Still humming all those beautiful melodies from La bohème?!🕯️ I know everyone in the company has been. But my fellow opera lovers, it’s time to put away the Puccini and prepare for the G.O.A.T., Herr Mozart. Mozart very well may have written the most flawless music in music history, and The Marriage of Figaro is the gold standard of opera—and here’s the kicker; it’s a comedy! 🙉 From its iconic overture to its resplendent vocal writing, The Marriage of Figaro is a chance to get back to opera basics, recitatives, arias, quartets, quintets, and exhilarating ensemble finales! 🎶💥
The company’s learning department has put together a fantastic lineup of activities in support of the show, including a night at the comedy club, our ongoing book club partnership with Rainy Day Books, and a screening of the 1984 classic Amadeus. 🎥📖 Dive in deep to opera and the myth of Mozart this fall with Lyric Opera. 🎂💕
La bohème (1969) at the Uptown Theatre / Photo courtesy of The Kansas City Star and Kansas City Public Library Digital Archive
As we celebrate the closing of La bohème, we also celebrate the start of our seventieth season of opera in Kansas City! In that time, Lyric Opera has produced 124 different shows in seven different languages, spanning over 300 years, at five different performing arts venues. Join us in raising a glass to seventy seasons of opera in Kansas City!
La bohème (2026) / Photo © Don Ipock
Our first production of the 2026–2027 season was a hit! From the revelry of Café Momus to the intimacy of the bohemian apartment, La bohème was a perfect story of love, heartbreak, and humanity. Whether it was your first time at the Kauffman Center or you’ve been attending opera for decades, we are honored to have been able to share this story with you. Relive some of the most memorable moments from Puccini’s masterpiece by visiting the La bohème show gallery! View gallery.
The Marriage of Figaro (2016) / Photo © Dana Sohm
You are cordially invited to attend the wedding of the season as Lyric Opera presents The Marriage of Figaro! Often hailed as the gold standard of opera, Mozart’s masterful portrayal of an extraordinary wedding day marries sparkling wit with profound insights on love, aging, forgiveness, and, ultimately, the joy of coming together. As Susanna and Figaro prepare to tie the knot, they must contend with their amorous employer Count Almaviva; his wife, the Countess; the scheming Marcellina; and a colorful cast of characters who place numerous (and often amusing) obstacles in their path to the altar. Don’t miss this delightful and unforgettable adventure! 🎂 Learn more and purchase.
Resident Artists David Pelino and Bethany Jelinek (with Director of Learning Neal Long at the piano) performing an excerpt from La bohème for Liberty Public Schools students / Photo © Andy Newbegin Photography
This year, Lyric Opera is teaming up with Liberty Public Schools’ secondary fine arts microschool to help inspire the next generation of creative industry pros! 🎭 Through this exciting hands-on partnership, students are getting a backstage pass into the world of opera production and arts administration.
To kick things off on August 26, students took an exclusive tour of our Production Arts Building, met with professional artists, and got a sneak peek of Steven Kemp’s scenic design for Aida. A highlight of the day? A live performance by resident artists Bethany Jelinek and David Pelino! ✨
Check out some of our favorite moments from the visit below! 📸 Next up, they’ll be stepping behind the scenes once again to observe a staging rehearsal of The Marriage of Figaro! 🎶
La bohème (2026) / Photo © Don Ipock
As the holidays approach, it may be a good time to take a look at your charitable plans. If you have already set aside funds for giving, now is a wonderful time to put those resources to work supporting the art and artists you value!
This year, you may also be considering a special gift to honor General Director and CEO Deborah Sandler Kemper, and her extraordinary fifteen years of leadership at Lyric Opera. A gift through your donor-advised fund or IRA can be a meaningful way to celebrate her legacy while helping shape Lyric Opera’s future.
- Have a donor-advised fund (DAF)? Consider recommending a grant to Lyric Opera before the end of the year. If you have already set aside charitable dollars in your DAF, you can make them count by supporting the exceptional artists and productions on our stage, inspiring students, and strengthening the arts in Kansas City.
- Considering a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) from your IRA? Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to make a QCD directly from your IRA to Lyric Opera. It can be another way to make a gift that honors what Lyric Opera has meant to you while supporting our mission to bring world-class opera experiences to Kansas City.
Whether you are considering a gift in honor of Deb, supporting the current season, or helping Lyric Opera continue to thrive, we would be happy to help. Explore our resources for these special ways to give on our website.
However you choose to give, thank you for all you make possible. Your generosity brings artists to our stage, introduces students to the arts, and helps ensure that opera continues to thrive in Kansas City for years to come.
Please consult your financial or tax advisor regarding your individual circumstances. Lyric Opera of Kansas City does not provide tax or financial advice.
Come As You Are (2024) / Photo © Vaughan Harrison
Community Conversations: Whims and Folly
📅 October 19 at 7:00 pm
Everyone loves a laugh! Join Lyric Opera at The Bird Comedy Theater for an improv night inspired by The Marriage of Figaro. 🤣
Opera Book Club: The Marriage of Figaro
📅 October 27 at 7:00 pm
Read about the woman who inspired the character Susanna in Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro! ✨ Connect with fellow book and opera enthusiasts at Rainy Day Books for an engaging discussion on Vivien Shotwell’s Vienna Nocturne. 💭
Amadeus Movie Screening at Screenland Armour
📅 November 1 at 3:30 pm
Grab your popcorn and take a seat for a special screening of Amadeus, the eight-time Academy Award-winning film about Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and his rivalry with composer Antonio Salieri, at Screenland Armour! 🍿
Opera Dives Deep: The Marriage of Figaro
📅 November 2 at 6:00 pm
Learn more about The Marriage of Figaro—its synopsis, historical background, and musical highlights. ✅
Meet the Artists of The Marriage of Figaro
📅 November 9 at 6:00 pm
Meet the artists of The Marriage of Figaro! Learn more about their careers, their experiences with Lyric Opera’s production, and the stories behind their performances. 🌟
Lyric Happy Hour
📅 November 15 at 5:15 pm
Celebrate The Marriage of Figaro following the final performance with Lyric Happy Hour, hosted by Lyric Opera and Kanbe’s Markets at Mineral Lounge! 🍸
Photo © Andy Newbegin Photography
Student Dress Rehearsals: Bring your students to the final dress rehearsals of The Marriage of Figaro on November 5, 2026, and The Pirates of Penzance on February 18, 2027! To enhance learning, teachers receive curricular resources and a chance to schedule pre-teaching at your school. 🍎 Learn more.
Maya and the Magic Ring: Be careful what you wish for! 🔮 Bring a fully staged opera to your elementary school next spring! In this opera for children, a young girl named Maya discovers a dazzling ruby ring in her grandmother’s belongings. She rubs the jewel and accidentally releases a genie, leading to chaos as she wishes her cat and toy unicorn to life. 🧞 Learn more.
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Sponsors
The 2026–2027 season is sponsored by the Richard J. Stern Foundation for the Arts; the Muriel McBrien Kauffman Family Foundation; the Lyric Opera of Kansas City Foundation; and R.C. Kemper Charitable Trust and Foundation, UMB Bank, n.a., Trustee; with public support from Missouri Arts Council, a state agency. La bohème is supported, in part, by the City of Kansas City, Missouri Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund and the Martha Lee Cain Tranby Music Enrichment Fund. The Marriage of Figaro is supported, in part, by the City of Kansas City, Missouri Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund. The Resident Artists Program is sponsored by the Estate of Richard Hill, Charter Sponsor of the Resident Artists Program, and the Polsky Fund of the Lyric Opera of Kansas City Foundation. Community performances by resident artists are sponsored by the Dr. Mary E. Brothers Resident Artist Performance Fund. Lyric Opera resident artist tenor David Pelino is sponsored by Connie K. Walker for the 2026-2027 season.
