San Diego Opera debut. American Stage Director Cynthia Stokes’ recent engagements include Margaret Garner for Opera Carolina and Madama Butterfly for Opera Company of Philadelphia. She has collaborated with some of America’s most exciting composers including Richard Danielpour and Edward Barnes with whom she co-wrote Murder at the Opera, which was commissioned by Los Angeles Opera and Houston Grand Opera. She has directed for such noted opera companies as Los Angeles Opera, Michigan Opera Theatre, Cincinnati Opera, Opera Carolina, Opera Company of Philadelphia, The Florentine Opera, Los Angeles Philharmonic and The Bakersfield Symphony. An accomplished theatre director, Stokes has directed for American Conservatory Theatre, The Piccolo Spoleto Festival, Wellfleet Harbor Actor’s Theatre, and Manhattan Punchline. Awards include: The New York Foundation for the Arts, Lotta Crabtree and The Lila Wallace Foundation.