Kinney performing Dorabella in Così fan tutte (Loveland Opera Theatre) directed by Timothy Kennedy - Colleen Lee Photography
Dana Kinney has worked with the Boulder Opera Company many times in the past. Most recently, she directed our free Opera in the Park performance in August 2021. Because we only get to sing snippets of full operas for this performance, it was essential to have her imagination and skill to bring each song to life. In December she will be directing The Child and The Spells (L'enfant et les sortilèges) for our Family Series. We are so glad to have her on our team!
About Dana Kinney:
Mezzo-soprano, Dana Kinney, is recognized as “a consummate storyteller with a warm and clear tone.” In the past, she has been regionally engaged in roles such as Dinah in Trouble in Tahiti with Opera Fort Collins, Carmen in Carmen with Bel Canto Legacy, Dorabella in Cosi Fan Tutte with Loveland Opera Theatre and Lola in Cavalleria Rusticana with Boulder Opera Company.
Growing up in Colorado, Ms. Kinney discovered her passion for performing as a member of the Junior Denver Bronco Cheerleaders. She continued her training as a dancer, giving yearly recitals and playing in theatrical productions throughout the community. These experiences fueled her ambition for staged theater and prepared her for character roles such as The Baker’s Wife (Into the Woods), Zita (Gianni Schicchi), Baba (The Medium) and Buttercup (H.M.S Pinafore).
Ms. Kinney was a finalist in the Denver Lyric Opera Guild Competition and has received awards such as the Allied Arts’ Orville Moore Memorial Award. During her graduate studies, she was rewarded The Charles and Reta Ralph Graduate Scholarship, the Denver Lyric Opera Guild Scholarship and a graduate teaching assistantship in opera where she directed opera scenes and a production of Signor Deluso.
She holds a M.M in Voice Performance from Colorado State University and a B.A from the University of Northern Colorado with a minor in Theatre. For information about Ms. Kinney’s stage directing experience, please click here.
Visit Dana Kinney’s website here.
Così fan tutte (Loveland Opera Theatre) - Colleen Lee Photography
Interview with Dana Kinney:
BOULDER OPERA COMPANY: Can you tell me more about your career in the performing arts and why you decided to get involved with Boulder Opera Company?
DANA: I was really drawn to Boulder Opera Company because of their efforts in engaging a newer and younger audience (children). In my formative years, before I started singing and directing, I was a dancer. We traveled to various schools performing for children, just a little younger than I was at the time. I loved seeing their discovery and I remember my own experiences seeing live theater and music for the first time. I'm grateful anytime I get to be a part of that journey.
BOULDER OPERA COMPANY: In your opinion, what about L'enfant makes it a great show for children & families?
DANA: This show is centered around a child and we see everything from the child's perspective. Second, it's only 45 minutes long, making this a perfect length for antsy kids and first time opera goers!
BOULDER OPERA COMPANY: What are you most excited for in directing this opera?
DANA: I'm most excited about being back in the theater and seeing how our youngest audience will respond to the production.
Cendrillon (Colorado State University)
BOULDER OPERA COMPANY: What has been your favorite show to direct? Or what is one memory in your career that is very important to you?
DANA: This is a hard question. I would say my favorite memory was when I first started directing as an undergraduate at University of Northern Colorado under the guidance of Brian Luedloff. The first thing I ever directed was a scene from Jonathan Dove's, Flight, and I was in a complete mode of discovery and curiosity. I loved being in that state when I was learning how to direct; it's similar to that magical feeling of falling in love for the first time. Working in a state of curiosity limits the time and space for judgement and self doubt, and it's just fun and exciting. That foundation is what I strive for every time I direct a new production.
BOULDER OPERA COMPANY: What do you hope to communicate to the audience through your directing?
DANA: I just hope they have fun and get lost in the story. It's so easy for us to get into a rut and continuously work, but if I can offer one hour of stillness, joy and an empathetic human experience, I've done my job!
Join us at the Dairy Arts Center on December 17th, 18th, and 19th for a fun and family-friendly show directed by Dana Kinney: The Child and The Spells! Purchase your tickets today!
