Artists’
PROFILES Peter Dala
Conductor & Chorusmaster Peter Dala began his conducting career 30+ years ago with the Basel Ballet. He spent seven years at the Hungarian State Opera and the National Ballet of Hungary. He joined Edmonton Opera as chorusmaster/ repetiteur in 1997, was named resident conductor in 2001, and is presently resident conductor since 2013. In 2001 he began his affiliation with Alberta Ballet and was named music director in 2005.
Robert Herriot Director
After directing Turandot this season, Rob Herriot returns with the new production of Cinderella. Previous productions for Edmonton Opera include HMS Pinafore, La Fille du Regiment, Pirates of Penzance, Tosca, Mikado and The Magic Flute. Other productions include Lucia di Lammermoor, Rigoletto, Don Pasquale, Don Giovanni, Marriage of Figaro, Carmen, La Bohème, Albert Herring, Gianni Schicci, Suor Angelica, and Barber of Seville for companies across North America including Calgary Opera, Manitoba Opera, Opera Lyra Ottawa, Utah Opera, Arizona Opera, Connecticut Opera, Wilfred Laurier Opera, and Opera Nuova. His productions have been nominated for a Betty Mitchell Award, 3 Sterling awards, winning Best Production of a Musical for HMS Pinafore.
Deanna Finnman Costume Designer
Deanna’s 15-year association with Edmonton Opera as head of the wardrobe department and resident costume designer has included costume design credits for The Magic Flute, Lakmé, Pirates of Penzance and Fidelio. Her designs for Edmonton Opera’s South Pacific, The Emperor of Atlantis and The Mikado have earned Sterling Awards for best costume design. Most recently she designed costumes for Edmonton Opera’s production of Carmen. Deanna is excited to have worked on the 1950’s haute coutureinspired look of Rossini’s Cinderella.
Melissa Cuerrier Scenery Designer
“Working on Cinderella has been the most beautiful sort of challenge!” Melissa has enjoyed a career designing and working on musicals, concerts, and theatre. She has worked primarily as a set and costume designer since 2005, but this has been her first opportunity to design with Edmonton Opera. Past design credits include The Drowsy Chaperone (MacEwan), Shrek The Musical (Arden), The Full Monty (Mayfield Theatre), and At The Zenith of the Empire (Varscona). She holds a BFA in Theatre Design, and an MA in Theatre Theory. Melissa also currently heads the Theatre Production Program at MacEwan University.
Geoffrey George Lighting Designer
Geoff is pleased to be returning to Edmonton Opera. His work has been seen on this stage for Mary Stuart, The Merry Widow, Pirates of Penzance, La Bohème, The Mikado, Eugene Onegin and The Barber of Seville. Beginning his career as a lighting technician at the Shaw Festival and working mainly as a lighting designer, Geoff has designed over 200 productions for Carousel Player, Theatre New Brunswick, Neptune Theatre, Northern Light Theatre, the Mayfield, Brian Webb Dance, Mile Zero Dance, Kurt Browning, Leave It To Jane Theatre and last, but not least, Grant MacEwan University, where he recently retired as chair of the awardwinning theatre program.