The Bard Meets Opera

On Sunday, June 8, Redlands Opera Theatre's Board of Directors, Artistic Director Tiana Dye, and Music Director Christa Stevens will present an exciting afternoon of partially staged and costumed opera and musical theater selections inspired by the works of Shakespeare. The Bard Meets Opera will include music by Verdi (Macbeth Othello), Goumod (Roméo et Juliette), Cole Porter (Kiss Me, Kate!), and many more! The mission of Redlands Opera Theatre is to serve Redlands, the County of San Bernardino and the Inland Empire and to educate and entertain by providing high quality classical music through cultural, educational, and community activities. We look forward to presenting this production to the Redlands community alongside the talented musicians of this area. The Bard Meets Opera Cast: Tenor, Andrew Bennett Mezzo-Soprano, Danielle Bond Soprano, Tiana Dye Baritone, Jay Stephenson Soprano, Christa Stevens Piano, Ed Yarnelle Tickets: General: $20 Senior & Student: $15 Groups of 10 or more: $12 each Tickets can be purchased by one of the following: · By Emailing info@redlandsoperatheatre.com · By visiting www.redlandsoperatheatre.com · By calling (909) 904-3572 · By mailing payment to Redlands Opera Theatre- PO Box 8081 Redlands, CA 92375 Meet Some of the Cast Soprano, Christa Stevens Christa Stevens, lyrics soprano, has been noted as possessing "a remarkably clear soprano voice with excellent control." - Nancy Davidian for Singerpreneur. She is co-founder and music director of Redlands Opera Theatre and is an active vocalist throughout Southern California. She is a member of both the Wagner Ensemble and The Music Companie and is a cantor and staff soprano at La Purisima Catholic Church in Orange as well as a guest vocalist at Church of Our Saviour Episcopal, San Gabriel in their annual "Music for a Season" concert series. She has also served as a guest vocalist at Beit T'Shuvah in Los Angeles and with ARTEMUSCA. Her schedule this season included soprano soloist in Dvorak's Te Deum and Mozart's Regina Coeli with the San Diego Festival Chorus and Orchestra, a solo recital for the Riverside Opera Guild, a guest soloist in An Evening at the Opera with the Orange County Symphony, soloist in Mozart Arias & Vignettes with Redlands Opera Theatre and the role of Antonia in Les Contes d'Hoffmann with Independent Opera Company. Ms. Stevens received a Master of Music degree in Voice Performance from Cal-State Northridge and Bachelor of Art degrees in Music and English literature from The University of Redlands. In addition, she is a member of Sigma Alpha Iota and continues her vocal studies with Scott Blois. Baritone, Jay Stephenson Canadian baritone Jay Stephenson is pleased to be making his debut with Redlands Opera Theater as Monsieur Gobineau. Jay has been lauded both for his rich vocal timbre and his sincere commitment to the characters he portrays. "As Onegin, Jay Stephenson's baritone was robust baritone voice and brings emotional depth to his role." Jay has sung with Brampton Lyric Opera, Casa Italiana Opera, Celestial Opera Company, Center Stage Opera, Independent Opera Company, Opera Kitchener, Opera York, Palisades Symphony Orchestra, Pacific Opera Project, Los Angeles Metropolitan, Lyric Opera of Los Angeles, Repertory Opera Company, as well as the Vineyard Touring Opera Company; and has performed various principle roles including Belcore, Ben, Don Alfonso, Enrico, Gianni Schicchi, Guglielmo, Macbeth, Onegin, Papageno, Renato, Rigoletto, Schaunard, Silvio, and Valentin. Other highlights include Gernot, in Richard Wagner’s first opera, “Die Feen”, and Anthony Chevalier in the world premiere of “Marie’s Orchard” by Philip Westin. Piano, Ed Yarnelle Dr. Ed Yarnelle received his Masters in Music and keyboard performance from St. Joseph College, Renesselaer, Indiana, and the Doctorate in Keyboard Performance at Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana; where he studied under Kirby Koriath. Dr. Yarnelle has been organist and choir director for the Hemet United Methodist church since 1995, was the founder and director of the Yucaipa Community String Orchestra from 1996-2008, taught piano at Mt. San Jacinto Community College from 1996-2008, and has been an active member of the Redlands Spinet Music Association since 1994. He has taught music and psychology at San Bernardino Valley Community College since 1994. Dr. Yarnelle is a very busy piano accompanist for the University of Redlands and San Bernardino Valley College. He gives piano and organ programs in the surrounding area and performs chamber music with the Amabile trio. Soprano, Tiana Dye Tiana Dye has been described as having, “An enjoyable...beautiful voice with considerable skills as an entertainer.” She is co-founder and Artistic Director of Redlands Opera Theatre. Throughout Southern California, Ms. Dye has performed with several companies including: Riverside Lyric Opera, Opera Pasadena, Golden West Opera Theatre, Harvest Productions, and Starving for Arts Theater Company. She has many full operatic and musical theater productions to her credit including: (Fiordiligi) Cosí fan tutte, (Donna Anna) Don Giovanni, (Erste Dame) Die Zauberflöte, (Mother and Witch) Hänsel und Gretel, (Witch) Into the Woods, (Mother) Amahl and the Night Visitors, she premiered the role of Ego in Ego: Popera Electronica and can be heard on the soundtrack, singing the title role. Ms. Dye has performed at San Diego’s Lyceum Theatre, Poway Performing Arts Center, Horton Grand Theatre, and North Hollywood’s NoHo London Music Hall. As a solo concert singer and chorister, she has performed for various organizations and ensembles including: The Pass Chorale (Mozart’s Great Mass in c minor), Riverside Opera Guild, Second Sunday Concert Series at the Pasadena Public Library, The Hemet Library Foundation’s Concert Series, Campus Hill Church for their televised Centennial Celebration, and she has served as a guest section leader at the Holy Family Cathedral (Mozart’s Coronation Mass) and guest section leader and soloist at Saint Alban’s Episcopal Church (Holst’s Christmas Day). Tiana Dye holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music and a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Redlands, where she graduated with departmental honors and Pi Kappa Lambda. She is also a certified makeup artist with a focus on theatrical and beauty makeup and she has dabbled in costume design. Most notably, she held an internship in the costume department of the Tony Award winning, La Jolla Playhouse for their pre-Broadway production of Jane Eyre. Recent performances include Mozart Arias & Vignettes with Redlands Opera Theatre and guest soloist in the Orange County Symphony’s An Evening at the Opera.