A.J. Coté is a New York City based puppeteer, actor, singer, and improviser. He is the Artistic Director and co-founder of the Puppet Shakespeare Players, and designs and builds puppets for stage performance. Recent credits with the Puppet Shakespeare Players include: Aron the Boar/Ensemble in “Puppet Titus: A Workshop”; Friar Laurence/ Gregory in “Puppet Romeo and Juliet”; and Laertes/Rosencrantz/Ensemble in “Puppet Hamlet.” A.J. is also a member of the short form improv troupe, Comedysportz New York. A.J. is the Master Carpenter at NYU’s Tisch School for the Arts Graduate Design and a graduate of Marymount Manhattan College with a B.A. in Theater Performance.

Lena Gilbert holds an MFA in dance and choreography from New York University Tisch School of the Arts. She has danced in concerts and industrials all over the United States and many points abroad. She was recently nominated for a Metro Award for Excellence in Choreography for her work in high school musicals. As a theater artist and singer, she works with several New York-based playwrights and composers on original work, and is especially thrilled to work with Bruce Lazarus on Carrolling. Some favorite roles include: Tango Dancer, Evita; Annelle, Steel Magnolias, and Lainie in Lee Blessing’s Two Rooms. Member Actors Equity.

Jason Koth is a graduate of Marymount Manhattan College with a degree in theatre performance, and has performed in several productions around New York City. He also works as the Registrar at the School of Visual Arts (SVA). Jason is happy to be working with Bruce Lazarus again, having originated “The Gardener’s Song” from Carrolling several years ago.  

Composer and pianist Bruce Lazarus characterizes his music as “diverse, concise, architectural, contemporary, and in turn meditative, humorous, moody, and exuberant.” His music include pieces for piano, chorus, voice, chamber ensembles, and theater. An album of his major solo piano work, Musical Explorations of the Messier Catalogue of Star Clusters and Nebulae (Comcon0014/Naxos) is available at iTunes, Amazon, and Classical Archives. Lazarus studied at Juilliard where he earned his B.M. and M.M. in music composition.

Jennifer Winn has performed with numerous opera companies. She has been the recipient of several awards including two-time regional finalist with the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, with monetary awards on both occasions, and the “Stage Presence” award in 2000. Carrolling will mark Jennifer’s second performance of new works based on Lewis Carroll texts, having premiered the title role in Peter Westergaard’s Alice in Wonderland with the Center of Contemporary Opera in 2010, earning Jennifer favorable reviews in the New York Times. A DVD of this performance is available through Albany Records.