Alan Crofoot

Alan Crofoot (June 2, 1929 – March 5, 1979) was a Canadian operatic Heldentenor, character tenor, and actor born in Toronto, Ontario. He studied at the University of Toronto, where he earned a Master's degree in psychology. His Broadway appearances took place between 1965 and 1966, with credits including The Mutilated and Oliver Oliver.

Crofoot's operatic career began in 1956 at the Canadian Opera, where he sang the role of Spoletta in Tosca. He went on to perform at major opera companies in North America, including the New York City Opera, where he appeared as Herod in Salome opposite Maralin Niska in 1975, and the Metropolitan Opera, where he took part in a production of The Bartered Bride directed by John Dexter in 1978. His stage work in musicals extended to London's West End, where he appeared in Man of La Mancha, and to Winnipeg's Rainbow Stage, where he performed in Oliver!. His operatic repertoire also included the Jailer/Inquisitor in Il prigioniero.

Crofoot created the role of Josiah Creach in the world premiere of Carlisle Floyd's Markheim in New Orleans in 1966, alongside Norman Treigle and Audrey Schuh. He participated in several other world and American premieres. In 1970, he appeared in the world premiere of Jack Beeson's chamber opera My Heart's in the Highlands, which was broadcast on National Educational Television on March 17, 1970, recorded at WGBH-TV in Boston in November 1969, directed by Kirk Browning, and conducted by Peter Herman Adler. The cast also included bass-baritone Spiro Malas and contralto Lili Chookasian. In 1974, Crofoot appeared in the world premiere of Hans Werner Henze's Rachel, la cubana for NET Opera Theater, opposite Lee Venora, Susanne Marsee, and Alan Titus, with the composer conducting. Two years later, in 1976, he sang the role of Jeronimo Aguilar in the American premiere of Sessions' Montezuma in Boston, conducted by Sarah Caldwell.

From 1963 to 1964, Crofoot hosted the CBC children's television program Mr. Piper, in which he appeared dressed as a Pied Piper with a flower in his hat. The show featured narrated cartoon fairy tales alongside live-action segments involving magic tricks, animals, and travelogues, and gained audiences in both the United Kingdom and the United States. His discography includes recordings of Offenbach's Orphée aux enfers (1960) on EMI, Floyd's Markheim (1966) on VAI, and Strauss's Elektra (1966) on VAI. He also appeared in a 1978 live recording of Smetana's The Bartered Bride featuring Teresa Stratas, Nicolai Gedda, Jon Vickers, and Martti Talvela, conducted by James Levine and directed by John Dexter.

Crofoot was previously married to opera singer Dodi Protero; the two divorced around 1972. At the time of his death, he was engaged to Jean Godden. He died on March 5, 1979, in Dayton, Ohio, where he had been preparing to direct a production of Salome for the Dayton Opera Company. His manager, James Sardos, stated that Crofoot had been experiencing episodes of depression attributed to blood pressure medication and that alcohol consumed the night before his death may have interacted adversely with that medication.