Raina Dixit

Born and raised in Minneapolis, Raina Dixit, 14, is thrilled to be joining the cast of The Many Deaths of Laila Starr with Minnesota Opera. She recently performed the role of Teen Valerie in the original dance drama Made in India produced by South Asian Arts & Theater House (SAATH), staged at The Cowles Center for Dance & the Performing Arts in downtown Minneapolis. Also with SAATH, Raina previously sang and danced in 2 SuitCases at the Luminary Arts Center. As a theater arts trainee in the 2026 Triple Threat Summer Intensive at Minneapolis’ nationally renowned Children’s Theater Company (CTC), she performed in the ensemble of Hadestown: Teen Edition.

Raina is proud to have participated in Anthony Middle School’s production of Beauty and the Beast, as well as its production of High School Musical in which she played the role of Susie (thespian). Her initial forays into acting were with the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, where she appeared in numerous shows, including Scrooge, Oliver Jr., and Rudolph Jr.

An active and enthusiastic member of her school’s choir community, Raina has had the honor of performing several vocal soloist parts in concerts over the years. In 2025, she was a semi-finalist in the MN State Fair Amateur Talent Contest where she performed “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Miserables.

Raina’s formal training includes voice lessons at the MacPhail Center for Music and at the House of Music; musical theater dance classes with Platinum Dance Center; and acting and Broadway voice coaching at CTC.  She is excited to have recently been selected to join the Youth Opera Studio at MN Opera for the 2026-2027 season.