughly enjoy the show!! “Thanks to God for His blessings, and much love to all of my supportive family and friends!”

Kali is excited to join her first production with FLO. She was most recently seen on stage as Allison in Seasonal Allergies and Margaret in Silent Sky. This is her first time diving into G&S and she hopes you enjoy!

Abby Newman is thrilled to make her FLO debut in Iolanthe! Past shows include: Les Misérables (Cosette), Into the Woods (Cinderella), Beauty and the Beast (Belle), Tuck Everlasting (Mae), She Loves Me (Amalia Balash), Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey). She has not done opera since college, so she is pumped to dive back into the genre! She made her NYC debut this past July as a part of OnStage Collective's Summer Cabaret titled "Seasons." When not onstage, she is a middle school theatre teacher, a princess party performer, and a salsa snob. She would like to thank her family, friends, her sweetheart, Joey, the cast and crew, and all involved for giving her the opportunity!

Nathanael Gilkes just recently graduated from John Casablancas School of acting and modeling. He enjoys singing and playing guitar, both of which he is excited to do tonight as 'Strephon' a member of the illustrious and notorious Indy rockabilly, punk, folk rock, blues band 'The Arcadian Shepherds'! This is Nathanael's first production with FLO. And he is grateful and honored to be part of the talented cast of Iolanthe.

Ashley Strella (Lady Tolloller) is thrilled to be making her Franklin Light Opera debut! Ashley is a Kansas City native singer, actor, dancer, and educator now residing in Nashville, TN. Born and raised in the Sunflower State, she earned her BFA in Musical Theatre with minors in Dance and Exercise Science from Wichita State University and has been seen performing all over the Midwest with companies such as The Black Repertory Theatre of KC, Cedar Fair/Six Flags Entertainment, The White Theatre, and The Forum Theatre, among others. She relocated to Music City in July 2024 and has been honored to perform with companies such as About The Town Productions and the Williamson County Performing Arts Center. She just finished up her second contract of Sweet Soul Music with WCPAC. Her passion for theatre has blossomed into a passion for teaching theatre, and she is privileged to grow her teaching career with CYT Nashville and TN EdTA. Love to Dakota. Keep up with her adventures @ashleystrella. 

Otha "Abe" Gibson is a 25 y/o vocalist, actor and pianist from Mount Juliet, Tennessee. Having sung classically since heading to college in 2019 and with vocal coaching and tutelage from professors of Cumberland, Vanderbilt and Lipscomb Universities, Abe is extremely excited to be starring in his 3rd ever operatic role with the Franklin Light Opera Co. He would like to thank all of the boardmembers and directors of the FLO for giving him this wonderful opportunity and casting him as the Lord Mountararat. He would also like to thank the Rev. Chad Jones, aswell as all faculty and body of the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, his loving parents, family and friends for all of their continued support.

Will Lasley is back with Franklin Light Opera in another classic Gilbert & Sullivan bass role. He began doing theatre in his early teens with Act Too Players, where he would eventually play the title roles in both Sweeney Todd and Shrek the Musical. After joining up with FLO in 2022 as the bass soloist in their Best of G&S revue, he then went on to play the Boatswain’s Mate in H.M.S. Pinafore, Frank in Die Fledermaus, and the Sergeant of Police in The Pirates of Penzance. He wants to thank the whole cast and crew, his parents Tom and Michelle, his sister Anna, and you, the audience member, for paying to watch him make a fool of himself. Be Good!

Paige Stinnett is a soprano originally from the Bay Area, CA. She received her Master of Music from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and her Bachelor of Music from Vanderbilt University, where she was a Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholarship recipient. Highlights from past performances include Gretel in Hansel and Gretel (Heartland Opera), Maguellone in Pauline Viardot’s Cendrillon (Franklin Light Opera), Mme. Silberklang in Der Schauspieldirektor (SFCM Opera), Papagena in Die Zauberflöte (Lyric Opera Studio Weimar), and Streetplayer in Bernstein’s MASS (Vanderbilt Opera). In addition to these roles, she has covered Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro (Landlocked Opera) and the Queen of the Night in Die Zauberflöte (Manhattan Opera Theatre). She has performed as a soloist with the Nashville Symphony on multiple occasions, as well as within the Nashville Opera Chorus. She has participated in several young artist training programs including Lyric Opera Studio Weimar, Manhattan Opera Studio, and AIMS in Graz. She has also sung in masterclasses given by Barbara Bonney, Jake Heggie, and Warren Jones, among many others. She has studied voice privately for 20 years, with Jane Randolph as her teacher for the past 10 years.

Veronica Hodgson (Leila) is a senior at Vanderbilt University double majoring in Theatre and Communication Studies. She was last seen as Cinderella (Cinderella) at Playhouse 615. Some of her favorite past roles include Lilith (She Kills Monsters), Rosie Alvarez (Bye Bye Birdie), Grace Farrell (Annie), Calliope (Xanadu), and Mayzie (Seussical). She is happy to be making her FLO debut bringing one of her favorite G&S operettas to life. Much love to mom as always and everyone else who has supported her over the years.

Originally from Florida, Tessa’s passion for performance began early—likely to avoid math homework—and has only grown since. While she has ventured into commercial and television work, live theater remains her true love. Tessa thrives on the electric connection between performer and audience, believing deeply in the unifying magic of storytelling. A few of her favorite credits include: Amy in Theophany at Tennessee Performing Arts Center, Thalia in Gods of Comedy with Lakewood Theater, Sue/Sandra in The Exonerated with Dark Horse, and The Empress Jessica in Space Princess Wars with Mills Pate. Offstage, Tessa channels her creativity into world-building, writing, and gaming—because every hero’s journey needs a side quest. She hopes to inspire future theater lovers, just as she was once inspired from the audience.

Claiomh Hogan is so excited for her second show with FLO and her first Opera! She’s been in many plays and musicals but never an opera. She would like to thank everyone involved, her friends, family, and her wonderful singing teacher Deidra Hughes!

Reagan Moorman has need in Nashville TN for the past 8 years and acting for 5. This is her first ever theatre performance.

Annette is thrilled to be making her Franklin Light Opera debut! Returning to the stage after a decades-long hiatus to raise her 5 children, she has previously been in productions of Gilbert and Sullivan's Trial By Jury and The Mikado. Annette has performed at the Covina Valley Playhouse (California) and can be seen as Ruth in the indie film @urFRENZ. In addition to singing at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Franklin, she had also been known to make up silly songs about her cat and sing them everywhere.

This is Rebekah’s first musical production and she’s so excited to be a part of it alongside so many talented people. Rebekah loves Jesus and singing with her sisters in her free time. And you can always catch her dancing!

Nathan Abelt is honored to be working with Franklin Light Opera once again, and to be appearing in his first Gilbert & Sullivan opera! Previously, he played the role of Sir Arthur Sullivan in FLO’s The Best of Gilbert & Sullivan. He has also played The Page twice in Amahl & the Night Visitors, and multiple ensemble roles (a giant, a knight, the town butcher, and a lord of Prince Topher’s court) in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella. Nathan would love to thank his family and friends for their continued support, and this wonderful cast and crew for letting him join them in bringing the magical — and hilarious — tale of Iolanthe to life!

Andrew makes his operatic debut in the peerage. He performs around town with the Williamson County Alumni Marching Band and dances with World Champion Productions in Hendersonville.

Chad Dumont is excited to be performing with Franklin Light Opera for his sixth consecutive mainstage show. He’s an active board member of FLO and is excited to be a part of this modern version of Iolanthe. Chad has a long history in theatre and has been cast in many shows over the past 20 years, including Die Fledermaus, HMS Pinafore, the Pirates of Penzance, Candide, Kiss Me Kate and others.

Daniel Dumont is a recent graduate of the University of Tennessee Knoxville where he majored in Physics and Biology and was a member of the Pride of the Southland Marching Band. This year he has been working as an intern at Fermilab and is planning to attend graduate school this fall in pursuing a PhD in Physics. He has not been onstage since early high school but is enjoying working with this cast and crew!

Elise is happy to be in the “peer” ensemble for this production of Iolanthe. She most recently acted with Fairview Community Theatre as Helen O’Niel in their production of Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. She has also worked with New Star Nashville in production of  Dracula, Cyrano, Once Upon A Mattress, Beauty and the Beast, and more. She has also acted with Lakewood Theatre, Hendersonville Performing Arts Company, and other community theatres around the Nashville area. She has a B.A. in theatre from Lee University. This is her first time working with Franklin Light Opera and she hopes you enjoy the show and thank you for supporting the theatre.

Elizabeth’s love of theatre began at the age of two and has taken her across stages in Canada and the U.S. Professionally, she spent over a decade as a theatre technician. A few highlights from her career include four seasons as venue technician with Bard on the Beach, serving as assistant stage manager for one of the entertainment stages at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics Experience BC, and working at the Vancouver Folk Music Festival. She has stage-managed TYA tours of Lava and Bones and Cranked, and served as stage manager for The Pirates of Penzance and lighting designer for Iolanthe (winner, Best Lighting Design, Community Theatre Coalition). Now back in theatre for fun, this is her second show with Franklin Light Opera and her first time directing. She is thrilled for you to see her concept and vision come alive onstage with this wonderful cast and crew!

Makai Keur is an orchestrator, music director, and producer from Franklin, TN. He began his career at Cubby’s Music, working with artists like Katy Perry and Josh Groban. As a composer, his musical theater work was a finalist in a national songwriting challenge. After attending Berklee College of Music, and working with Carnival Cruiselines, he now freelances in the Nashville are, and lives in Spring Hill with his wife, Kailee.

Elizabeth Johnson (Costume Designer) is pleased to have the opportunity to work with the fine folks of FLO! Creative collaboration is her favorite thing, especially when it involves telling a story through the medium of costumes. She began designing and working on shows for schools - Seussical Jr, Maria Montessori the Musical for Montessori Academy and Addams Family young@part, Matilda, Jr., and Beauty and the Beast, Jr. for Brentwood Middle School. These days she is a freelance designer. Most recently she co-designed Beauty and the Beast for Belmont Musical Theater. She has worked with wardrobe at Nashville Repertory Theater as a dresser on Elf the Musical, Violet, and currently 9 to 5. She would like to send much love and thanks to her three children for their patience and support. “I am so lucky that I get to be your mom!” 

Stephanie started her performing arts career in high school as a band nerd and theater geek. She earned her Bachelor of Music from University of Tennessee and her Master of Music from Austin Peay State University. After nearly ten years as a music educator with students from Kindergarten to college, she transitioned to the nonprofit arts field. She now works behind the scenes for organizations including Franklin Light Opera, St. George’s Episcopal Church, Gateway Chamber Orchestra, Nashville Symphony, and Williamson County Performing Arts Center.

Karen Wonder Dumont serves as the President of the Board of Directors and a frequent Producer. Karen is one of the founders of Franklin Light Opera, which was inspired by the Cornell Savoyards (Ithaca), a Gilbert & Sullivan group she led in Western NY. Favorite musical theatre roles include Mother Abbess (The Sound of Music), Rosa Bud (The Mystery of Edwin Drood), Cunegonde (Candide), Marian (The Music Man), and Johanna (Sweeney Todd). Favorite G&S roles include Mabel (The Pirates of Penzance), Josephine (HMS Pinafore), Yum-Yum (The Mikado), Princess Ida (Princess Ida), Rose Maybud (Ruddigore), Patience (Patience) and Aline (The Sorcerer). She has done numerous recital programs and appeared as a concert soloist in Orff’s Carmina Burana, Mozart's Requiem, and Handel’s Messiah. Behind the scenes this go round, Karen is delighted to work with this amazing team and cast! She lives in Franklin with her husband Chad and her theatre-loving son Simon, 3 cats, and her dog Daisy. Her middle son, Ethan, is at the University of Tennessee Knoxville and her oldest, Daniel, is an intern at Fermilab. In her spare time, Dr. Dumont is a veterinarian practicing at Healthy Petz Veterinary Hospital in Spring Hill.

John Schultz is a professional educator, having served as Principal for 32 years.  His theatrical experience includes acting in, directing or conducting over 160 shows at every level - school, community and professional theater.  He made his Franklin Light Opera debut last season as the Captain of the HMS Pinafore, directly followed by a stint as a pirate and Policeman in the Pirates of Penzance. John is also a member of the FLO Board of Directors.