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Cast and Crew

St. Louis - October 2024

Dedication. Expertise. Passion.

Our cast, crew, band, and leadership brings talent from our original productions in the UK and celebrates our local talent here in St. Louis, assembled for two nights only on October 2nd and 3rd, 2024. Their passion and contributions are a critical part of refining and improving Trompe l'Oeil for our 2025 presentation across the pond! 

Band

Henry Palkes

(Piano,  Arrangement, Orchestrations)

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Henry Palkes has enjoyed a professional career spanning over forty years as a pianist, music director, vocal coach, educator and composer.  A graduate of The Juilliard School, he made his NYC solo piano recital debut at Lincoln Center, performing numerous times at Carnegie Hall both in recital and as an affiliate member of the SLSO.  In addition to a thirty year tenure at Washington University serving as vocal coach, music director, and lecturer, he has been awarded two Kevin Kline awards for his work as music director for The Rep, and is the Composer In Residence for the Tennessee Williams Festival of St. Louis.  Henry’s passion for multi-disciplinary artistic input was rewarded in 2018 when he was invited by the Gershwin Trust to assume the position of pianist and keyboardist for the First National Tour of Christopher Wheeldon’s An American In Paris.  Following an invitation in 2022 from Artistic Director of St. Louis DanceTheatre, Kirven Douthit-Boyd, “Mr. Henry” was thrilled to join as their Company Pianist.

 

William Lenihan

(Guitars, Accordion, Mandolin, Keyboards)

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William Lenihan has worked with numerous musicians in the theatre, concert and the studio worlds including Petula Clark, Bernadette Peters, Charo, Suzanne Somers, Debbie Reynolds, Julie Andrews, Brenda Holloway, Rich Little, Cloris Leachman, Vic Damone, Dianne Carroll, Sheryl Crow, Red Skelton, Ernie Ford, Frankie Laine, Danny Thomas, Jim Bailey, Nathan Lane and many others.  He has performed decades of Broadway shows as well, with SLSO, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, studio orchestras and under numerous conductors including Leonard Slatkin, and Broadway conductors including Constantine Kitsopolous.  In the studio, concert and touring worlds he also has worked with Marc Copland, Ron Carter, Dave Weckl, Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, Bob Brookmeyer, Chick Corea, John Patitucci, Tony Grey, George Lewis, and many others.

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Steve Davis

(Drums)

 

In addition to his extensive touring throughout Europe and North America, Steve served on the faculty of Jamey Aebersold Jazz Clinics from 1982-2008 and served on the faculty of the Berlin Conservatory of Music as professor of jazz studies in 2000 and 2001, as well as Port Townsend in 2007.  He has written six drum books, including a (2008) released book from Schott-Music Publishing and has conducted educational clinics throughout the world.  See http://www.stevedavisdrums.com/ for further details. 

 

Jeff Anderson

(Bass Guitar)

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Jeffrey Anderson, a multi-instrumentalist specializing in saxophone, acoustic bass, and piano, hails from Lawrence, Kansas, and was raised in St. Louis, Missouri.  He is a seasoned performer, educator, and composer with a Master of Music in Jazz Performance from the University of Southern Illinois at Edwardsville and a Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance from Morris Brown College.  Currently teaching at Washington University, Jeffrey has also taught at the University of Missouri-St. Louis and various music programs in the St. Louis area.  His performance credits include notable theater productions like For Colored Girls and Five Guys Named Moe with the Black Repertory Theater and jazz festivals, including the Atlanta Free Jazz Festival where he performed with Miles Davis.  Jeffrey has worked with an impressive array of artists, including Peabo Bryson, The Dells, Marlena Shaw, Phil Perry, Jamey Aebersold, Lou Donaldson, Dakota Staton, Vanessa Rubin, Regina Carter, Jonathan Butler, and Kirk Whalum.

 

Matt Pickart

(Violin)

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Matt Pickart is Director and Co-founder of Clazz International Music Festival in Arcidosso, Italy.  He has the distinct honor and privilege of having performed at both Jazz at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Music Hall’s Weill Recital Hall.  Other career highlights include performances with The Who, Barry Manilow on tour, as concertmaster for Josh Groban and The Vogues, and as principal violist for Bernadette Peters and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. He has performed and recorded in multiple genres internationally.  As a soloist, he has appeared with orchestras in the USA, Canada, Italy, and the Netherlands. As a section player he has performed with the symphonies of Arkansas, Alabama, and St. Louis. 

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CREATIVE AND PRODUCTION TEAM

Book, Music & Lyrics - Henry Biggs (he/him)


Music - Preston Joshu (he/him)

Preston has been a full-time Musician, Producer
and Recording Engineer since 2002.

He is currently half of Sawhorse Studios located in the beautiful Dutchtown

neighborhood of St. Louis Missouri,
USA. Henry Biggs and Preston have been collaborating for the

better part of two decades.


Director - Blair Anderson (he/him)

Blair is a Director and Choreographer based in London. Having worked on
both the 2022 and 2023 Productions, Blair is thrilled to be returning to

Trompe L’Oeil here in St Louis.

Blair loves working on new writing projects, and has loved working
alongside Henry to help him realize his writing visions on stage. A wise man
once told Blair that Theatre is meant to Entertain, Educate and Enlighten

and I hope this project does that.

 

Choreography -

Blair Anderson, Tom Ashton, and The Gentlemen of Vision (Marlon
Wharton, Angel Mohammad and Javon Jones)

 

Costume Designer - Hairan Zucchelli

 

Projection Designer - Derek Elz

 

Set Designer - Rob Morgan

 

Set Construction - Andy Cross

 

Orchestral Management - Bill Lenihan
General Manager - Carter Dixon McGill (CDM)

 

Production Stage Manager - Zachary Grimm (he/him)

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