Myrna Paris ’70, a critically lauded mezzo-soprano/contralto, has cut her teeth playing fiery females.
“I like to play these strong women characters,” Paris explains of her stint as Mrs. Peachum in Opera Omaha’s recent run of The Threepenny Opera.
Her penchant for playing bold women is well-established among theater fans and critics alike; Paris made a big splash in 2000 with her New York City Opera debut as Mama McCourt in The Ballad of Baby Doe.
“Myrna Paris virtually owns this role these days,” wrote Robert Croan of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, while the New York Daily News noted her “feisty flair.”
Although she’s claimed she was “born to sing Sondheim,” she’s also proven adept at singing Gilbert & Sullivan, garnering praise for her performances in productions of The Mikado and H.M.S. Pinafore. Other notable portrayals include the Old Lady in Bernstein’s Candide, Bloody Mary in South Pacific, Kleonike in Mark Adamo’s Lysistrata, or the Nude Goddess, and the demanding title role in Bizet’s Carmen.
Currently, she’s gearing up for her turn as the diva Carlotta in Music Theatre of Wichita’s upcoming production of Phantom, slated for June 8-12. “Her approach to Carlotta is absolutely perfect,” says Wayne Bryan, MTW producing director. “After all the time she’s spent in opera houses, she’s been able to observe this behavior firsthand!”
