🎊Happy New Year from Lyric Opera! 🎊
Now it’s time to delve into two American classics as we kick off America’s 250th birthday year. 🎂🦅 The second half of our season explores American opera and letters. Together, we’ll experience two major American operas: The Gershwins®' Porgy and Bess 🎣 and Carlisle Floyd’s Of Mice and Men, 🌾 based on John Steinbeck’s novella.
Between these two operas, we’re also presenting a new work, Langston Hughes: A Lyrical Life, a deep dive into the life and times of Langston Hughes, a Missouri native and one of the early pioneers of the Harlem Renaissance. 📖🎶🎺
If you’re looking for something to enjoy while staying warm this January, we’ve just published a recording from our September 2025 performance of Yeh-Shen, a shadow-puppet production presented by FireTale Productions at our Production Arts Building—you can stream that now on YouTube. 👠
Read on to learn more about all the upcoming programming and opera magic ahead! ✨
Presented for the first time in Lyric Opera history, Porgy and Bess is the quintessential American opera. The source of some of the twentieth century's most beloved songs—including “Summertime”—this jazzy Gershwin score is unforgettable. The opera paints a vivid picture of life in the Charleston neighborhood Catfish Row, where a poignant “opposites attract” romance unfolds alongside a powerful portrait of a community that unites in the face of tragedy and triumph.
Join Lyric Opera in community spaces across the Kansas City metro for free performances of Langston Hughes: A Lyrical Life, a semi-staged musical and literary experience honoring Hughes’s extraordinary legacy. This new program will feature our Resident Artists and illuminate universal human experiences of joy, struggle, and aspiration. 🗣
What a year! From powerful performances to unforgettable moments behind the scenes, 2025 at Lyric Opera was extraordinary—and it was all possible because of supporters like you. Every stitch, every cue, every note comes alive BECAUSE OF YOU. We can’t wait to share the rest of this remarkable season!
We want you to connect personally and meaningfully to the art on our stage. Patrons who attend our community programs find themselves more engaged with the performance. Join us for these free programs to deepen your experience with The Gershwins®' Porgy and Bess. 🛶
Porgy and Bess in Context
📅 February 17 at 6:00 pm: Porgy and Bess has resonated with audiences for just over ninety years, opening the door to important dialogue about its authorship, representation, influences, and legacy. Join Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Kansas City Public Library, and esteemed panelists for a conversation exploring these issues, illuminated by a live performance. 💭
Opera Dives Deep
Delve deeper into Porgy and Bess with our popular series, Opera Dives Deep. 🌊
📅 February 23 at 6:00 pm: Musicologist Dr. Paul Laird will present on the landmark opera—its creation, its vibrant score, the opera’s performance history and reception, and its enduring legacy in American opera.
📅 March 2 at 6:00 pm: Join Lyric Opera at the Black Archives of Mid-America to meet the artists of Porgy and Bess! Learn more about their careers, their unique experiences bringing this iconic opera to life, and the stories behind their performances.
Pre-Opera Talks
Do you have tickets for Porgy and Bess? Don’t forget to mark your calendars and arrive at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts fifty minutes before showtime to learn the who, what, where, when, and why of Porgy and Bess.
Student Dress Rehearsals
Bring a group of students to the final dress rehearsals of Porgy and Bess and Of Mice and Men this spring! To enhance learning, teachers receive curricular resources and a chance to schedule pre- and post-teaching at your school. 🍎
In September 2025, as part of our Cinderella programming, our friends at FireTale Productions presented a fascinating shadow-puppet retelling of the Chinese version of Cinderella, titled Yeh-Shen. We’ve re-released this performance on YouTube for your viewing pleasure. So if you're looking for something unique to stream while you stay warm in January, check it out!
Coming up this spring, the Lyric Opera Circle presents the 2026 Lyric Opera Ball: A Modern Masquerade! This exciting event embraces the timeless mystique of the masquerade reimagined with a contemporary twist. Raffle tickets are now on sale—there are a limited number, so don't miss your chance to enter to win! Single tickets for the event will go on sale February 2, 2026, but you can secure your spot and support the Lyric now by becoming a benefactor.
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Season Sponsors
With public support from the State of Missouri and the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
The Gershwins®' Porgy and Bess is supported, in part, by the City of Kansas City, Missouri Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund and the Mark Edelman Theater Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City. Langston Hughes: A Lyrical Life is made possible by the Dr. Mary E. Brothers Resident Artist Performance Fund. Of Mice and Men is made possible, in part, by generous support from The Sunderland Foundation.
