Lighting Designer

Stephen Sondheim’s classic musical, which interweaves timeless fairy tales and explores the consequences of its characters’ wishes and quests. Featuring a cast of stars from the worlds of opera and musical theatre.

“…delightful, big and lovable and accessible and loaded with some of Stephen Sondheim’s most gorgeous and endearing songs.” —

EPSG:4326

Into the Woods

Tulsa Performing Arts Center

The great diva has it all: beauty, talent, friends in high places, love, and an unshakeable faith in God.  She lives a charmed life, blissfully unaware of the dystopia that surrounds her.  All that will change in one harrowing day and night, in Puccini’s nail-biting melodrama.
Soprano Eleni Calenos last seen in OSB’s Madama Butterfly in 2019 returns to the Granada stage to sing the titular diva. The painter Mario Cavaradossi will be portrayed by Adam Diegel who thrilled Santa Barbara audiences at our 25th anniversary Gala concert. The imposing chief of police, Baron Scarpia will be sung by Wayne Tigges, who sang John Proctor in our production of The Crucible in 2019. Layna Chianakas returns to direct our season opening after a successful double bill of Il Tabarro/ El amor brujo last season at the Lobero. The scenic and projection design for our unique production is created by Yuki Izumihara who wowed audiences with her designs in our production of Semele earlier this year. Artistic and General Director Kostis Protopapas conducts his first Tosca with our Opera Santa Barbara Orchestra and Chorus in full force.

Tosca

Granada Theatre

Join us for Opera Santa Barbara’s first mainstage baroque opera!  Santa Barbara native, Jana McIntyre (Norina, Don Pasuale ’21) sings the title role, who is in love with the God, Jupiter, sung by Robert Stahley making his Opera Santa Barbara debut. Also making their company debuts are countertenor Logan Tanner in the role of Athamas, Semele’s mortal betrothed, and mezzo soprano Sarah Coit, singing the goddess Juno, the spurned wife of Jupiter. Director Sara E. Widzer (Carmen in your Car, ’20) returns to bring the escapades and foibles of both mortals and Gods alike to the Lobero stage in this production set in the roaring 20’s. This production will feature lighting design by Helena Kuukka and projections designed by Yuki Izumihara. Rounding out our creative team, Maestra Emily Senturia leads the Opera Santa Barbara Orchestra through this journey of love, lust, jealousy, and revenge!

Semele

Lobero Theatre

Join Opera SB for the perfect Halloween Double Bill! In De Falla’s El Amor Brujo, Candela is haunted by her late husband’s ghost as she tries to move on from her past obsession, and find love with the young Carmelo. This flamenco opera ballet will feature Santa Barbara native, Nina Yoshida Nelsen (Fricka, Das Rheingold ’21), and dancers from State Street Ballet.  Broken dreams, a fateful love affair, and a murder onboard a barge on the seine are accompanied by a haunting score in Puccini’s taut 60’ operatic thriller. Opera Santa Barbara favorites Todd Thomas (Falstaff, ’14) and Harold Meers (Pinkerton, Madama Butterfly ’19) return with director Layna Chianakas, making her mainstage directorial debut with Opera SB in this thrilling double bill. Soprano Alaysha Fox will be making her Opera SB debut in the role of Giorgetta. Scenic designer Steven C. Kemp (Crucible, Eugene Onegin) returns and Maestro Kostis Protopapas takes up the baton.

Helena Kuukka

Lighting Designer

Events

12 - 14 May, 2023

Into the Woods · Tulsa Opera

Oct 1, 2022

Tosca · Opera Santa Barbara

14 - 16 Jan, 2022

Semele · Opera Santa Barbara

29 - 31 Oct, 2021

Il Tabarro/El Amor Brujo · Opera Santa Barbara

About

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