SHIRA RENEE THOMAS

as Marie Shabata

". . . a top notch soprano . . . beautiful sound, so lovely and musical . . . the voice big and rich" - Carol Vaness

Shira Renee Thomas will enjoy a very busy summer in 2010, making her New York debut as Gilda in Verdi's Rigoletto with Opera Company of the Highlands in July, then making her Northern California debut covering Violetta and performing Annina in Verdi's La Traviata with Fremont Opera in August. In January 2011, she will revisit one of her favorite roles, portraying Juliet in Gounod's Romeo and Juliet with Townsend Opera Players in Modesto, CA, and in March 2011 she will perform Violetta in a concert version of La Traviata with Center Stage Opera (CA).

In October 2010, Ms. Thomas will create the role of Marie in the world premiere of Marie's Orchard with Center Stage Opera (CA). In April 2008, Ms. Thomas sang the role of Marie in segments from a previous version of the story, entitled Heartland, for an invited audience of ASCAP heavyweights, including Stephen Schwartz and Eric Whitacre, both of whom have remained involved in the revision of the opera. The role of Marie in the original score was tailored specifically for Ms. Thomas, and the role in the re-envisioned work, Marie's Orchard, has been written entirely for her.
Thomas has delighted audiences in many diverse leading roles including Marguerite in Faust, Gilda in Rigoletto, Juliette in Roméo et Juliette, Violetta in La Traviata, Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor, Adina in L'Elisir d'Amore, Micaela in Carmen, Fiordiligi in Cosí fan Tutte, Fanny in Rossini's La Cambiale di matrimonio, Adele in Die Fledermaus, Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro, Papagena in The Magic Flute, and the dual characters Isabelle/Madeline in The Face on the Barroom Floor (Mollicone). Ms. Thomas also debuted the character of Pieta in the world premiere, staged version of Eric Whitacre's groundbreaking work, Paradise Lost - Opera Electronica.

Ms. Thomas portrayed the role of Mrs. Hayes in Floyd's Susannah, and covered soprano Nicole Cabell in the role of Pamina in Die Zauberflöte at Orange County, CA's Opera Pacific. As a resident artist of that company, Thomas was a featured soloist in numerous events, including "Opera in the Park" and "Opera Under the Stars". She also performed the role of Pamina in the Pacific Symphony's Family Musical Mornings presentation of The Magic Flute.

Thomas was a Festival Artist with the Utah Festival Opera Company in 2009, where she was a soloist on two different orchestra concerts, singing "Deh vieni non tardar" from Le nozze di Figaro, as well as "June is Busting Out All Over" from Carousel, both with the UFOC orchestra conducted by Maestro Barbara Day Turner. In addition, she covered the roles of Micaela in Carmen and Yum-Yum in The Mikado, and was chosen as a finalist in the Concorso Lirico International Opera Competition.

Shira Renee Thomas Web Site >

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LIAM MCLACHLAN

as Emil Bergson

Liam McLachlan is an Australian born tenor whose full potential is becoming realized on the American operatic stage. During his university study in Australia, he performed opera and musical theater both domestically and internationally, appearing on stage in performances of South Pacific and on screen with the likes of Glen Close and Harry Connick Jr.

Liam traveled the globe extensively with the world-famous Australian singing group "The Ten Tenors", performing in such venues as The Sydney Opera House, the Frankfurt Alter Oper, the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles, and Royal Albert Hall in London. He had the privilege of singing the national anthem at the 2008 Rugby Union World Cup, "The World in Union" with Bryn Tyrfel and other notable vocal stars. Since moving to the United States, Liam has once again focused his attention to the operatic stage, performing beloved lead roles with several professional Los Angeles-based arts organizations. He has performed several times with Center Stage Opera, making his principal role debut as Cavaradossi in their production of Tosca, and more recently as the title role of Faust in Gounod's Faust and Edgardo in Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor.

TBD

as Frank Shabata

ADRIEN ROBERTS

as Angelique Chevalier

Adrien Roberts has her Master's degree from Manhattan School of Music. Ms. Roberts recently covered the role of Roberta in Tobias Picker's opera, An American Tragedy. Ms. Roberts has sung leading opera roles including: Marguerite in Faust, Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro, Marie in The Bartered Bride, Adina in L'Elisir d'Amore, Violetta in La Traviata, Pamina in Die Zauberflöte and Giulietta in Verdi's Un Giorno di Regno.

She has also performed in the Opera Buffs 2009 Spring Showcase, in LA Opera's education short, Tanis in America and is currently performing with O.C. Opera's children's outreach program. Ms. Roberts recently won the 2010 A.E.I.O.U. Vocal Competition.

JAY STEPHENSON

as Anthony Chevalier

Jay Stephenson (baritone) was born in the picturesque city of Victoria on Vancouver Island and graduated in music from the world renowned McGill University in Montreal. He then moved to Toronto and performed regularly with several professional small opera companies.

In April of 2008, shortly after arriving in Los Angeles, and with a mere two weeks' notice, Mr. Stephenson made his American debut when he stepped in to sing the title role in Rigoletto for Center Stage Opera. Since then he has gone on to perform Yakuside in Madama Butterfly for the Redlands Bowl Summer festival, Germont and Dr. Grenvil in La Traviata for Kitchener Opera and Nevada Opera Theater, Valentin in Faust for Celestial Opera, Belcore in L'Elisir d'Amore for Repertory Opera Company, and Guglielmo in Cosi fan Tutte for the Los Angeles Metropolitan. In June of this year, Mr. Stephenson received a glowing review for the role of Gernot in the North American staged premiere of Wagner's first opera, Die Feen, which he sang for the Lyric Opera of Los Angeles. In the same month, he also recorded the role of Danglars in a new musical, The Count of Monte Cristo. Mr. Stephenson is pleased and honoured to be returning to the stage of the Madrid Theatre in the world premiere of Marie's Orchard.