Caryl Fantel
"Caryl has an exceptional range of music and theatre skills, a singular integrity, artistic talent and is the definition of a theatre professional. She creates an ideal working environment for the creative team, casts,
and production staff, and results that are world-class."
LOUIS TYRRELL
DOROTHY F. SCHMIDT EMINENT SCHOLAR IN THE ARTS/FOUNDING DIRECTOR
THEATRE LAB
Caryl Fantel
Caryl is a Carbonell and two-time Silver Palm Award-winning Music Director, Piano Accompanist and Vocal Coach with more than 30 years of experience working at theatres and concert halls around the U.S. Career highlights include performing with Andrea Bocelli; preparing Parkland's Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School students for their inspiring performance on the 2018 Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall; having her youth vocal group Fantel Music Futuro Voices perform with Hugh Jackman on his 2019 world tour; working as Music Director to develop the musical Theda Bara and the Frontier Rabbi for its Off-Broadway run; and accompanying the American Heritage Featured Choir at Carnegie Hall.
Her music directing/conducting credits include Annie and the post-Broadway regional premiere of Irving Berlin's Holiday Inn at The 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle; the Carbonell-winning production of Assassins and the critically acclaimed Passion and Side by Side by Sondheim with Zoetic Stage at Miami's Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts; The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Spring Awakening and other productions with Slow Burn Theatre Company at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Ft. Lauderdale; 5 years as Resident Music Director for the Cohoes Music Hall in New York; 3 seasons with City Theatre's Summer Shorts at the Arsht Center; multiple staged concerts and readings of new musical works at The Maltz Jupiter Theatre, Palm Beach Dramaworks, Theatre Lab and with other organizations; The Victory Dolls female vocal group; and 12 years as Music Director of South Florida's Carbonell Awards ceremonies. She also served as Associate Music Director and Pianist for the Florida tour of Stars of David, produced by New York-based Daryl Roth Productions.
In addition to performing, Caryl serves as producer of the Carbonell Awards and other live and virtual events, and is a private audition and vocal coach and artist-in-residence for college and high school arts programs. She also regularly presents workshops, works with writers of cabaret shows and new musicals, adjudicates competitions and serves as a conference panelist on issues from ethics in the theatre to new musical development. She is a strong advocate for the arts and serves on the Broward County Cultural Council.
Roy Fantel
Roy Fantel’s career as a drummer/percussionist began in New York and spans more than 30 years, including recording, touring, performing on cruise ships and live TV and radio broadcasts. Highlights include working on Broadway with Joan Rivers in Sally Marr and Her Escorts; developing and playing the drum score for the Off-Broadway show Theda Bara & the Frontier Rabbi; backing artists including the Tokens, the Coasters, John Davidson, Leslie Uggams, Kellye Cash, Tiny Tim, Lee Roy Reams, Mike Burstyn, The Rat Pack, Rome Saladino's Michael Buble Tribute, Avi Hoffman, Lorenzo Lamas, Avery Sommers, John Lamb, and Johnny Contardo; performing as a percussionist with the Berkshire Symphony Orchestra and as rehearsal drummer with Aretha Franklin’s band at the Saratoga Jazz Festival.
Roy continues to display his versatility in a wide variety of musical styles, performing at numerous theatres, concert halls and events, such as the annual Carbonell Awards at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, and with Marshall Turkin's Classic Jazz Ensemble Concert Series at Lynn University, Paul Green's Klezmer East at Florida Atlantic University, and the critically acclaimed productions of Assassins with Zoetic Stage at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts and Murder Ballad at Actors' Playhouse, as well as special events and productions at venues including the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, the Maltz Jupiter Theatre, Palm Beach Dramaworks, Slow Burn Theatre Company, Theatre Lab and others.
A former member of The Floyd Experience (Pink Floyd Tribute Band) and Do It Again (Steely Dan Tribute Band), Roy has been featured with bands from New York to Florida, playing everything from rock to jazz, soul, swing, indie and country. Sought after by songwriters for recording projects, Roy quickly delivers tracks with impeccable timing and tasteful playing. Hear samples of his work.
In addition, Roy is an audio and video producer for recorded and virtual events. He is also a respected drum clinician and instructor whose students continue to earn top honors at county and state competitions.
Steely Dan Tribute Montage
“To say Roy Fantel is an accomplished drummer and percussionist is to make a gross understatement...Roy is much more. He breathed life into my compositions by utilizing his skills and his depth of musical knowledge. Roy is a consummate professional, and I trust his skills as well as his musical judgment. In addition to his proficiency, Roy is the nicest and most professional musician I have ever worked with.”
VAN COOPER
COMPOSER/PRODUCER/ARRANGER