S1. Ep12. Experience Through Music Theatre

Alaina Viau, Director and Creator, is a daring director, creator and producer based in Toronto. She is the Founder and Executive Artistic Director of indie opera company Loose Tea Music Theatre where she creates “genre defying” productions that center on critical social issues and cross-cultural relationships. Not afraid to break all the rules, she collaborates with DJ’s, projection artists, choreographers and filmmakers: “The stunning originality of Viau’s vision…grip the imagination.” – Opera Going Toronto. Alaina is a queer disabled artist seeking a new framework for safe and compassionate creation processes that decolonize and dismantle hierarchical practices. The 19-20 season saw Alaina DORA nominated for Outstanding New Opera and won a Canada Council for the Arts Professional Development Grant to work with Ashlie Corcoran at the Arts Club Theatre in Vancouver. Along with assisting Ashlie on stage, Alana worked to develop a framework for cognitive disabilities in Arts Leaderships and has continued that work with leading disabled artists in other performing arts fields.

Alaina was Resident Director at Toronto City Opera for the 18-19 season, and Artistic Director of Ottawa indie company SOPAC for 2 seasons. She has a background in arts admin, producing and production having previously been the Assistant Production Manager at the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Opera and Orchestra Manager at the Royal Conservatory of Music.

Alaina is a member of Indie Opera Toronto and Loose Tea Music Theatre a member of TAPA, Opera Canada and Opera America. www.alainaviau.com

“Always searching and provocative direction of Alaina Viau” – WholeNote Magazine