Bathroom Divas

Bathroom Divas: So You Want to Be an Opera Star? is a Canadian television singing competition, which aired on Bravo! Canada for two seasons in 2006 and 2007.[1] Produced by Kaleidoscope Entertainment and directed by Mike Ward, the series was a competition for amateur opera singers, whose winner got to perform live with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in a show at Roy Thomson Hall.[2]

The principal judges were Mary Lou Fallis and Tom Diamond, who were joined by Gary Relyea and Michael McMahon in the first season,[3] and Liz Upchurch and Daniel Lichti in the second.[4] Various notable figures in Canadian opera performance and production, including Measha Brueggergosman, Richard Margison, and Stuart Hamilton, also appeared on the program as guest judges.[2]

The first season was won by Elton Lammie,[5] and the second season was won by Elaine Jean Brown.[6] Other competitors were Emili Loisier, Sonja Anderson, Sonja Gustafson, Gail Malcolm and Sergio Restagno in the first season,[2] and Phillip Holmes, Laura Landauer, Robyn Hefferton, Donna Jacobs and Paul Abelha in the second.[7]

  1. ^ "Bathroom Divas features Toronto opera boot camp". Journal Pioneer, January 6, 2006.
  2. ^ a b c "Contestants line up for opera". Vancouver Sun, January 10, 2006.
  3. ^ Bill Rankin, "Knowledgeable judges elevate Bathroom Divas competition". Edmonton Journal, January 7, 2006.
  4. ^ John Terauds, "Divas in development; Back for a second season, Bathroom Divas is a makeover for opera singers instead of a cutthroat Idol-type competition". Toronto Star, February 9, 2007.
  5. ^ Alison Langley, "Pavarotti, Domingo ... and Lammie?: Local country crooner named first Bathroom Diva". Niagara Falls Review, February 13, 2006.
  6. ^ "Woman wins bathroom diva prize, will sing with symphony". Cape Breton Post, March 19, 2007.
  7. ^ "Six "Bathroom Diva" finalists flex their vocal chords at opera boot camp on Bravo!". Canada NewsWire, February 10, 2007.