Join us for Opera Book Club to deepen your appreciation of the operas in our season. Facilitated by Kansas City Public Library and Lyric Opera staff, this new program includes locally catered lunch by The Russell on Main, exclusive conversations with cast and crew members, and discounted opera tickets.
Opera Book Club is held at Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Beth Ingram Administrative Building, 1725 Holmes St., Kansas City, MO 64108.
Opera Book Club registration is now closed for the 2025–2026 season. Please contact Laura Blankenship, Manager of Community Programs at lblankenship@kcopera.org or (816) 802-6059 for any questions.
2025–2026 Book List
The Cinderella Story by Neil Philip
Thursday, September 18, 2025 | 12:00–1:30 pm
This anthology gives a look at the many variations of the “Cinderella” story—a tale that has been told for centuries around the world.
Deborah Sandler Kemper
General Director and CEO, Lyric Opera of Kansas City
Deborah Sandler Kemper became General Director of the Lyric Opera of Kansas City in 2012. She is known throughout the opera industry for her strong commitment to artistic excellence, company growth, and deepening community connections.
Previously, Sandler Kemper served as General Director of Kentucky Opera where her expertise as both the artistic and management leader of the company gained acclaim for productions of high artistic quality. In addition, as leader of an outstanding artistic and management team, she was recognized for implementing a strategic plan which led to the expansion of the audience through increasing subscriptions, securing financial stability and extending the company’s educational and outreach programs. Sandler Kemper began a young artists training program and oversaw an innovative series of education programs which incorporated the use of puppetry in opera for young people. Known for well-balanced casts and discovering new talent, Sandler Kemper is credited as the first General Director to cast a young Joyce Di Donato in the role of Rosina in Kentucky Opera’s production of Il Barbiere di Siviglia in the beginning of her career.
Deborah Sandler Kemper began her career as General Manager of the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia and later moved to the Opera Theatre of New Jersey as General Director, managing both the artistic and administrative functions. In New Jersey, Sandler Kemper was recognized for her ability to increase the artistic quality and expand the capacity of the company by developing community awareness through artistic initiatives and dynamic education and outreach programs. The budget tripled in size under Sandler Kemper’s leadership and she was recognized for innovative artistic programming.
In service to the future of opera and the American Opera service organization OPERA America, Sandler Kemper’s passion for opening doors to expand the role of women in professional opera was the impetus for the first ever field wide conversation on this topic, which took place in May, 2015 in Washington, DC. She has been a leader and catalyst regarding the convening of women to advance this cause and served as the founding chair of the Women’s Opera Network at OPERA America.
Originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Sandler Kemper is a graduate of Temple University with a degree in music. Sandler Kemper earned a Master of Arts degree in Musicology from New York University, completing all of her doctoral course work. She has also studied at the Mandel Center for Nonprofits at Case Western Reserve and at the Fundraising School at Indiana University.
Madame Chrysanthème by Pierre Loti
Thursday, October 30, 2025 | 12:00–1:30 pm
This novel is told through the journal of a naval officer who was temporarily married to a geisha while he was stationed in Nagasaki, Japan. Originally written in French and published in 1887, Madame Chrysanthème was a precursor to the opera Madame Butterfly and the musical Miss Saigon.
Kevin Suzuki
Movement Director & Cultural Advisor, Madame Butterfly
Kevin Suzuki began his training in Japanese folk dance at the age of five, learning traditional dance technique from Momo Suzuki, his mother and the founder of The Japanese Folk Dance Institute of New York (JFDINY). Almost immediately, Kevin began performing with Minbuza, the professional troupe of JFDINY, appearing at venues such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Asia Society.
Kevin ascended to the position of Director of JFDINY in 2020. Recent performance credits with JFDINY include the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens Cherry Blossom Festival, Fort Wayne Dance Collective’s “Shino Shadows”, Hub City Opera’s production of “Murasaki’s Moon”, and “Hidden Faces and The Harvest”—JFDINY’s collaborative performance featuring Japanese and Indonesian traditional dance.
For JFDINY, he also serves as head choreographer, with work including a residency at Boston University for Ronald Richardson’s play “Kamioroshi” (2018), Lan Tsubata’s independent dance film “Dancing Joy” (2020), and fashion brand Public Policy’s Fall Show at Fashion Week New York (2023).
Kevin has also served as a cultural and movement advisor to numerous opera companies (primarily for productions of Madame Butterfly) including Portland Opera, Atlanta Opera, and Dallas Opera. He has also provided movement workshops for Heartbeat Opera, Sarasota Opera, and Carolina Opera. Lastly, his choreography work can be seen in Divaria Opera Company’s 2024 production of Madame Butterfly in Long Island, NY.
Momo Suzuki
Movement Director & Cultural Advisor, Madame Butterfly
Momo Suzuki was born in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan and emigrated to the United States in 1983. Soon after arriving, she began her career as a solo Japanese traditional dancer, performing with Louis Johnson (choreographer The Wiz) at the Henry Street Settlement, at the Victoria Theater with the Yass Hakoshima Mime Company, and in Riyo’s 10th Music Salon at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall.
In 1992, Ms. Suzuki founded the Japanese Folk Dance Institute of NY (JFDINY), to promote and preserve the traditional folk dances of Japan. Ms. Suzuki and her company have performed at venues and events such as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Disney’s Epcot Center, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Using her extensive knowledge and experience in the traditional performing arts, she has served as a technical advisor and choreographer to both American and Japanese productions. Most notably, she worked with Madonna, performing and choreographing for her music video “Nothing Really Matters,” as well as collaborating with C. Eule Dance on their 2008 staging of “The Crane Wife,” a contemporary ballet adaptation of a traditional Japanese folk tale. Momo also worked closely with Olympic ice dancers Cathy and Chris Reed, teaching them traditional movement and choreographing their programs for the 2012 and 2016 Winter Olympics. Ms. Suzuki also regularly advises on productions of Madame Butterfly, working with the Sarasota Opera Company, Portland Opera, as well as New York’s Heartbeat Opera. Additional choreography and advisory credits include “New York Ondo,” Pokemon’s 10th Anniversary Festival in New York City, and Lionel Hampton’s Jazz Festival.
Porgy by DuBose Heyward
Thursday, February 12, 2026 | 12:00–1:30 pm
The story follows Porgy, a street beggar with a physical disability living on the margins of society in Catfish Row—a tightly knit South Carolina community—whose world is upended when a brawl erupts into an accidental murder.
Eric Greene
Porgy, The Gershwins®' Porgy and Bess
Eric Greene’s current and future engagements include Benny “Kid” in Terence Blanchard's Champion at the Metropolitan Opera, Escamillo in Carmen at Liceu Barcelona, Porgy in The Gershwins®' Porgy and Bess at Lyric Opera Kansas City, Theater an der Wien, and English National Opera, a return to London as Nicholas Lofte in Itch,, as well as joining the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden for Rigoletto on tour to Japan. In concert, current projects include War and Peace with Isreali Opera, The Gershwins®' Porgy and Bess with Madison Symphony Orchestra, Musikfest Bremen and Quincena Musical of San Sebastian, Budivoj in Dalibor with Bard Music Festival, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 at La Fondazione Arturo Toscanini with Fabio Luisi conducting, Dallapiccola's Il prigioniero (title role) at London Symphony Orchestra with Maestro Pappano conducting, and The Word/Voice of God in Dett’s Ordering of Moses with Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, and Carnegie Hall.
Eric Greene made debuts around the world with noted companies such as Opéra Comique, the Granada International Festival, Grand Théâtre Luxembourg, Teatro Nacional de São Carlos Lisbon, Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Francisco Opera, Opera Company of Philadelphia, Washington National Opera, Santa Fe Symphony, and the Los Angeles Opera.
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Thursday, April 16, 2026 | 12:00–1:30 pm
This classic novella follows an unlikely pair: George is “small and quick and dark of face”; Lennie, a man of tremendous size, has the mind of a young child. Yet together they have formed a family, clinging to each other in the face of loneliness, and alienation, and hardship. In the face of an accidental tragedy, their desire of the American Dream is crushed.
More information coming soon.
The Cinderella Story by Neil Philip
Thursday, September 18, 2025 | 12:00–1:30 pm
This anthology gives a look at the many variations of the Cinderella story—a tale that has been told for centuries around the world.
More information coming soon.
Madame Chrysanthème by Pierre Loti
Thursday, October 30, 2025 | 12:00–1:30 pm
This novel is told through the journal of a naval officer who was temporarily married to a geisha while he was stationed in Nagasaki, Japan. Originally written in French and published in 1887, Madame Chrysanthème was a precursor to the opera Madame Butterfly and the musical Miss Saigon.
More information coming soon.
Porgy by DuBose Heyward
Thursday, February 12, 2026 | 12:00–1:30 pm
The story follows Porgy, a street beggar with a physical disability living on the margins of society in Catfish Row—a tightly knit South Carolina community—whose world is upended when a brawl erupts into an accidental murder.
More information coming soon.
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Thursday, April 16, 2026 | 12:00–1:30 pm
This classic novella follows an unlikely pair: George is “small and quick and dark of face”; Lennie, a man of tremendous size, has the mind of a young child. Yet together they have formed a family, clinging to each other in the face of loneliness, and alienation, and hardship. In the face of an accidental tragedy, their desire of the American Dream is crushed.
More information coming soon.
Laura Blankenship
Manager of Community Programs at Lyric Opera of Kansas City
Laura Blankenship is the Manager of Community Programs at Lyric Opera of Kansas City where she designs, organizes, and facilitates diverse opportunities for new and returning community members to foster deeper connections through the arts. A former music therapist and piano teacher, Laura brings a holistic perspective to her work, valuing the power of the arts to enhance wellbeing and quality of life. She supports this approach by prioritizing clear communication, adaptability and realistic goal setting; and by holding space for her own creative endeavors, such as reading and writing, cooking, and making music with her band, Laura Boat and the Brew.
Katie Stover
Director of Readers' Services at Kansas City Public Library
Kaite Stover is the Director of Readers' Services for The Kansas City Public Library. She holds Master's degrees in Library Science and English Literature from Emporia State University.
Cost is $100 per person (books purchased separately)
This cost includes participation in all four book club sessions across the entire season (dates listed above). Each book club meeting will have a catered lunch and an exclusive conversation with a cast or crew member from the related opera. As an additional perk, participants in Opera Book Club also receive 20% off opera tickets.
Laura Blankenship
(816) 802-6059
lblankenship@kcopera.org
Community Partners
