Winter Concert Performers

Joe Alkire has appeared with the Davis Comic Opera Company as Georg in She Loves Me, Jack Point in Yeomen of the Guard, Robin Oakapple in Ruddigore, Nigel in Something's Afoot, and Major General Stanley in The Pirates of Penzance. He has appeared at the Woodland Opera House as Charles in Blithe Spirit, and as T.R. in Tintypes. He also appeared at the Davis Musical Theatre Co. as Harold Hill in Music Man. Other favorite roles include Cervantes in Man of La Mancha and Georges in La Cage Aux Folles. Most recently, Joe appeared as Emile in South Pacific and as Amos in Chicago at the Magic Circle Theatre in Roseville.

Bob Bowen as Public Relations Manager for the City of Davis, has created large community events like the Amgen Tour of California, Celebrate Davis and the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame Induction. This is his 18th appearance in the CWC show. In addition to creating the Davis Children's Nutcracker, Bob has appeared in theatre productions with the Davis Comic Opera Company, Davis Players, the Palms Playhouse and the Sacramento Best of Broadway. The father of four and grandfather of two, Bob has also written, directed, and choreographed children's theatre. In his free time, Bob enjoys attending Cal football and World Champion S.F. Giants baseball games and riding highwheel bicycles. Son Spencer is following in his father's footsteps as dance captain and member of the Davis High School Jazz Choir.

Gwyneth Bruch has played an active role in theatre throughout the Sacramento area, including productions at the Sacramento Theatre Company, Woodland Opera House, Davis Comic Opera Company, and Davis Musical Theatre Company. She is the winner of several Elly Awards and Chesley Awards for her performances. She also appeared in a new play at the Black Swan Theatre in Ashland, Oregon. Gwyn is head of the Drama Department at Davis Senior High School, where she also enjoys the adventure of teaching English to sophomores, and science fiction to seniors. She is grateful to her husband Russ and son Andrew for their constant love and support.

Martha Dickman's degree in voice from the University of Montana led her to singing on a radio show, giving recitals, and singing with a dance band. Married to Marine officer, James Gasser, she lived for 25 years in six U.S. states, Guam, and Thailand. Wherever they were she continued performing, and directing choral groups. In 1970 when Colonel Gasser died suddenly in Thailand, she came to Davis. For 23 years with the Davis Comic Opera company she was a founder, producer, vocal director , and performer. She also performed with the Davis Players and other groups; especially all the Citizens Who Care concerts. She has taught voice lessons for many years, and in 2007 was honored with the Brinley Award from the city of Davis. She spends her time now visiting with her children and grandchildren, going to concerts, volunteering, and traveling when she can.

LENORE HEINSON has pursued her love of music and theatre at both the community and professional levels, with over 40 years of study and experience. A private and public school voice, piano, and choral director, Lenore has also stage and musically directed award-winning productions for the Davis Musical Theatre, the Woodland Opera House, and Yolo Stage Company. In addition to her teaching, Lenore has also performed many roles spanning the musical theatre, opera, operetta and liturgical repertoire. Lenore currently teaches music and theater at the Yocha Dehe Wintun Academy in Brooks and directs a children's chorus for the Esparto Joint Unified School District. She is also the newly appointed Artistic Director for The Woodland Chamber Singers, a non-auditioned choral ensemble that encourages singers to come share their love of choral music with audiences throughout Yolo County.

LuAnn Higgs accompanies, sings, and vocal directs in many venues in the Sacramento area. She has vocal directed productions for Davis Comic Opera Company , Light Opera Theater Company of Sacramento (LOTS), River City Theater Company, Dave McDonald's Best of Broadway, Elk Grove High School, and Monterey Trail High School. She has been nominated four times for Elly Awards and won twice, for Best Actress in a Musical (Sullivan and Gilbert, 1995) and Best Supporting Actress in a Musical (Kismet, 2001). She has sung as a guest soloist for the Sacramento Gay Men's Chorus, and also served as both vocal soloist and piano accompanist for many chamber music societies. LuAnn teaches voice and piano privately in her home studio in Sacramento.

Jim Nakayama is the band director at Twin Lakes Elementary School in the San Juan Unified School District, Jim received his B.M. degree in Percussion Performance at California State University, Sacramento under the guidance of Ronald Holloway. Jim has worked with many professional and community theatre companies, including: Magic Circle Theater Company, Garbeau's Dinner Theater, Fair Oaks Theater, Runaway Stage Productions, River City Theater Company, Woodland Opera House, B Street Theater, and Sacramento Theater Company. He has been fortunate enough to work with some of our greatest entertainers such as Regis Philbin, Susan Lucci, Johnny Mathis, The Temptations, Mary Wilson and the New Supremes, Steve Houghton, Don Rickles, Donna Summer, Connie Francis, and the late, great Ray Charles. Jim has also worked with public school and private students, and gives private lessons at Northridge Music, at his private home studio, and through in-home lessons. He and his wife, Jennifer, currently live in Antelope, California.

Stephen Peithman was host of Capital Public Radio's "Musical Stages," for 25 years, and currently hosts "Connections," which airs on selected Saturdays throughout the year at 8:00 PM. A charter member of the Davis Comic Opera Co., he performed and directed for that company for over 30 years. He also has worked with the Woodland Opera House and the Davis Musical Theatre Company. The author of eight books, he has been an editor for Sunset and San Francisco magazines, and is consulting editor of Stage Directions, a national theatre magazine that he co-founded in 1988. He has served in a number of positions for the American Association of Community Theatre since 1994, receiving its highest honor, the Art Cole Award, in 2008. He began his association with Citizens Who Care with its very first concert, in 1993. In his "real life" he is Director of Community Relations for American River College in Sacramento.

Lenore Sebastian is honored to be a part of her 18th CWC Winter Concert. She has been a singer, actor, and director in the Northern California performing arts scene for over 30 years. In more than 40 roles in opera, operetta, musicals and plays, she has been nominated for seven Elly awards, winning two. She has directed productions of A View From the Bridge, Camelot, Kismet, Amahl & the Night Visitors, Taming of the Shrew, Inherit the Wind, and Stalag 17. Favorite roles are Mrs. Lovett (Sweeney Todd), Mama Rose (Gypsy), Charlotte (A Little Night Music), and any role with Gil Sebastian, her wonderful husband of 20 years and partner-in-all-things. "I dedicate everything I do to the memory of our darling granddaughter Zoe, whose great heart and joy of Life continue to inspire all who knew her"

Peter Shack is a native New Yorker who grew up singing along with Sinatra and The Met on the radio. He graduated from Columbia with a major in history and a minor in music, but seemed to spend most of his time rehearsing for something or other. He went on to Georgetown Law School and the Peace Corps. Peter performed in many productions for the late, great Davis Comic Opera Company. His favorites have been The Mikado (Koko), A Little Night Music/ (Fredrik) and Die Fledermaus(Eisenstein). He currently sings with the UC Davis Chorus. Long a resident of Davis with his wife Kathryn and son Steven, Peter was in the Attorney General's Office for 30 years, and now is with Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP. He is a Board Member of Citizens Who Care.