Marisa Paull Gorst was born and raised in and around New York City. She has lived in Washington, DC, Florida, Massachusetts, New York, Slovenia, and Nevada. Marisa is a ballet dancer who has performed with many professional and regional ballet companies in the USA and Europe. She was most recently seen onstage in the Las Vegas production of The Phantom of the Opera. She holds a degree from Smith College (BA, English Language and Literature, Highest Honors, suma cum laude). Marisa met her husband, Jonathan Gorst, while they were both performing in Phantom. They were married in 2011.
Jonathan Gorst was born in Colorado Springs, CO. His family moved around the midwest for much of his early childhood before returning to Colorado, where he obtained a degree in Music from the University of Northern Colorado. Jonathan lived and worked "on the road" from 1999 to 2010, first as the Principal Keyboardist and eventual Principal Conductor and Music Director on the National Tour of Cats, and then as the Assistant Conductor and eventual Principal Conductor and Music Director of the National Tour of The Phantom of the Opera. In 2010 he settled in Las Vegas as the Assistant Conductor of that city's Phantom. In 2013 he once again hit the road as the Associate Conductor of the First National Tour of Ghost The Musical, which is currently playing cities across the USA. Touring in an RV was his idea.
Tristan Gorst is 12 years old. He was born in Kansas City and lived the first four years of his life "on the road" while his dad played Cats and Phantom. His favorite books are The Hunger Games, Holes, and Ender's Game. His favorite computer games are Minecraft and Portal. His favorite movie is The Lego Movie. He wants to be an engineer when he grows up.
Mattigan Gorst is 10 years old. She was born in Kansas City and spent the first three years of her life "on the road" while her dad played Cats and Phantom. Her favorite musicals are The Sound of Music, Annie, Wicked, Phantom, Once On This Island, Lion King, and Pippin. She is passionate about dancing (hip hop, ballet), singing, drawing, and American Girl dolls. She wants to be an actress when she grows up.
Yoda Gorst was born on April 4, 2011. His official name on his papers is Shadow of Madagascar. Yoda is a (rather large) miniature long-haired dachshund. His favorite pastimes are yard patrol and sitting off-balance on someone's lap. He also very much enjoys accompanying human beings on their trips to the toilet.
Chewbacca Gorst was born sometime between June and July of 2011. As a rescue she has no official papers and if she did she would burn them. Her heritage appears to be dachshund, terrier, or chihuahua, depending on which way you look at her. Chewbacca's pastimes include shrimp impersonation and trying to get her tongue in someone's mouth, but her chief and primary mission in life is to take over the world.