The Queen in Me

Project Description

The Queen of the Night, one of opera’s infamous “fallen women” takes a stand and refuses to finish her famous aria. Instead, she reveals her own story mixing monologue, spoken word and unexpected operatic excerpts in a highly theatrical piece that is powerful, funny, and uplifting, serving as a critique of the opera industry and a reimagining of what it could be. THE QUEEN IN ME riffs off of Mozart’s The Magic Flute’s to dissect gender and sex stereotypes and tropes in conventional opera roles.

“Opera is more interesting than objectification, and Teiya Kasahara is one of a kind.” – Jenna Simeonov, the Globe and Mail
Check out some reviews HERE and HERE

Development

2016 – Began development in the Buddies in Bad Times Young Creators Unit
2018 – Excerpt presented as part of the SummerWorks Open Studios
2018 – Excerpt presented in the ROM’s Friday Night Live: Vox event
2019 – Pitched at the PuSh Festival’s Industry Series in Vancouver
2021 – Spotlight Canada: The Pitch Session (Edinburgh Fringe Festival)
2022 – World Premiere (expected)

Creative Team

Creator & Performer: Teiya Kasahara 笠原貞野
Director & Dramaturg: Andrea Donaldson
Set & Costume Designer: Joanna Yu
Co-Producer: Nightwood Theatre
Co-Producer: Amplified Opera