Tanya Smania
About
Tanya Smania (she/they) is an opera drag queen of rare vulnerability, whose dramatic talent transcends genres. Created by tenor Mike Fan, they have made a name for themselves on prestigious stages across Turtle Island, collaborating with institutions such as the Canadian Opera Company, the National Ballet School of Canada, and Jeunesses Musicales. Internationally, their presence has left its mark on the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Their repertoire includes iconic roles such as the Queen of the Night (The Magic Flute), Tatiana Larina (Eugene Onegin), and Carmen, as well as the creation of Charmian in the world premiere of Cleopatra Built. As the “Queen Mother” of Opera Queens, Tanya leads a groundbreaking organization that reimagines classical music through the lens of drag, placing QTBIPOC artists at the heart of this artistic transformation.
