Magdalene: The Musical 🎶
🎟️ Ticket link in bio
Meet our cast 🎭
Cynthia Leigh - Magdalene , Director and Co-founder
Soprano Cynthia Leigh, brings a special presence to the main stage with her committed performances and unique voice. It has long been a dream of hers to bring her love of opera and theatre to life, in her own company, hence Genesis Opera Theatre was born. Cynthia also has an extensive theater background, having performed in many musicals and plays throughout Southern California. Recent directing credits include Amahl and the Night Visitors, Goyescas and The Impresario. Ms. Leigh will sing the title role in this production of Magdalene, an original musical that was written and composed by her late husband,Sal Ponti. Recent performances include Lucy in The Telephone, Madame Goldentrill in The Impresario, Rosario in Goyescas, the title role in Suor Angelica , Nedda in I Pagliacci all with Genesis and the Mother in all three of Genesis Opera Theatre’s productions of Amahl and the Night Visitors. Also recent credits include: Rosario in Goyescas and Giulietta in The Tales of Hoffmann with Independent Opera Company and Despina in Cosi Fan Tutte with Redlands Opera Theater, Leonora in Il Trovatore and Donna Anna in Don Giovanni with Los Angeles Metropolitan Opera and was a featured with Opera Showcase at the National Opera Center in New York City. Other favorite roles include Violetta in La Traviata, The Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute and Lucia in Lucia Di Lammermoor. You may visit Cynthia on her website: Cynthialeighsoprano.com
Magdalene: The Musical 🎶
🎟️ Ticket link in bio
Meet our cast 🎭
Doug Friedman - Aaron
Doug Friedman’s most notable roles include Judge Turpin in “Sweeney Todd,” Fagin in “Oliver!,” Thenardier in “Les Misérables,” Mushnik in “Little Shop of Horrors,” the Cowardly Lion in “Wizard of Oz,” Underling in “The Drowsy Chaperone,” Maurice in “Beauty & the Beast,” Mr. Wormwood in “Matilda,” a Gangster in “Kiss Me Kate,” the Wazir in “Kismet,” and most recently, King Sextimus in “Once Upon a Mattress.” Look for him this May playing a televangelist along with comedian Paul Rodriguez in the new feature film “Holy Hustle.” Love to his partner in crime Cynthia and thrilled to make this dream of hers come alive after so many years.
Magdalene: The Musical 🎶
🎟️ Ticket link in bio
Meet our cast 🎭
Abe Fabella - Music Director
Abe Fabella is Music Director for Genesis Opera Theatre, as well as Artistic and Music Director of Riverside Lyric Opera. He works as the Director of Music for All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Riverside, accompanist and musical theater coach for Santa Margarita Catholic High School, and accompanist for Raincross Master Chorale. He earned his M.Mus. in Music Composition at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he studied with the late opera composer, Conrad Susa. His music has been premiered by Vox Novus, New York, Schola Cantorum SF and the UC Riverside Orchestra. His music is published by Subito Music and has been recorded on the Andamandum label. He has written orchestral music, choral music, song cycles, solo keyboard pieces and chamber music for performers nationwide.
Recent shows as Music Director and/or Pianist include Mozart’s “Bastien und Bastienne” and Menotti’s “The Old Maid and the Thief” with Cinballera Entertainment, “Amahl and the Night Visitors” with Genesis Opera Theatre, and “Nutcracker: the Mousical” at Old Town Temecula Community Theater. He can be seen in the orchestra of “The Pirate Queen” in April.
Abe feels privileged and excited to present the revival of “Magdalene” the musical. He thanks Cynthia for trusting him with reconstructing the music from Sal’s many drafts and manuscripts. Please enjoy the show!
Magdalene: The Musical 🎶
🎟️ Ticket link in bio
Meet our cast 🎭
Marchella Versteegh - Stage Manager
Marchella is excited to be with Genesis Opera Theatre for the second time, her last production being Ahmal and the Night Visitors in December 2023. She was recently stage manager for Pacific Lyric Association in their performance of La Traviata. Marchella studied at Chaminade University of Honolulu where she minored in theatre, honing in her craft of stage management for plays and musicals including (but not limited to) Sweeney Todd, Into The Woods, Five Women Wearing the Same Dress, and First Date. She is thrilled to be involved in this wonderful production and thankful for this opportunity
Magdalene: The Musical 🎶
🎟️ Ticket link in bio
Meet our cast 🎭
Natalie Lusitana- Zahdra
Natalie Lusitana started singing and performing professionally at 15, including shows such as Into the Woods, Matilda, Carrie, Beauty & the Beast, and Once Upon a Mattress. She is also a Disney Princess performer for birthday parties and events, as well as an Instructional Assistant at an elementary school, where she’s been teaching performing arts as well. Find Natalie on her YouTube channel, “Natalie Lusitana,” or on her Instagram page, @natalie_arden23 . Thank you to Cynthia and Genesis Opera Theatre for this exciting opportunity!
Magdalene: The Musical 🎶
🎟️ Ticket link in bio
Meet our cast 🎭
Ahmed Kenyatta Dents- Sidarius
“Ahmed Kenyatta Dents is currently Patron Services & IT Manager with Mainly Mozart,a Board Member of The Playwrights Project, and host of the “Ahmed’s Voice Podcast”. Working in the San Diego performing arts and media scenes for over 20 years in the roles of Patron Services Manager, Systems Administrator, IT Manager, Development Associate, Associate Artistic Director and Application Support Specialist, Ahmed has also been an in-studio producer and radio host for Smooth Jazz 98.1, live event host, and voiceover artist. Ahmed has most recently been seen in the role of Mister in Common Ground Theatre’s production of This Is A Low (2021), Canada in the Coronado Playhouse production of Harlem Duet(2021), The Impresario in Genesis Opera Company’s The Impresario(2022), and Narrator for the (2022) New Village Arts production of 1222 Oceanfront: A Black Family Christmas. “
