Lyric Opera of Chicago Presents Special Events in Conjunction With the Chicago Premiere of Blue November 16 to December 1, 2024

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents special events 

in conjunction with the premiere of 

Blue

Jeanine Tesori and Tazewell Thompson's Blue, onstage at Lyric Opera of Chicago from November 16 to December 1, tells the powerful story of a Black family facing personal tragedy and systemic injustice. Its emotionally charged score explores themes of race, justice, and family, providing audiences with a reflection on societal struggles.

In conjunction with Blue's Chicago premiere, Lyric Unlimited, Lyric’s Learning & Civic Engagement department, is presenting a series of events that invite the public into spaces of reflection, healing, and dialogue. These experiences — ranging from musical and meditative sessions to thought-provoking discussions — extend beyond the opera performance, creating opportunities for the community to engage with Blue’s themes in new and impactful ways.

"Art has the power to engage and transform," says Sheran Goodspeed Keyton, Director of Civic Engagement at Lyric. "By extending our programming beyond the mainstage production of Blue, we create pathways for deeper connections within the community. Each event serves as a vital space for healing, conversation, and self-exploration, allowing participants to reflect on the opera’s themes while fostering a sense of unity and support among one another."

Of Thee I Sing! Songs of Love and Justice

Lyric Unlimited’s Artist-in-Residence Karen Slack presents Of Thee I Sing! Songs of Love and Justice on Tuesday, November 12 at 7:00 p.m. in the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Grand Foyer. The first in a three-recital series, Slack is joined by pianist Kamilla Arku and visual designer Angela L. Owens. This powerful program, created in response to George Floyd’s murder, features Langston Hughes’s The Kids Who Die and works by H.T. Burleigh, Undine Smith Moore, and others, exploring love and justice. A post-recital discussion with the artists will follow. Tickets are available now at lyricopera.org/Of-Thee-I-Sing.

Tonika Johnson Exhibition: Thoughts on Parenthood, Belonging, and Alternative Spaces

From November 13 to December 1, Lyric presents an exhibition by artist and activist Tonika Johnson, featuring three impactful art projects throughout the Lyric lobby. Thoughts on Parenthood is an interactive arts initiative that collects personal stories from Chicago parents, highlighting their dreams and challenges. Belonging focuses on the experiences of young people of color navigating racial profiling, while Alternative Spaces showcases how Black youth create free spaces to foster community and resilience.

For the opening night event of Blue on Saturday, November 16, audience members can use promo code BLUEVIP for a special $125 ticket. The evening begins with welcome drinks at 4:00 p.m., followed by a walking tour of Johnson’s exhibition hosted by Lyric Unlimited Artist-in-Residence Karen Slack at 4:30 p.m., and a reception presented by Luella’s Southern Kitchen and specialty desserts provided by Brown Sugar Bakery at 5:00 p.m. The program also includes the Shades of Blue pre-opera talk featuring Antonio C. Cuyler and Dr. Naomi André at 6:00 p.m., leading into the Chicago premiere of Blue at 7:30 p.m. In addition to the opening night, the exhibit will be open to the public from noon to 2 p.m. on November 13, 19, 20 and 26.

The RESET with Davin Youngs

On Friday, November 15, Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Music That Heals series kicks off with The RESET, a transformative sound healing experience led by artist Davin Youngs. Part of a series designed to calm, restore, and heal through the power of music, this immersive event combines improvisational singing, electronic beats, and sound healing instruments to create a unique space for relaxation and rejuvenation.

The RESET offers participants a chance to carve out their own healing spaces, serving as a counterbalance to the pain and family trauma portrayed in Blue. This restorative experience is designed not only for those attending the opera, but also for the broader community, creating a sacred environment for reflection. Tickets are $20.

Blue Opera Insights: A Deeper Look at Race and Justice

On November 18, Lyric Unlimited’s Scholar-in-Residence Dr. Antonio C. Cuyler moderates an important panel discussion on Blue at the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center, as part of Lyric’s ongoing Opera Insights series. Featuring leading voices on police violence and accountability—including Yohance Lacour, Maira Khwaja, and Jamie Kalven from the Invisible Institute, and Olivia Obineme of Public Narrative — the discussion will delve into the painful realities at the heart of Blue and the ongoing fight for justice. This free event, followed by a talkback with Blue's principal artists, requires advance registration.

Gen Z in Action: Art, Activism, Advocacy and Advancement

On Saturday, November 23, Gen Z in Action: Art, Activism, Advocacy and Advancement will feature emerging Black arts leaders in conversation about the future of the arts, drawing on themes from Blue. Moderated by Lyric’s Anthony Jones, the panel will feature nonprofit leaders Kylie Davis, Empirical Research Fellow at Kellogg School of Management; Ronnie Taylor Jr., Youth Culture Coordinator at Center on Halsted; and Zakiya Collier, STEM Coordinator at the Chicago Urban League. Together, they will explore themes of identity, belonging, and how the arts can address systemic issues. The event will conclude with a discussion curated by Kennedy-King College students and current and retired officials from the Chicago Police Department.

D-Composed Presents D-Compressed

On Sunday, December 1, D-Composed, a Black chamber music collective, will host D-Compressed, a meditative musical experience that complements the closing performance of Blue. Part of Lyric's Music That Heals series, this intimate event blends yoga with chamber music, featuring works by Black classical composers fused with hip-hop, rap, jazz and gospel. Through live performances and guided meditations, D-Compressed invites participants to process the emotional weight of Blue's narrative while engaging with the healing power of music.

Just as Blue delves into a family’s struggle with systemic injustice, D-Compressed provides a safe space for attendees to confront their own emotions, find solace, and connect with their personal stories. This experience detoxifies negative energies, creating room for positive flow, ease, and enlightenment—mirroring the themes of healing and unity that are central to Blue. By fostering a collective moment of reflection, the program highlights the role of art in supporting emotional and communal renewal. Tickets are $20.

Shades of Blue Pre-Opera Talk Series

The Shades of Blue pre-opera talks, presented as in-depth discussions, offer a chance to delve into Blue's key themes before each performance. Led by Lyric Unlimited Scholar-in-Residence, Dr. Antonio C. Cuyler, these talks feature prominent voices from Chicago’s civic and academic communities, drawing connections between the opera’s portrayal of Black family life and contemporary social issues such as violence prevention, incarceration, and systemic injustice. Blue ticket holders are invited to participate in these free discussions, which take place an hour before each performance.

Pre-Opera Talks

Saturday, November 16: An extended 1-hour conversation, beginning at 6:00 p.m., with Dr. Cuyler and Dr. Naomi André, renowned musicologist and author of the seminal book Black Opera: History, Power, Engagement, discussing Blue's themes in the broader context of music and social justice.

Wednesday, November 20: Artist and activist Tonika Johnson will explore Chicago’s social divides and the connections to identity and belonging in Blue.

Friday, November 22: Dr. Franklin Cosey-Gay, director of University of Chicago Medicine’s Violence Recovery Program, will address violence prevention and public health issues as they relate to the family’s challenges in Blue.

Tuesday, November 26: Dr. Cuyler will join representatives from the Illinois Prison Project to discuss incarceration and advocacy, building on conversations started earlier this season around Beethoven’s Fidelio.

Sunday, December 1: Chicago Police Lieutenant Jermaine Harris will join WFMT host LaRob K. Rafael for a discussion on community-based violence prevention and policing, connecting Blue's themes to current reform efforts.

For more information on Blue and all of these related special events, visit lyricopera.org/blue.

About Lyric

Lyric Opera of Chicago is committed to redefining what it means to experience great opera. The company is driven to deliver consistently excellent artistry through innovative, relevant, celebratory programming that engages and energizes new and traditional audiences.

Under the leadership of General Director, President & CEO John Mangum and Music Director Enrique Mazzola, Lyric is dedicated to reflecting, and drawing strength from, the diversity of Chicago. Lyric offers, through innovation, collaboration, and evolving learning opportunities, ever-more exciting, accessible, and thought-provoking audience and community experiences. We also stand committed to training the artists of the future, through The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center; and to becoming increasingly diverse across our audiences, staff, programming, and artists — magnifying the welcoming pull of our art form, our company, and our city.

Through the timeless power of voice, the splendor of a great orchestra and chorus, theater, dance, design, and truly magnificent stagecraft, Lyric is devoted to immersing audiences in worlds both familiar and unexpected, creating shared experiences that resonate long after the curtain comes down.

Join us @LyricOpera on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Threads and Facebook. #LongLivePassion

For more information, visit lyricopera.org.

Mozart’s THE MAGIC FLUTE November 3–27 at Lyric Opera of Chicago

ChiIL Mama’s Chi, IL Picks List 

What You Need to Know About Mozart’s

THE MAGIC FLUTE 

November 3–27 at Lyric Opera of Chicago

THE MAGIC FLUTE Cory Weaver LA Opera

I'll be out to review on November 7th, so check back early and often. In the meantime, book your tickets now. It's a short run with only 7 performances, and tickets are sure to be in demand.

A prince’s valiant quest leads to love at first sight. But to prove his worth for marriage, he must first survive daring trials of wisdom and devotion. The Magic Flute, Mozart’s final opera, is full of gods and monsters, compassion and revenge, love and death—it is both a fanciful fairy tale and a profound reflection on spiritual enlightenment. Lyric Opera of Chicago presents a sumptuously bold, new-to-Chicago production that pays homage to the 1920’s silent movies and German expressionism, while remaining faithful to the magic the opera’s title promises.

•       A truly cinematic experience unlike any opera Lyric has produced. This spectacularly inventive production, created by the team of Suzanne Andrade and Barrie Kosky and directed in Chicago by Tobias Ribitzki, features eye-popping projections by animator Paul Barritt and innovative stage design and costumes by Esther Bialis. Taking its inspiration from silent films, the production foregoes the traditional spoken dialogue in between the operatic scenes. Instead, texts are projected onto the stage with musical accompaniment.

•       The most enduring classical earworm? The villainous Queen of the Night’s high-flying “Der Hölle Rache” (“Hell’s Vengeance”) is one of the most famous arias in all of opera. It is instantly recognizable from its myriad appearances in popular culture, from Disney’s Operation Dumbo Drop to the film Eat Pray Love to TV’s Gossip Girl, not to mention a long list of iconic commercials. In this production, the Queen of the Night fills the stage as a gigantic spider while her stratospheric high notes blow the roof off the Lyric Opera House.

•       An acclaimed Chicago native comes home. Renowned conductor Karen Kamensek, who was born in Chicago, makes her Lyric debut leading the Lyric Opera Orchestra in interpreting Mozart’s captivating and familiar score. In the 2019/20 season, she made a sensational Metropolitan Opera debut conducting its much-buzzed-about production of Philip Glass’s Akhnaten.

•       Lyric favorites return to Chicago. Ying Fang stars as the heroine Pamina, a role she has performed to great acclaim at the Met and in Zurich. She made her Lyric debut as another Mozartian ingenue, Zerlina, in 2019/20’s Don Giovanni. Brenton Ryan, who appeared at Lyric as the Fool in the 2015/16 production of Berg’s Wozzeck, returns in the key role of Monostatos.

•       Exciting debuts. The Magic Flute features many artists making their much-anticipated Lyric debuts in leading roles, including Lila Dufy as the Queen of the Night, Pavel Petrov as Tamino, Huw Montague Rendall as Papageno, and Tareq Nazmi as Sarastro.

•       Meet the next generation of opera stars. Six members of Lyric’s artist development program—The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center—take on featured and supporting roles in The Magic Flute: Denis Vélez is Papagena, Mathilda Edge is First Lady, Katherine DeYoung is Second Lady, Kathleen Felty is Third Lady, Martin Luther Clark is First Armored Man, and Anthony Reed is Second Armored Man.

•       A local flute with 20 years of magic. Assistant principal flautist Dionne Jackson, a Chicago native, plays Papageno’s charming flute solos from the orchestra pit. A graduate of The Juilliard School, she has held the position of assistant principal flute with Lyric Opera of Chicago since 2001.

•       Only seven performances: November 3; matinees on November 7, 11, 14, and 17; and November 19 and 27.

•       2 hours and 40 minutes, including 1 intermission.

•       Sung in German with projected English texts.

•       For updated information about Lyric’s ongoing health and safety protocols visit lyricopera.org/safety

Lyric’s presentation of Mozart’s The Magic Flute is generously made possible by The Negaunee Foundation, Nancy & Sanfred Koltun, Liz Stiffel, the Gramma Fisher Foundation of Marshalltown, Iowa, Mr. & Mrs. Dietrich M. Gross, and Randy L. & Melvin R.* Berlin. *deceased

Lyric Opera of Chicago thanks its Official Airline, American Airlines.

Lyric Opera of Chicago is supported in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

About Lyric

Lyric Opera of Chicago is committed to redefining what it means to experience great opera. The company is driven to deliver consistently excellent artistry through innovative, relevant, celebratory programming that engages and energizes new and traditional audiences.

Under the leadership of General Director, President & CEO Anthony Freud, Music Director Enrique Mazzola, and Special Projects Advisor Renée Fleming, Lyric is dedicated to reflecting, and drawing strength from, the diversity of Chicago. Lyric offers, through innovation, collaboration, and evolving learning opportunities, ever-more exciting, accessible, and thought-provoking audience and community experiences. We also stand committed to training the artists of the future, through The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center; and to becoming increasingly diverse across our audiences, staff, programming, and artists—magnifying the welcoming pull of our art form, our company, and our city.

Through the timeless power of voice, the splendor of a great orchestra and chorus, theater, dance, design, and truly magnificent stagecraft, Lyric is devoted to immersing audiences in worlds both familiar and unexpected, creating shared experiences that resonate long after the curtain comes down.

Join us @LyricOpera on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. #Lyric2122 #LongLivePassion

For more information, visit lyricopera.org.

GIVEAWAY: WIN a Family 4 Pack of Tickets (Up To $80 Value) to Lyric Opera for Kids: EARTH TO KENZIE

ChiIL Mama’s Chi, IL Picks List

EARTH TO KENZIE 

Via Lyric Opera at Vittum Theater

**Perfect for families with children ages 7-12**

ENTER BELOW 

 For Your Chance To WIN A 

Family 4 Pack of Tickets (Up To $80 Value) 

to Lyric Opera for Kids: EARTH TO KENZIE

Winners Choice of November 9 at 1pm and 3pm and November 10 at 3pm at Vittum Theater 

Enter through midnight November 4th.

Earth to Kenzie tells the story of a 5th grader named Kenzie who has just been forced to move to a family shelter with her mother. She escapes the uncertainty in her life through the world of video games and with her avatar, Edwin. Through her wild adventures with Edwin, she realizes that home is not a place, but rather wherever she is with her mother and the ones she loves. The show features dynamic & video game-like music, a transforming set, and a fantastic cast of four talented artists.

If you had encountered opera at an early age, even as young as 7 years old, what difference would that exposure have made in your life? Lyric Opera of Chicago has been providing innovative educational and artistic programming for youth across the Chicago area for many years, reaching an average of 33,000 students each season. With the start of our new season comes a new wave of young operagoers that we’re eager to introduce to the art form.

Lyric will present its fourth original children’s opera – Earth to Kenzie – this fall. A co-commission with Seattle Opera, Earth to Kenzie was composed by Frances Pollock with a libretto by Jessica Murphy Moo. When 5th grader Kenzie and her mother have to move into a family shelter, Kenzie finds refuge in the world of video games alongside her avatar, Edwin. Through their imaginary space adventures, Kenzie discovers that home is not always a place, but rather wherever she is with the ones she loves.

Lyric's educational partner for Earth to Kenzie is Codeverse, the world's first fully interactive coding studio and development platform for kids ages 6-13. With Codeverse’s help, students will gain a better understanding of the technology that goes into games like the one Kenzie plays in the opera. 


There are a few ways that students and the public can watch this engaging new opera in the coming weeks:
Public performances, perfect for families with children ages 7-12, will take place on November 9 at 1pm and 3pm and November 10 at 3pm at Vittum Theater, 1012 N. Noble St. in Chicago's Noble Square neighborhood. Tickets begin at just $10 for kids/$20 for adults. Click here for more information and to book your tickets. 

*Opera in the Neighborhoods Shows May Be CANCELLED until The Chicago Teachers' Strike is resolved: 
Due to the Chicago Teachers Union work stoppage, performances of Earth to Kenzie scheduled at CPS venues may need to be cancelled. Please monitor this webpage for the most current information: lyricopera.org/OIN.

Performances Via Lyric's longtime Opera in the Neighborhoods program, Earth to Kenzie will be presented at 15 different venues across Chicago and surrounding suburbs. Educators can bring their students to one of two performances, 10am or 12pm at each venue free of cost, and are given curriculum resources ahead of time to introduce their students to opera. Students who attend will also receive access to free online resources through Codeverse. For more information, please visit lyricopera.org/OIN.

Earth to Kenzie touches on a lot of relevant themes for young people – overcoming personal challenges by facing fears; being proud of who you are; and the idea that home is not always a place. The Chicago Tribune recently published a startling article with data from the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless revealing that in the 2018/19 school year, 16,450 Chicago Public School students did not have a permanent home. As stated in the article, “Most were in temporary living situations, meaning they stayed in shelters, motels, cars or, in about 90% of the cases, 'doubled up' with others. Doubling up doesn’t generally meet the federal government’s definition of homelessness, so people in those situations don’t qualify for federal programs for those without homes.” You can also hear more about Chicago Coalition for the Homeless’s data and the story of child home security in Chicago through this WBEZ interview on Morning Shift.

Like far too many students living in Chicago, Kenzie and her mother receive an eviction notice and are forced to move out and find temporary housing in a family shelter. Through Earth to Kenzie, Lyric Opera of Chicago and co-commission partner Seattle Opera strive to raise awareness about housing insecurity and foster understanding that homelessness is something that happens to people, but is not who they are, something Kenzie comes to realize in the opera.

There are lots of important themes to explore through Earth to Kenzie, and Lyric is pleased to make that possible for thousands of students across Chicago in the next two months. Participating teachers and educators receive extensive resources to prepare their students for the opera, and some of these items may also be helpful for families or first-time operagoers of all ages.

Do you want to help prepare your child for the performance? Check out our Backstage Pass! study guide and program.

Interested in learning more about Earth to Kenzie’s educational partner, Codeverse? As part of our partnership, Codeverse has offered resources for teachers to give their students more insight on the world of coding, video game creation and app development. Check them out here!

Want to know more about the set design and creation of the video game world that Kenzie travels to with her avatar, Edwin? Watch the “Meet the Designers” video below!

ENTER HERE

 For Your Chance To WIN A 

Family 4 Pack of Tickets (Up To $80 Value) 

to Lyric Opera for Kids: EARTH TO KENZIE

Winners Choice of November 9 at 1pm and 3pm and 

November 10 at 3pm at Vittum Theater 

Enter through midnight November 4th.

ENTER HERE 

OPENING: West Side Story at Lyric Opera of Chicago May 3 – June 2, 2019

ChiIL Live Shows on our radar

FIRST LOOK:

Corey Cott as Tony and Mikaela Bennett as Maria in

Lyric Opera’s new grand-scale coproduction of

WEST SIDE STORY

May 3 – June 2, 2019

 Mikaela Bennett as Maria and Corey Cott as Tony in Lyric’s West Side Story. Photo by Todd Rosenberg.

It's time to rumble on an epic scale, with a Sharks and Jets showdown, Lyric Opera style! I'll be out for the press opening, May 4th, with my son, so check back soon for our full review. We can't wait to catch this classic, ill fated love story, with an astonishing cast of nearly 100 artists and musicians. Don't miss this!

Lyric’s new grand-scale coproduction of Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim’s masterpiece West Side Story opens next month and features Broadway star Corey Cott as Tony and rising star Mikaela Bennett as Maria. Additional lead casting includes Brett Thiele (Riff), Amanda Castro (Anita), Manuel Stark Santos (Bernardo), and Adam Soniak (Action). Performances run May 3 – June 2, 2019 at the Lyric Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago. Tickets are on sale now starting at $26 and can be purchased at lyricopera.org or by calling 312-827-5600.

With a cast of nearly 100 artists and musicians, Lyric’s coproduction brings a new energy and scale to West Side Story, which transports the story of Romeo and Juliet to the backstreets of New York and features iconic songs “Tonight,” “America,” “I Feel Pretty,” “Maria” and more. Staged by internationally acclaimed opera and theater director Francesca Zambello, the production features members of the Lyric Opera Chorus and Orchestra conducted by James Lowe.

West Side Story is a coproduction with Houston Grand Opera and Glimmerglass Festival. Zambello, who serves as the artistic director of the Glimmerglass Festival and Washington National Opera, returns to Lyric for the first time since the premiere of her production of Show Boat (2011/12) and has also directed Lyric productions of Tristan und Isolde (2008/09) and Salome (2006/07). West Side Story features the original choreography by Jerome Robbins, recreated for Lyric by Julio Monge. Set designs are by Peter J. Davison, with costumes designed by Jessica Jahn and lighting designed by Mark McCullough. Mark Grey is sound designer and Michael Black is chorus master.

ARTIST BIOS
COREY COTT (Tony), a graduate of Carnegie Mellon School of Drama, received critical acclaim on Broadway for his performance in the Tony Award-winning musical Bandstand. He made his Broadway debut as Jack Kelly in Disney’s Newsies for two years, followed by the revival of Gigi starring opposite Vanessa Hudgens. On television, he appeared opposite Christina Ricci in the Amazon series Z: The Beginning of Everything and co-starred alongside Hattie Morahan in the BBC/PBS miniseries My Mother and Other Strangers. He can also be seen in a recurring role on The Good Fight (CBS All Access). Other credits include The Interestings (Amazon pilot), Madam Secretary, Public Morals, Law and Order: SVU, and recently completed filming a role in the new Fox pilot, Filthy Rich. A native of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, Mr. Cott previously starred in Ms. Zambello’s staging of West Side Story in Concert with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center, conducted by Steven Reineke. He recently made his Carnegie Hall debut singing with the New York Pops.

MIKAELA BENNETT (Maria) is a graduate of the Juilliard School and is celebrated as a singer and actress for her work on stage and in the concert hall. In 2019 she was honored with a Lincoln Center Award for Emerging Artists. On stage, she made her professional debut starring as Penelope/The Golden Apple at City Center Encores! She originated the role of Norma/Renascence in Dick Scanlan and Carmel Dean’s new musical in New York City, and at the Prototype Festival she originated the title role/Acquanetta in a new opera composed by Michael Gordon. In the concert hall she has made her debuts with some of the world’s leading orchestras, including the John Wilson Orchestra (as Maria/West Side Story, concert performance at the BBC Proms), the New York Philharmonic under Leonard Slatkin, the Philadelphia Orchestra under Yannick Nézet-Séguin, and both the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra and Los Angeles Philharmonic under Michael Tilson Thomas. She has also appeared as a soloist at the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall.

AMANDA CASTRO (Anita) has previously appeared in West Side Story as both Anita (Atlanta Opera, Glimmerglass Festival) and Consuelo (Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Houston Grand Opera). Castro has appeared widely in America and also abroad (London, Germany, South Africa). A California Institute of the Arts alumna, she was a principal dancer of the renowned Brooklyn-based company Urban Bush Women for four years. In the Run the Night competition at New York’s Highline Ballroom, she won in 2016 and placed second in 2017 with Soles of Duende, her all-female percussive trio. Other New York credits include a recently completed year-long creative residency with Soles of Duende at Dixon Place Theatre; assisting choreographer Nick Kenkel at BC Beat; working as a model and movement specialist in New York Fashion Week; and dancing at Radio City Music Hall for the Ellie Awards. Castro was dance captain at Geva eater (Rochester, New York) for In the Heights. Choreography credits include the American Dance Awards, several works for Urban Bush Women, and multiple set pieces for Northeast competition studios.

BRETT THIELE (Riff) has appeared in multiple Broadway productions including Escape to Margaritaville, Miss Saigon, and Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark. A native of New Orleans, Thiele has appeared off-Broadway in Clueless, The Musical at the New Group. Regionally, he has appeared as Tulsa/Gypsy at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre, The First Wives Club at the Oriental Theatre in Chicago, Follies at the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, and as Dakin/The History Boys at the Uptown Players in Dallas. His previous West Side Story performances include Riff with the St. Petersburg Opera Company and Action at the Asolo Theatre in Florida.

MANUEL STARK SANTOS (Bernardo) previously played this role at Ogunquit Playhouse. He has also portrayed Chino at New York’s Palace Theatre and Riff at Carnegie Hall. Santos has appeared on Broadway as Kassim/Aladdin (subsequently on the production’s first national tour), Bonfils/Gigi, and S. Uperman/On the Town. In New York he has also been seen at the Public LAB (Venice: A New Musical), City Center Encores! (Do I Hear a Waltz, Little Me, Applause, Irma La Douce, The Most Happy Fella), Paper Mill Playhouse (Paul San Marco/A Chorus Line), New York Music Theater Festival (Rio), Houston’s Theater Under the Stars (Disney’s When You Wish), Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre (world premiere of Bull Durham), and Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera (Ren/Footloose). He was also seen in 14 episodes of the NBC television series Smash.

ADAM SONIAK (Action, u/s Riff) comes to Lyric following the national tour of the American-premiere production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies. No stranger to West Side Story, he has played Riff at Casa Mañana and the Westchester Broadway Theatre, as well as in major cities across Europe with the international touring company. Regionally, he has appeared at Paper Mill Playhouse (The Sound of Music) Walnut Street Theatre (Saturday Night Fever), and Riverside Theatre (Hello, Dolly!). To honor this production, Soniak has made a donation to the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.

About Lyric Opera of Chicago
Lyric Opera of Chicago’s mission is to express and promote the life-changing, transformational, revelatory power of great opera. Lyric exists to provide a broad, deep, and relevant cultural service to Chicago and the nation, and to advance the development of the art form.

Founded in 1954, Lyric is dedicated to producing and performing consistently thrilling, entertaining, and thought-provoking opera with a balanced repertoire of core classics, lesser-known masterpieces, and new works; to creating an innovative and wide-ranging program of community engagement and educational activities; and to developing exceptional emerging operatic talent.

Under the leadership of general director, president & CEO Anthony Freud, music director Sir Andrew Davis, and creative consultant Renée Fleming, Lyric strives to become The Great North American Opera Company for the 21st century: a globally significant arts organization embodying the core values of excellence, relevance, and fiscal responsibility.

To learn more about Lyric’s next season, go to lyricopera.org. You can also join the conversation with @LyricOpera on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

WEST SIDE STORY
Based on a conception of JEROME ROBBINS Book by ARTHUR LAURENTS
Music by LEONARD BERNSTEIN Lyrics by STEPHEN SONDHEIM
Original production directed and choreographed by JEROME ROBBINS
This production is a coproduction of Lyric Opera of Chicago, Houston Grand Opera, and Glimmerglass Festival.

Lyric premiere of Bernstein’s West Side Story generously made possible by Lead Sponsor The Negaunee Foundation and cosponsors an Anonymous Donor, Randy L. and Melvin R. Berlin, Robert S. and Susan E. Morrison, Mrs. Herbert A. Vance and Mr. and Mrs. William C. Vance, and Northern Trust. Major in-kind audio support provided by Shure Incorporated.

REVIEW: “Elektra” at Lyric Opera Through February 22, 2019

ChiIL Live Shows on our radar

Internationally acclaimed Swedish soprano Nina Stemme in the title role and world-renowned Scottish conductor Donald Runnicles on the podium

ELEKTRA 

at Lyric Opera of Chicago

Through February 22, 2019

Approximate Running Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes with no intermission

#LyricElektra

Guest Review
by catherine hellmann

When I taught in Englewood, a student once bragged to me that she had been kicked out of her previous school for “pushing her teacher down the stairs.”

“I am glad we are on the first floor,”I answered. “We’re cool, right? Everything’s ok between us?” I asked her. She laughed and reassured me,”Yeah, Ms. H., we’re good.”

And so, as I sat next to my youngest child on Saturday night at “Elektra,” I found myself stealing sideways glances at my teen daughter, being introduced to her first opera about a vengeful daughter determined to kill her mother. Ah, another ace Parenting Moment.

When she saw the off-kilter set with rubble, looking like a scene in Europe after WW II, she muttered, “Holy shit!” That about sums it up.



I was familiar with the Greek Dysfunctional Family of Agamemnon from my college days. It is a “Jerry Springer” episode...or as the PR people of the Lyric informed me,”It is the Quentin Tarantino of opera.” Short, (100 minutes; that is miniature for opera) and violent. Great dialogue, like: “I am nursing a vulture in my body,” (Elektra to her sister, Chrysothemis), Chrysothemis admitting,”I would rather die than live a living death,” and Elektra observing the mom’s lover, Aegisth, “can only play the hero between the sheets.” Wow. Just wow. Talk about “spilling the tea,” as the kids these days say...

King Agamemnon has been slaughtered in his own bath with an axe, presumably by his wife and her paramour. Elektra keeps the axe to yield for her own revenge, hoping to persuade her brother, Orest, to do the deed. Rumors fly that Orest is dead, so Elektra, “no shrinking violet,” (as my father would have said) will commit the murders herself. But, behold! Orest is not actually dead! (This IS opera, folks…) So, he returns, and Elektra does not recognize him...”the dogs at the palace” know who he is, but his own sister does not. After a lovely reunion, they embrace before Orest enters the castle to slaughter their mother and her cross-dressing beau, Aegisth. I loved when the blood runs down the steps of the palace. Creeeepy. Ahhh...What a typical reunion for a long-estranged family…nice to see you, how are Aunt Edna and the kids??



The music is elek-trifying ( pretty good, huh?), and the main singers perform a vocal marathon. Nina Stemme as the lead role is amazing; such a demanding part is winning her acclaim at numerous international opera houses. We are lucky to have her here in Chicago. Elektra’s sister, played by Elza Van Den Heever, also has an incredible voice and range. Michaela Martens is to be commended for her singing prowess and the ovaries she has to display her Divine-like costume, with bared breasts front and center for the world.(Greenhouse Theater Center recently premiered a wonderful production called HeLa about Henrietta Lacks. One character was named “Big Titty Pat.” I got distracted by Big Titty Clytemnestra.) “Am I really seeing that,” I wondered. First words out of my girl’s mouth at curtain call,”I think those were really her boobs!” Well, her eyes are better than mine. It was quite the costume, as were her freak-show followers’ costumes as well. 




“Elektra” is a command performance for its lead women. You will want to see it. But if you attend with your offspring, just lock your bathroom door before you climb into the tub.

Catherine Hellmann is a teacher, theater fanatic, and mom of four. She would rather read a book than watch the Super Bowl...that’s football, right? 




Lyric Opera of Chicago’s riveting Sir David McVicar production of Richard Strauss’s Elektra runs for six performances through Feb. 22 at the Lyric Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Dr., Chicago. Tickets start at $37 and are available now at lyricopera.org/Elektra or by calling 312-827-5600. 

In just 100 minutes Elektra tells the harrowing story of the outcast princess obsessed with avenging the murder of her father, King Agamemnon, at the hands of her mother Klytämnestra and her mother’s lover Aegisth, who’s claimed the throne. The intense, densely orchestrated score drives the tense drama to its shocking conclusion in true edge-of-your-seat cinematic thriller style.







The extraordinary soprano Nina Stemme (winner of the prestigious 2018 Birgit Nilsson Prize) will make her long-awaited Lyric debut in her exceptionally challenging signature role. Acclaimed South African soprano Elza van den Heever portrays Elektra’s conflicted sister Chrysothemis, and American mezzo-soprano Michaela Martens takes on the fearsome role of the emotionally tortured Klytämnestra, one of her many Strauss roles. Scottish bass-baritone Iain Paterson portrays long-lost brother Orest, and American tenor Robert Brubacker plays the creepy murderous usurper Aegisth (the latter two are making Lyric debuts).

The internationally heralded conductor Donald Runnicles conducts the Lyric Opera Orchestra, whose forces are expanded to meet the incredible demands of Strauss’s score. The production originally staged by Sir David McVicar to open Lyric’s 2012/13 season is designed by John MacFarlane, with lighting by Jennifer Tipton. Nick Sandys makes his Lyric debut as revival director, having served as fight choreographer in several Lyric productions. 


Donald Runnicles

Elektra is performed in German with projected English translations.

Performance dates for Elektra are February 2, 6, 10, 14, 18, and 22.  

Performance times vary. For tickets and information call (312) 827-5600 or go to lyricopera.org/Elektra.

ELEKTRA IS "A KNOCKOUT" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES)

Not since "Game of Thrones" has a story about murder, revenge, and madness captivated us as thoroughly as Elektra. The curtain opened Saturday on an "intensely gripping" (Chicago Sun-Times) production of Strauss's 100-minute thriller, and critics and audiences alike have been raving about this show since. 

"Conductor Donald Runnicles, in a house debut, [drew] swirling, tempestuous commentary from the Lyric Opera Orchestra"

"Searing"

"★ ★ ★ ½" (out of four)

–Chicago Tribune

"I would have fastened my seat belt had it been supplied"

"Fine cast and a first-rate performance by the Lyric Opera Orchestra"

"Rolling waves of orchestral sound"

"It’s the kind of payoff that gives grand opera its name"

"★ ★ ★ ½" (out of four)

–Chicago Sun-Times

"Terrific"

"[The] singing is fantastic...[the] music is thunderous"

–Betty Mohr with Dean Richards on WGN Radio

ELEKTRA

by Richard Strauss

Sung in German with projected English translations

THERE’S NO OPERATIC TOUR DE FORCE TO SURPASS ELEKTRA, WITH A TITLE ROLE THAT DEMANDS A TRULY GREAT SINGING ACTRESS.

It’s a stunning vocal marathon, with riveting intensity. You owe it to yourself to experience the vocal grandeur and blazing drama of this passionate heroine. She’s the Mycenaean princess whose father, Agamemnon, was murdered by her mother, Klytemnestra, leaving Elektra hell-bent on revenge. As Richard Strauss’s staggeringly powerful orchestra moves inexorably toward the opera’s hair-raising finale, the music gives you a composer at his zenith—magnificently theatrical and devastatingly moving.

PRODUCTION SPONSORS

JULIE AND ROGER

BASKES SYLVIA NEIL AND

DANIEL FISCHEL

MAZZA

FOUNDATIONExelon

Lyric Opera production.

Don't miss a moment of this "electrifying" (Chicago Classical Review) production. Watch the trailer here, and save your seats today online or over the phone at 312.827.5600.

Lyric Opera of Chicago's La bohème and Cendrillon Return in January With Discounts For Children and College Students

ChiIL Live Shows on our radar

Two favorites return to Lyric Opera of Chicago in the New Year:

La bohème (January 10-31) and 

Cendrillon (January 11-20)

 Photos: Todd Rosenberg

Lyric Opera of Chicago kicks off 2019 with two acclaimed productions: the return of the new production of Puccini’s captivating and tragic love story La bohème, and the Midwest premiere of a beloved production of Cendrillon, based on the Cinderella story. La bohème is a quintessentially Italian opera and the plot is forever youthful and eternally fresh. Cendrillon features an intelligent blend of wit, sensitivity, and elegance against the backdrop of a familiar storybook kingdom.

La bohème opened on October 6, 2018 to critical and audience acclaim and reopens on Thursday, January 10, 2019 at 7 p.m. for eight performances at the Lyric Opera House (20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago) through January 31. Single tickets start at $39 and are available now at lyricopera.org/laboheme or by calling 312-827-5600.

Cendrillon premiered at Lyric on December 1, 2018 to the delight of audiences and critics alike, and retakes the stage on Friday, January 11 at 7 p.m. with three performances through January 20. Single tickets start at $49 and are available now at lyricopera.org/cendrillon or by calling 312-827-5600.

Check out ChiIL Mama's dual reviews of Cendrillon right here.

Special pricing is available for children’s tickets for all opera performances at Lyric when purchased with adult tickets. Children’s tickets ($20-$50) are available by calling Audience Services at 312-827-5600. Full-time college students may register for Lyric’s NEXT student discount tickets ($20) for select performances at lyricopera.org/next.

LA BOHÈME 

One of the most popular – and most performed – operas in the world, La bohème inspired the hit musical Rent and follows six relatable young-adult Bohemians experiencing the highs and lows of 1830s Paris. The cast stars Italian soprano Maria Agresta as Mimì, American tenor Michael Fabiano as Rodolfo this past October 2018, Australian soprano and Emmy Award winner Danielle de Niese as Musetta, American baritone Zachary Nelson as Marcello, and Romanian bass Adrian Sâmpetrean as Colline. Rounding out the principal roles are Puerto Rican baritone Ricardo José Rivera as Schaunard and American bass-baritone Jake Gardner as Benoît & Alcindoro.

The cast for the January performances of La bohème is the same as for the October performances. Venezuelan-Swiss conductor Domingo Hindoyan will lead all but the Jan. 31 performance, which will be conducted by Stefano Sarzani in his Lyric debut. British director Richard Jones created the new production, with set and costume designs by Stewart Laing and lighting designed by Mimi Jordan Sherin. Michael Black is chorus master.

CENDRILLON 

Lyric’s Cendrillon (Cinderella) cast includes several artists who made triumphant company debuts in December. Australian soprano Siobhan Stagg portrays Cendrillon, and Prince Charming is played by British mezzo-soprano Alice Coote, who returns to Lyric in the title role of Handel's Ariodante in March. Canadian coloratura soprano Marie-Eve Munger is the Fairy Godmother, American mezzo-soprano Elizabeth Bishop is Cendrillon’s stepmother Madame de la Haltière, and Australian bass-baritone Derek Welton is Cendrillon’s father Pandolfe. Ryan Opera Center ensemble members soprano Emily Pogorelc and mezzo-soprano Kayleigh Decker are Cendrillon’s stepsisters.

Lyric’s music director Sir Andrew Davis conducts the Cendrillon performances January 17 and 20. Canadian-Italian conductor Francesco Milioto makes his company debut leading the January 11 performance. French director Laurent Pelly created the production and designed the whimsical costumes, with scenery by Belgian designer Barbara de Limburg and lighting designed by Duane Schuler. Choreography is by Laura Scozzi, revived for Lyric by Karine Girard. Michael Black is chorus master.

New Lyric Opera coproduction of Puccini’s La bohème generously made possible by the Julius Frankel Foundation, Abbott Fund, Liz Stiffel, The Michael and Susan Avramovich Charitable Trust, Howard L. Gottlieb and Barbara G. Greis, and Roberta L. and Robert J. Washlow. 

Lyric’s premiere presentation of Massenet’s Cendrillon generously made possible by the NIB Foundation and Invesco QQQ.

About Lyric Opera of Chicago

Lyric Opera of Chicago’s mission is to express and promote the life-changing, transformational, revelatory power of great opera. Lyric exists to provide a broad, deep, and relevant cultural service to Chicago and the nation, and to advance the development of the art form.

Founded in 1954, Lyric is dedicated to producing and performing consistently thrilling, entertaining, and thought-provoking opera with a balanced repertoire of core classics, lesser-known masterpieces, and new works; to creating an innovative and wide-ranging program of community engagement and educational activities; and to developing exceptional emerging operatic talent.

Under the leadership of general director, president & CEO Anthony Freud, music director Sir Andrew Davis, and creative consultant Renée Fleming, Lyric strives to become The Great North American Opera Company for the 21st century: a globally significant arts organization embodying the core values of excellence, relevance, and fiscal responsibility.

To learn more about Lyric’s season, go to lyricopera.org. You can also join the conversation with @LyricOpera on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. #Lyric1819 #LongLivePassion