Brian Hopkins is happy to be part of the "Creative Team" that will continue to lead the WWHS Players forward through the next generation of quality musical theatre. Being involved with the East Greenwich Drama Club and Fantasy Works for many years, he credits his experience to the directors who led those programs and left an amazing legacy of theatre in Rhode Island to benefit this program.
Brian credits his accomplishments in his chosen career path for nearly thirty years teaching vocal music to children from pre-K to grade 12. His many themed concerts have offered countless hours of quality choral music and given much happiness through the years. Brian was also the musical director of the Pawtuxet Valley Community Chorus for sixteen years.
Brian is married to Beverly Hopkins and they have three children: Andrew, Briana, and Kelsey all of whom have developed musical interests of their own!
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Richard Marchetti is joining the WWHS Players for his sixth year. He is a 2004 graduate of the University of Rhode Island with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education with a concentration in clarinet performance. Richard was the recipient of the URI Department of Music award for musical excellence.
Richard is currently the Coordinator of Music K-12 for the West Warwick Public Schools. He in his seventh year as choral director and music educator at West Warwick High School. Before teaching at WWHS, he taught three years at John F. Horgan Elementary School. Richard was a quarter-finalist (top 200 out of 30,000) for the first ever Grammy Foundation's Music Educator award. Richard also was a recipient of The Rhode Island Department of Education, NBC 10, and Hasbro's Golden Apple Award for excellence in teaching.
Richard is a well known musician in the region. He has worked at Trinity Repertory Company, Theatre by the Sea, Ocean State Theatre Company, Rhode Island College, URI, Brown University, Dean College, and many other professional and community theatre companies in Southern New England. Richard also is a licensed Zumba instructor and teaches Zumba at High Steppin’ Dance Academy in Johnston www.richardmarchetti.zumba.com.
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Rikki Spelman is ecstatic to be with the WWHS Players for her eighth season! For the 2006-2008 seasons, she was the Producer and has been directing and choreographing since the fall of 2008.
Rikki graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 2006 with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education with a concentration in vocal performance. She is currently in her eighth year teaching general music and chorus at Greenbush Elementary School.
She studied dance for ten years at Dance RI and Festival Ballet and currently teaches ballet, pointe, jazz, and contemporary at The Talent Factory in North Kingstown where she also coaches the competitive Teen Company. During the summer, she is the Program Director at Camp Aldersgate in Glocester, RI.
