About Us |
Evenings in Quarantine: The Zombie Opera is the creation of Artistic Directors Bonnie Bogovich and Elizabeth Rishel, two Pittsburgh natives and Duquesne University alumni. Between the two of them, they have a diverse background in performance, technology, stagecraft, video and theater production, composition, and education.
(last updated December 2011)
Bonnie Bogovich
Artistic Director, Composer, Multimedia and Audio Production, Website Admin
Bonnie has combined her Bachelors of Music Composition with a Masters in Multimedia Technology while keeping a firm foothold in theater. When not busy creating sound effects and music soundtracks as the resident Sound Designer for Schell Games, she creates multimedia and projection video works for companies such as Squonk Opera and the Red Rock Chamber Orchestra. Bonnie has stage managed for local organizations including Squonk Opera, Attack Theatre, Pittsburgh Musical Theater, Opera Theater of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University’s Mary Pappert School of Music, and the JCC Performing Arts Camp. She has worked on a variety of independent films and music videos, co-produced the Run and Gun project and judged animations for the GLFF, is an active participant in the annual Pittsburgh 48 Hour Film Project and helped develop the audio and video editing program for Telecommunity. Bonnie sings with the Renaissance City Choir and the East Liberty Chancel Choir, and has performed in many local opera companies, including; Gravity + Grace (new work by Frank Ferraro), Dido and Aeneas (RCC w Chatham Baroque), Undercroft Opera (Marriage of Figaro, Susannah, Carmen), and the Pittsburgh Savoyards (Pirates of Penzance, Yeomen of the Guard, Princess Ida). Check out Bonnie’s website for more information. www.BlackCatBonifide.com
Elizabeth Rishel
Artistic Director, Composer, Costume Design, Rehearsal Conductor
Elizabeth holds a Bachelors of Science of Music Education. She has appeared in many local performing groups, such as The Renaissance City Choir, where she recently performed in the 2011 production of Dido and Aeneas (Second Witch), The Duquesne University Concert Choir and Pappert Chorale, The Microscopic Opera Company (The Proposal), and The Old School House Players (Man of La Mancha) and was featured in two original works – Gravity + Grace and Squeezin’ it Out. She is the voice of the character “Betty” in the Carnegie Mellon and iSafe collaborative online game, Carnegie Cadets. She has participated in several student and independent film projects as an actor and crewmember, in addition to working as a props artist for Squonk Opera’s Hometown: The Opera. Elizabeth also sews and designs Neo-Victorian clothing and costumes, and was the Set Dresser and Wardrobe Intern on the set of the movie On The Inside. Last summer Elizabeth performed with Undercroft Opera in their production of The Marriage of Figaro, Friscitta in Carmen, and with the Pittsburgh Savoyards as Mabel in Pirates of Penzance and Kate in Yeomen of the Guard. She was Costume Designer/Wardrobe Mistress for the Independent Film, Scream Park and was Costume Designer for Opera Theater of Pittsburgh’s premiere of Shining Brow.
Additional Production Heads:
Arvin Clay
Special Effects Makeup Designer
Previously, Arvin worked in the film industry as a materials consultant to special effects makeup studios. The work he did in the field of materials research (specifically translucent silicone rubbers) helped to push the industry into the 21st century. During that time, he maintained an informational website called replicants.org from 2000-2003 that saw thousands of visitors annually. Arvin left the special fx industry in 2004 and moved back to Pittsburgh to pursue another passion of his – photography, freezeframereality.org, mixing the rough textures of the Pittsburgh landscape with modern fashion design. Evenings in Quarantine welcomes Arvin back to the makeup world as he joins us as our lead special effects makeup designer.
Edwin Huang
Director of Photography, Assistant Video Editor
Edwin Huang has been working in corporate videography and industrial training films for over 12 years in various roles as an extra, and actor, and later on producer, camera operator and post-production. Usually filming legal depositions, product introductions, or corporate training seminars, Edwin finds shooting zombies refreshing because of their increased range and wonderful emotive qualities compared to his usual subjects.
Barry Bogovich
Director of Video Production, Screenwriter, Editor
Since 2003, Barry’s travels have taken him as far as South America directing short motion pictures, producing documentaries, and editing commercials, independent films, and business cinema. With a degree in media arts from Robert Morris University, he began his career as an editor at a digital marketing agency, driving edits for brands such as Coca-Cola, American Eagle, and Heinz, all while producing his own short films on the side. He is currently pursuing an MFA in Film Production at the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts in Los Angeles. “Evenings in Quarantine: The Zombie Opera” marks Barry’s directing debut in the world of feature film and stage productions. Check out Barry’s website
Administrative Staff:
Jonathan McNelis
Production Manager “task master” & Financial Analyst
Originally from Altoona, PA, Jon moved to Pittsburgh in fall of 2007. While attending college part-time Jonathan has maintained full time employment in the financial services industry. Jonathan recently accepted a position with Elan Financial Services in November 2010 and holds the title of Financial Analyst/Account Services Representative for several financial institutions with Elan. Jonathan is currently actively pursuing his Associates of Science Degree in Business Management. Jonathan has a total of 10+ years of piano/voice experience; assistant accompanist for The Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in 2005, and since September 2007 he serves as the Music Director for Allegheny Open Arms United Church of Christ in Pittsburgh’s Northside. Jonathan has studied with piano with Jack Kurutz, Eric Foose, and Theresa Patterson, and voice with Deborah Johnson, James White, Patrick Arena, Andres Cladera, and Erica Olden. Jonathan has performed in the past as Music Director for Rochester (Rochester, PA) Jr/Sr High School’s 2010 spring musical production of “Oklahoma”, choir member/vocalist with the Renaissance City Choirs since 2007, choir member for local opera Gravity + Grace (2009), accompanist for Altoona Community Theater productions from 2000 through 2005 for several productions including “Broadway Babies, and Missoula Children’s Theater’s “Alice in Wonderland” (2006). Jonathan is excited to take on this new challenge as Production Manager with Zombie Opera using both sides of his business and creative/musical abilities. Long live the zombies!
Jill Egyud
Marketing Director
Jill holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Studio Art with minor studies Music and a Master’s in Organizational Psychology. After spending 3 years as an administrator at Apple Retail, Jill’s career routed to that of stay-at-home mom and “Zombie Wrangler” for The Zombie Opera. Recently, Jill retired from being an organist an choir director – a career she had enjoyed since age 12. Jill currently works at ThoughtForm Design, a Pittsburgh design consultancy, as Information Technology Coordinator. When Jill is not planning server configurations or wrangling zombies, she is spending time with her husband, daughter and cat.
Scott Steele
Public Relations Intern
Scott is a composer, conductor, and composition teacher. In his compositions, he attempts to create a kind of music that is accessible and fun, yet also intelligent. (After all, why must the two be disparate?) His approach to composition is visceral and intuitive. He is interested in music that is about music, a joyful exploration of what sounds can do. In 2007 he was awarded Pennsylvania Award for Achievement in the Creative Arts for Composition. The following year he enrolled at Duquesne University as a composition student. He has studied composition with David Stock, Patrick Burke, and Lynn Purse. Performances of his music, both on and off campus and on the radio, have been very well received. In 2010, his music was chosen for the 2011 Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Student Readings and the Duquesne Contemporary Ensemble Call for Scores. Outside of music, Scott enjoys reading, traveling, and great coffee.
Collaborating Artists, Craftsmen, and Crew:
Evan Miller
Production Designer, Location Scout
Evan Miller is a Carnegie Mellon graduate who has been raised on zombie lore. After spending several years in the video game industry, he has moved into film and worked as a set decorator for the Dreamworks feature film, ‘I am Number 4,’ and is currently working on a ‘top secret’ project for Paramount Pictures as the On-Set Dresser. This is his first experience working with live theater.
Reagan Heller
Promotional Graphic Artist
Reagan is a is a longtime zombie fan and graduate of Carnegie Mellon University; as well as having finished her Masters of Entertainment Technology here in Pittsburgh. She interned at the Disney VR studios in Los Angeles, but returned to Pittsburgh to participate in the growing game development industry here. She is currently the Senior Artist at Schell Games LLC, where she plots the formula to re-animate tissue as well as help create unique entertainment experiences for clients such as Disney/PIXAR, Universal, and a variety of others. Reagan is delighted to be working with the ZOpera; and can now say she has tasted stage blood, which is strikingly minty.
Nathan Fullerton
Camera Assistant
Nathan Fullerton has been a presence in the Pittsburgh digital media world for nearly 20 years. Way back in the 1980‘s Nathan attended Carnegie Mellon University, where he majored in Cognitive Psychology. In the early 1990’s Nathan worked at the CMU Robotics Institute Multimedia Lab where he created courseware for advanced classes like Computer Vision, a robotics kiosk for the Carnegie Science Center, and started the Just-In-Time lecture project, which was the seed of CMU’s Last Lecture series. For the past decade Nathan has focussed on helping people to realize their creative vision as an instructor in all things Apple and Adobe. Nathan has gained a reputation as Pittsburgh’s Final Cut, Motion, and DVD Studio Pro guru and is currently also the “go-to” guy for questions about Photoshop, 3D modeling, video cameras, compression, and just about any other advanced media production topic. Nathan is an Apple Certified Pro in Final Cut Pro, Motion, DVD Studio Pro, Color, and Aperture and is Pittsburgh’s only independent Apple Certified Final Cut Pro Trainer (not just a Certified Pro, but an Apple Certified Trainer!).
Past Contributing Members of Staff and Crew:
Matthew Reese
Stage Director 2010
Matt Reese is an alumni of Duquesne university (BA cello Performance2008) and The City University Of New York(BA Theatre 1999). He has appeared in many off off broadway plays as well as off off off, and too many offs to mention. he also appeared in the films “the Road’ and an unaired MTV. pilot and numerous student films as well as Co directing the Sidney Harth Documentary “Off the String”.
Jacqueline Uranic
Promotions Assistant 2010
Jackie holds a BS in Communications Media and a Master’s in Library and Information Science. She has done contract work in graphic design, marketing and advertising with a variety of individuals and nonprofit organizations over the past decade, and is currently working with digital imaging applications in higher education.
