Born in Cumaná, Venezuela, Tania Arazi Coambs is actively establishing herself as a passionate and versatile performer and director.  Recent directing projects have included Brundibár with the Central Illinois Children’s Choir, Medea Reassigned with the New School for Drama Theater in New York City, as well as regional productions of Feeding the Moonfish and The Informer.  She has also served as assistant director on productions of Lily: Her Life, His Music with DiCapo Opera in New York City and on I Pagliacci with Winter Opera St. Louis.   As a singer and actress with a strong interest in Spanish art song, she has been a guest performer with Tango Espejo and Tempest Performers, and has presented recitals at the University of Illinois, the Mid-America Guitar Festival, and the Southern Illinois Music Festival.  Favorite roles have included Wren in A Body of Water, Ruth Kelley in Harvey, Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro, and Mrs. Webb in Our Town.  Following this production, Tania will spend the remainder of the summer on a three-country performance tour of the play Preemptive by acclaimed Nigerian playwright Niyi Coker Jr.  One of four plays that are part of the African Lives: Intersections of Culture, Politics and Performance tour, she will be performing in Barbados, the United Kingdom, and Nigeria.  Tania holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Illinois, a Master’s of Music in Opera/Music Theater from Southern Illinois University, and will begin work on her Doctorate in Vocal Performance and Literature this coming fall at the University of Illinois.