Riley McMitchell is not only our Count Almaviva, but he is also an active board member at DragonDiva, and has put in countless hours of behind the scenes work in support of this show.   We are lucky to have him around, and thrilled to have a hometown singer in our cast at the Evergreen Cultural Center!

Name: Riley McMitchell
Voice Type: baritone
Role: Count
Hometown: Port Coquitlam

Is this your first time performing with DragonDiva?

Nope.  I’ve gotten around ha ha. This is my fourth show with DragonDiva.  I guess that makes me an addict.  I’ve always liked that the concept for every show is unique and interesting.

If this is not your first time, what made you come back to DragonDiva?

I keep coming back because I love the quality of the shows and the people in them.

Favourite thing about the role you are playing in Figaro?

Since my nick name has always been ‘Smiley Riley’ I am appreciating the stretch of playing a villain.  Well, he’s not necessarily a villain but definitely a creepy letch.

Where did you find inspiration for your role?

The actor Gregg Henry (in basically any role he plays), Christian Bale in American Psycho, Kiefer Sutherland in The Lost Boys

What do you enjoy about Mozart?

I love the challenge of singing the ‘Mozart line’.  His music is so good for singers.  It exposes all your flaws and definitely keeps you on your game.

Why should people come see this show?

This show will be amazing.  The cast is very strong and the concept will be interesting and visually stunning.

Do you have a secret talent other than singing?

I have recently started tap dance lessons.  It is a secret not because it’s a talent but because I am really not very good yet at all. 

Favourite non-classical music?

I love all the music of Latin America……any style really.

Favourite quality in a person?

Intelligence…………… “beauty fades but dumb is forever” Bianca del Rio

Any upcoming performances you want to share?

I am singing in the start up performances of a new opera company Opera Opulenza

Name: Melissa Bideau
Voice Type: Soprano
Role: Countess
Hometown: Calgary, Alberta

Is this your first time performing with DragonDiva?

Yessir.

If this is your first time, what attracted you to DragonDiva?

I study at the Vancouver Academy of Music and both John Arsenault and Jeanine Fynn work there. When I heard they were going to do Marriage of Figaro, I had to audition. Everyone needs to be a part of this opera at some point in their life. Whether it be from watching, singing, conducting, or directing it.

Favourite thing about the role you are playing in Figaro?

The Countess is a very real character with real desires. Nothing that she does is out of line with who she believes herself to be. She holds her honor in very high regard and does everything in her power to keep her loved ones close to her. You can see this in her relationship with Susanna and the way that she tries to protect her. Also with her husband, the Count, in the way that she influences situations to keep him close to her and to keep their relationship strong.

Where did you find inspiration for your role?

As I mentioned above, the Countess is a very real character and you can find examples of her everywhere. All of her intentions are founded in reality and so it is easy to understand her reactions.

What do you enjoy about Mozart?

His passionate moments are very sincere. Most of the music is very straight forward but when there is a special moment in the opera, the harmonies that he uses are truly beautiful. These areas stand out from the rest of the opera and therefore create impactful, sincere moments.

Why should people come see this show?

Everyone has to see this show at least once. It's a classic and Dragon Diva is going to do it beautifully.

Do you have a secret talent other than singing?

I can do the dance move "the worm".

Favourite non-classical music?

I really can't choose. I like EVERYTHING, excluding Country.

Favourite quality in a person?

Kindness.

Name: Mark Pepe
Voice Type: Tenor
Role: Don Basilio
Hometown: Vancouver, BC

Is this your first time performing with DragonDiva?

This is my third time performing with DragonDiva. My first show was Frederick in the Pirates of Penzance, and then Maximilian in Candide.

If this is not your first time, what made you come back to DragonDiva?

I love performing with DragonDiva because they get really creative and breathe new life into operas that have been done countless times. Where else you going see a Bollywood Le Nozze di Figaro?  **Editors note: I wouldn't call it Bollywood, but it definitely is set in India :-)

Favourite thing about the role you are playing in Figaro?

Don Basilio just loves drama, loves to stir the pot, and loves to see what happens as a result. That, and the fact that he's a tad creepy.
 
Where did you find inspiration for your role?

Inspiration has been an interesting one for this particular role and production because I'm getting it from so many places. I looked to real life first, actual people, and then once I got into staging and the creative juices start flowing. Then inspiration came from the music, staging, the director, the conductor, colleagues, and then it grows from there. The character has been building every rehearsal.

What do you enjoy about Mozart?

The challenge. I personally find it deceivingly challenging because it looks easy on paper but tough to execute. It makes me a better musician and singer. Oh, and he writes awesome music! Every tune's a hit!
 
Why should people come see this show?
 
This is an all round fantastic show. A classic opera. The singers are fantastic. The sets and costumes look vibrant.
 
Do you have a secret talent other than singing?
 
Yes. I love to cook!

Favourite non-classical music?

Radiohead is my favorite band. I've also been listening to a lot of Charles Mingus, especially Mingus Big Band. And shout outs to Artic Monkeys, Lorde, and DeVotchKa.

Favourite quality in a person?
 
Honesty.
 
Any upcoming performances you want to share?

Rigoletto with Vancouver Island Opera, and starting a career as a beginning band teacher at Immaculate Conception Elementary School in September.

Name: Holly Beckmyer
Voice Type: Soprano
Role: Barbarina
Hometown: Roberts Creek, BC

Is this your first time performing with DragonDiva?

Yes.

If this is your first time, what attracted you to DragonDiva?

From what I had seen of past DragonDiva performances, it seemed like a fun group and a fresh outlook on opera (and it is!).

Favourite thing about the role you are playing in Figaro?

Barbarina is a Doer. She knows what she wants and she does what she has to do to get it. That’s a fun kind of person to be on stage.
 
Where did you find inspiration for your role?

Some of the more nefarious parts of my teenage life.

What do you enjoy about Mozart?

To be honest, I’m not big on Mozart, but I do have a great appreciation for how he writes for singers and I enjoy singing his music purely for the technique.

Why should people come see this show?

Besides an incredible cast, the setting itself is going to be memorable!

Do you have a secret talent other than singing?

I sneak away from time to time to play fiddle music, and to tap dance.

Favourite non-classical music?

Scottish folk, Frank Zappa, alternative rock.

Favourite quality in a person?

Openness.

We were delighted to meet this lovely, effervescent young woman at our auditions this year.  She is going to make a lovely Cherubino!   A little about her:

Name: Stephanie Mile
Voice Type: Coloratura Soprano
Role: Cherubino
Hometown: West Vancouver, BC

Is this your first time performing with DragonDiva?

Yes indeed, and I am loving every minute of it!

If this is your first time, what attracted you to DragonDiva?

Mozart's wonderful opera Le Nozze Di Figaro is what attracted me to this company since I have never had the chance to sing in a comedic opera before, and Mozart is one of my favourite composers. The fact that I get to work with both John and Jeanine for the first time, is an amazing plus!

Favourite thing about the role you are playing in Figaro?

I love all the opportunities that Jeanine provides me with to perform lots of physical comedy in this delightful pants role. You'll have to come out to watch the show to see what I am talking about :)

Where did you find inspiration for your role?

I asked my male friends what were their experiences as a young pre-teen boy and got back a lot of information to use as my inspiration to bring Cherubino to life! (Best answer was: always think about women and cake!)

What do you enjoy about Mozart?

I very much enjoy both singing and listening to his creative and intricate melodies and harmonies within his operas and other compositions and how the music is crafted to enhance the libretto. The Magic Flute, Don Giovani and Le Nozze Di Figaro are among my favourite operas because of Mozart's genius.
 
Why should people come see this show?
 
The chance to see yours truly run around and try to dance like a young Indian boy...what other reason could there be? :)
 
Do you have a secret talent other than singing?

I do very much enjoy creating my own compositions, right now with piano and voice only. One day, when I have enough time, I hope to be able to compose my own musical and maybe even my own opera!

Favourite non-classical music?

My not so secret love is musical theatre! Any chance I get to perform any music from this genre, whether in the shower or on stage, is a fantastic rush for me!

Favourite quality in a person?
 
Honesty and passion.
 
Any upcoming performances you want to share?

I am delighted to be performing in a non-profit summer music concert series in August!

Name: Henry Chen
Voice Type: Baritone
Role: Figaro
Hometown: Hualien, Taiwan

Is this your first time performing with DragonDiva?

No, my first performance with DragonDiva was in their production of Old Maid and the Thief. I played the role of a SFX man. It was a non-singing role, but a fun performance nonetheless.

If this is not your first time, what made you come back to DragonDiva?

I’ve worked with Jeanine and John closely in other productions, and I’ve always enjoyed working with them. Marriage of Figaro is one of my favourite operas. It’s a good combination.

Favourite thing about the role you are playing in Figaro?

Figaro is one of those roles that sits in every baritone’s repertoire. And being one of the most performed operas in the world, there’s been thousands of different interpretations. Yet every performance of Figaro is unique because the characters, while archetypal, are also multidimensional and true. I think everyone can see a little piece of themselves in each character.

Where did you find inspiration for your role?

It’s hard to perform your favourite role. There’s a preconceived idea going of how you think the character should be. Then you consult your favourite interpretations by other performers, and of course internalize the input from the stage and musical directors. It ends up being this Frankenstein’s monster. It’s one of the most difficult things in opera: Take the melodrama and make it as truthful and realistic as possible, without downplaying the ridiculousness of the situations.

What do you enjoy about Mozart?

It’s hard to put into words the feeling I got when I first heard the last 10 minutes of the Marriage of Figaro. I think that’s what I most admire about his music, it awakens emotions we do not have vocabulary to describe.

Why should people come see this show?

The music is beautiful, the situations are hilarious yet poignant, and the singing will be fantastic. Our director Jeanine has taken an eastern spin on the classic tale and set the production in India. How will a French play set in Spain reinterpreted by an Italian and set to music by an Austrian tie in to India? You’ll have to see it to find out.

Do you have a secret talent other than singing?

Photography is something close to my heart. I also design and code websites.

Favourite non-classical music?

Prog rock and alt rock. Probably Radiohead.

Favourite quality in a person?

Humbleness.

It's time for me to start blogging again!  We have our next show coming up in about a month, and I want to tell you all about the rehearsal process and some of our singers.   Let's start by introducing you to one of our Susanna's.   This is going to be a very exciting production with a twist... but more on that later!  First, one of our stars...

Name: Katrin Poemmerl
Voice Type: Soprano
Role: Susanna
Hometown: Munich, Germany

Is this your first time performing with DragonDiva?

Yes, it is. I am extremely looking forward to singing Susanna with this exciting company!

If this is your first time, what attracted you to DragonDiva?

I’m lucky to have worked with the artistic team before. Their energy and poise is addictive and I’ve learned so much from them in the short time I’ve known them.

Favourite thing about the role you are playing in Figaro?

Susanna is a woman of so many layers, her love for Figaro, her excitement about their wedding, her deep friendship towards Cherubino and the Countess. She is so versatile. Every single time I open my score I find a new character trait. Discovering these little nuances is so exciting!

Where did you find inspiration for your role?

A lot came by reading the original Beaumarchais play and by doing my own translation of the Italian text. It’s so conversational and the characters’ reactions are very natural.

What do you enjoy about Mozart?

The ensembles! They are my absolute favourite! Mozart is a genius! Who else can manage to write beautiful melodic ensembles in which every character sings his/her own words and it all makes sense!

Why should people come see this show?

Marriage of Figaro is not just a classic, but also a perfect first opera. You get love, deceit, comedy, friendship and so so much more. Not to mention our Indian take on it will for sure make you leave the theatre with a huge smile on your face. Ah, these Bhangra moves!

Do you have a secret talent other than singing?

I love cooking and baking and inventing new delicious concoctions!

Favourite non-classical music?

German Rock…I admit it!

Favourite quality in a person?

Loyalty and honesty.

Any upcoming performances you want to share?

I am looking forward to singing at an opera gala concert in Abbotsford in September.

We have so much fun at these nights that we held one this Spring, but now is the official 4th Annual, as we will be holding our AGM as well!

6:00pm AGM
All are encouraged to attend and provide their input as to the future of DragonDiva. We are open to new board members joining us for the coming year as well!

7:00pm Opera and Beer!
Entry is only $10 at the door! (FREE if you attend the AGM)
Join the dragons and the divas for a super fun night of singing and (optional) drinking.

7-10pm Food, drink, and song! Huzzah!

The night includes...
Goldie's pizza available by the slice or whole at very reasonable prices. (and delicious liquids)
$10 pay-to-sing...for only $10, you can request a song/aria from any dragondiva singer!
Audience participation...want to sing? $10 gives you a shot with our pianist...but bring your sheet music!

NOTE: We are in the downstairs portion of the restaurant. There is an accessible entrance through the parking garage attached to the building.

Well folks, we've reached our goal!  Last dress rehearsal is done, and we start performances this Sunday at the Gabriola Island Theatre Festival.  This is a lovely, charming show.  Many funny moments, some pensive moments, a hilarious telling of a story of the boy who believed with his whole heart, and in the end it leads him where he needs to go, though he certainly veers off course a LOT.

Just to remind you why you should see this show, here's a little review of our last show, Old Maid and the Theif ;-)

Review

Please see our "upcoming" section for dates and a link to purchase tickets!

Name:               Sevan Kochkarian
Voice Type:      Soprano
Role:                  Paquette
Hometown:     Coquitlam

Is this your first time performing with DragonDiva?

Yes, although it’s my first time with DragonDiva it is not my first time working with the fabulous directing team behind DragonDiva.

What attracted you to Candide?

I was in the middle of a rehearsal and John called me over to him, and he was like what are you doing this summer, and I said nothing and he told me to audition for DragonDiva’s production of Candide. I looked into the show and I fell inlove with the craziness of the show, and how it was a show that was silly and fun!



Favourite thing about the role you are playing in Candide?

The best thing about Paquette is she lives for fun and pleasure. She’s not serious like other roles I’ve played. She’s very sexy, and she lives for the party life. She loves to get dirty with men which is totally different from me so I love playing it up.

Where did you find inspiration for your role?

I get a lot of my inspiration from my cast members and directors. I feel like I play off of their energies and their characters and I am able to shape my characters that way.
 
Favourite part of Candide?

Definitely my lesson in Advanced Physics, I learn so much about how the female and male bodies work ;)

What attracted you to the operatic stage?

As a little girl I would sing and re-enact Disney movies. Opera is a great way to express your emotions and is a great way to share stories. It has always been part of my family from my mother’s side, and I just always had a love for performing.

Would you recommend this opera to someone who has never seen one?  Why?

Yes I would because it’s a show that they can understand cause its in English and its not as serious as a lot of operas. It’s a silly story that I believe anyone can appreciate and share a lot of laughs with.

Favorite quote from Candide?

“WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET SOME MORE RUBIES”

Do you have a secret talent other than singing?

I also do TV/Film acting, which is a huge passion of mine.

Favorite non-classical music?

I am inlove with Musical Theatre! Not to mention top forties anything with a beat to dance to is perfect!

Any upcoming performances you want to share?

I will be covering Norina in an upcoming production of Don Pasquale with the Opera Company: Opera Mariposa in October.

Sevan is a gifted and fearless actress that brings lots of verve and enthusiasm to our cast of Candide.  Don't miss this future star in action!   Candide runs August 18 at the Gabriola Island Theatre Festival and August 23-25 at the Evergreen Cultural Centre in Coquitlam.  Did we mention that the coquitlam performances include a declicious dessert and coffee after the show?