playbill vip

Dominic Michael Aquilino

as The Narrator (El Gallo)

Dominic happily returns as El Gallo, which he has played 300 times throughout the NY Metropolitan area, with a stint at its Off-Broadway original theater.

Locally: Music Man, The Bridges of Madison County, Ring of Fire, Light in the Piazza, Million $ Quartet (Johnny Cash) in addition to directing his adaptation of A Christmas Carol at SART, to name a few. He has been on faculty at MHU and WCU.

A few professional credits: Santa Fe Opera, Central City Opera, Lees McRae Summer Theatre. He’s starred throughout the US in over 200 shows.

Some of his favorite roles: 

Carousel (Billy Bigelow), Oklahoma (Curly), La Boheme (Marcello), Pirates of Penzance (Pirate King), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Oberon), Pride & Prejudice (Mr. Darcy), Phantom of the Opera (Phantom), Denim King (Moses Cone), Dracula, and Robin Hood. 

He directs, designs, adapts and teaches as well.  He thanks his Muse, Clara Ray Burrus, his amazing little actress, Vivienne and their menagerie of animals.

Emma-Leigh Brookshire

as The Girl (Luisa)

Emma-Leigh Brookshire is a recent graduate of Mars Hill University. She is from Mills River, North Carolina. Her favorite roles while being at Mars Hill include: Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors, Joy in Cinderella, and Charity in Sweet Charity. Emma-Leigh has returned to MHU to get her Masters of Arts in Teaching.

Matt Blanks

as The Boy (Matt)

Matt Blanks is thrilled to be in another SART show! He last appeared here as the boogie-woogie-piano-playing Vic in Sisters of Swing. Other western NC appearances include Remembering Sondheim Revue 2023, Laurie in Little Women, and Music Director of Big Fish with HART, where he will appear as Reverend Shaw in Footloose this summer. Regional credits include Charlie in Brigadoon, Henrik in A Little Night Music, and Frederic in The Pirates of Penzance. Matt is the Voice Area Coordinator at Mars Hill University Music Department and runs Soaring Sounds Studio. mattblanks.onuniverse.com Catch him playing keys and singing with local band Adrianne Blanks and the Oracles.