Cinderella Shaping Up!

Hi Fellow DragonDivas,

So I just have to say that I snuck into a rehearsal last week to get a peak at the upcoming performances of Cinderella and the cast sounds truely amazing.  You guys are all going to Rock the House.  I also think that we should give a big shout out to John and Jeanine for all of their hardwork on this production.  Keep up the good work everyone and I can't wait to see the rest of the show :)

Ed Moran
Board Member

P.S.  I must say I am a little sad not to be in the show this summer for the first time in a while.  You guys are all awesome!

The moment has come...

Last night at rehearsal we staged the last bit of the show. Unfortunately due to time restraints we hardly rehearsed this section of the opera musically at all. The first run through was a bit rough. I was pleasantly surprised by the progress that the cast made in the short couple of hours we worked on the scene.

The moment mentioned above is the moment when I realize that the show is going to be ok, and I catch a glimpse of the potential it has to become something magnificent. This is one amazing group of individuals. Combine that with the exquisite music of Massenet, and we have got quite a show on our hands.

And let's talk about the costumers. So far we have seen several pieces. Most recently, a tunic for the Herald to wear. I have to say, this is some very very fine work. Dora Brooks and Lisa-Dawn Kilthau are extremely skilled costumers as well as being very fine singers. The cast is going to look amazing.

And on another front, a work colleague of mine, Koko Mongeot and her husband Jesee own a jewelry design company. Koko very generously has offered to create some unique pieces for Cinderella to wear in the ball scene. The best part is that the audience members will have the opportunity to purchase the pieces after the show is finished! So, if you've always wanted to dress like Cinderella in real life, here's your chance! Check out their website at www.izzyandbuds.com.

John Arsenault
Music Director and Happy Producer!

Singer Spotlight - Andrzej Jeziorski

I love learning new things about the people we work with every day - are they ever interesting people! First up in our new series "Singer Spotlight", Prince Charming himself!

Name: Andrzej Jeziorski
Voice Type: Tenor
Role: Prince Charming
Hometown: Vancouver

Is this your first time performing with DD? No. My first time was as a chorus member in 'Elixir of Love' two years ago.

Favourite thing about the role you are playing? The shameless romanticism of it. There is nothing more important in Prince Charming's life than finding the one person that can make him happy. He'll stop at nothing to make his dream a reality, or die trying.

Where did you find inspiration for this role? In my memories of being a teenager, when it seemed like nothing was more important than finding my one true love.

Favourite part of this opera? The second duet with Cinderella, when we come to plead for help from the Fairy Godmother.

What is your favourite opera? Tchaikovsky's 'Eugene Onegin'.

Ever been asked to do something strange onstage? Not unless you count cracking whips over the heads of harem girls.

What's the most difficult thing you've done onstage? Probably Albert's drunk scene in Britten's 'Albert Herring'. I remember having to stagger, roll around on the floor, fiddle with matches and let my pants fall down, all while counting complex rhythms furiously in my head. Incidentally, that's also one of my fondest performing memories.

What is your favourite activity that has nothing to do with singing classically? Writing and recording rock songs.

A lot of singers have day jobs…do you? Indeed. I'm the editor of an aerospace trade magazine called 'Asian Aviation', published out of Singapore. I've been a reporter and editor since 1992.

Do you have a secret talent other than singing? I have a second-degree black belt in karate, which I earned while living in Singapore.

Tell us a joke.
"I say, I say, I say: what is the secret of great comedy?"
"I don't know, what is the secret of gr..."
"Timing."

Any upcoming performances you want to share? In the coming season of the Vancouver Opera, I shall be singing in the chorus of 'Lillian Alling' and 'La Traviata'.

Meant to be.

You know how sometimes you get a new sweater, and it quickly becomes your favourite sweater because it fits perfectly and feels as if it was made just for you? Well after the last few weeks of rehearsal, I am starting to think that there are a couple of singers in our cast who have found their "sweater role" in this opera. When they open their mouths to sing, I get instant shivers and I smile uncontrollably and John and I give knowing looks of approval over his baton. I love moments like that, and I am so excited that we get to share them with you in LESS THAN A MONTH!

I opened the stage door last night as we were running a duet with Cinderella and the Prince. People who have never seen an opera (nor did they, I suspect, ever plan on it) were drawn in by the sounds of Massenet. I think we have a few more operatic recruits!

Jeanine

We have walls!

Well, our fabulous Stage Manager Tony, his ASM Wayne, and John were hard at work yesterday afternoon erecting the walls to the Cinderella set. It starts to feel real when you aren't just rehearsing in an empty box any more. Of course, there is still a mountain of construction and painting to do, but this is the first step! They even managed to use a portion of our set from last summer that had only partially been painted over...ah, memories.

This week of rehearsals has been great - there are moments I was doubled over in laughter, and there were moments where the whole room went still and I got goosebumps. It truly will be a wild ride of a show. Tickets are on sale now, just incase you were wondering...call the Massey Ticket Centre at 604-521-5050.

Cheers,
Jeanine
Artistic Director

One week in....

Well we are one week into our staging rehearsals, and so far, so good. We are so pleased to see that our cast is so well prepared. Everyone is pretty much fully off book, and we've been able to breeze through the scheduled material each night.

Ms. Fynn is having her usual strokes of genius. This is going to be a beautiful production. The set drawings are amazing, and soon I'll be spending my free time in the theatre with a lot of wood and drills...

I've decided that I'm going to steal an idea from Vancouver Opera, and post mini-interviews with our cast members on our blog, so stay tuned to hear interesting facts about our cast!

John Arsenault
Music Director

We're off to the races!

Music rehearsals are now complete for Massenet's Cinderella. We've just begun staging rehearsals and as usual, Director Jeanine Fynn is already creaing a beautiful picture for this show. We've staged one of the Fairy Godmother's arias, and the opening scene for the Stepmother and Stepsisters.

Please follow us on our journey!

John Arsenault
Music Director