Amahl and the Night Visitors

Three Wise Men. One Miraculous Night.

Seamlessly pairing live singing and music with masterful puppetry, Amahl and the Night Visitors brings to life the story of three kings – the Magi – who have traveled from far away lands to bring gifts to a child born in Bethlehem. When they stop to rest for the night, they are taken in by an impoverished, disabled boy and his mother. Amahl is dazzled both by their stories and the exotic treasures they carry, but the humble host will soon show them what it truly means to give with a generous heart, triggering a miraculous ending to this inspiring story. Based on Italian folktales of the Nativity and the Epiphany, this imaginative, unique telling of the first Christmas is an original Lyric Opera of Kansas City production created in collaboration with master puppeteer Paul Mesner. It’s a heartwarming holiday tradition designed with families in mind, and you can only experience it right here in KC.

All performances will be in The Michael and Ginger Frost Production Arts Building.

712 E 18th Street Kansas City, Missouri 64108

COMPOSER Gian Carlo Menotti
LIBRETTIST Gian Carlo Menotti
CONDUCTOR Piotr Wiśniewski
DIRECTOR James Smith
Original Production by Shawna Lucey

Understand every word: Performed in English with English subtitles

Enhance your opera experience with our educational and supplementary materials!

Read In-Depth Guide by Stu Lewis

Amahl Program

Engagement Guide

An Important Update regarding the vaccination policy for Lyric Opera performances.

Cast

Danielle Beckvermit, The Mother
Recent
Berta, Il barbiere di Siviglia, Minnesota Opera
Women’s voice, Jenufa, Santa Fe Opera
Anaide, Il cappello di paglia di Firenze, Minnesota Opera
Upcoming
Pamina, The Magic Flute, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra

Aubrey Odle, The Mother
Recent
Gertrude, Romeo et Juliette, Knoxville Opera
Carmen, Carmen on the Lawn, Knoxville Opera
Lotte, City of Ashes (US Premiere), Marble City Opera
Upcoming
A Teacher/Laurene Powell (cover), The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs, Lyric Opera of Kansas City

Finn Kuykendall, Amahl
Recent
Horton, Seussical Jr., Stage Right Performing Arts
Wilson, Sherlock Holmes and the Baker Street Irregulars, Pembroke Hill School
Branch, Trolls World Tour, Stage Right Performing Arts
Gavroche, Les Miserables, Stage Right Performing Arts
Ensemble, Frozen Jr., Stage Right Performing Arts

Delilah Rose Pellow, Amahl
Recent
Little Anastasia/Alexei Romanov, Anastasia the Musical, Broadway
Little Anastasia/Alexei Romanov, Anastasia the Musical, First National Tour
Cindy Lou Who, How the Grinch Stole Christmas the Musical, National Tour
Small Alison, Fun Home the Musical, Kansas City Repertory Theatre

Wayd Odle, King Kaspar
Recent
Beadle Bamford, Sweeney Todd, Wolf Trap Opera
Valcour (cover), L’Amant Anonyme, Wolf Trap Opera
Don Jose, Carmen on the Lawn, Knoxville Opera
Tybalt, Romeo et Juliette, Knoxville Opera
Upcoming
Steve Wozniak (cover), The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs, Lyric Opera of Kansas City
Spoletta, Tosca, Lyric Opera of Kansas City
Cavaradossi (cover), Tosca, Lyric Opera of Kansas City

Keith Klein, King Melchior
Recent
Page, Amahl and the Night Visitors, Lyric Opera of Kansas City
Bass Soloist, Opera in Eight Parts, Lyric Opera of Kansas City
Pub Bore, Choir of Men, Playhouse Square Cleveland
Upcoming
Sciarrone, Tosca, Lyric Opera of Kansas City

Peter Morgan, King Balthazar
Recent
Ferrando, Il trovotore, The Glimmerglass Festival
Don Pedro, Songbird (La Perichole), The Glimmerglass Festival
Sugar Dog, The Copper Queen (World Premiere Film), Arizona Opera
Upcoming
Morales, Carmen, Opera San Jose
Angelotti, Tosca, Lyric Opera of Kansas City

Nathan Whitson, Page
Recent
Zaccaria, Nabbuco, Sarasota Opera
Officer Krupke, West Side Story, Lyric Opera of Kansas City
Hunding, Die Walkure, Union Avenue Opera
Upcoming
Sarastro, The Magic Flute, Arizona Opera

Creative Team

Piotr Wisniewski, Conductor
Recent
Conductor, Opera Maya International Music Festival, Mexico
Conductor, Amahl and the Night Visitors, Lyric Opera of Kansas City
Assistant Conductor, Lucia di Lammermoor, Lyric Opera of Kansas City
Upcoming
Assistant Conductor and Chorus Master, The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs, Lyric Opera of Kansas City
Assistant Conductor and Chorus Master, Tosca, Lyric Opera of Kansas City

James Smith, Director
Recent
Director, The Magic Flute, Hofstra University
Co-Director/ Designer, Carmen (film), Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music
Director, Le nozze di Figaro, Hofstra University
Upcoming
Co-Director, Punkitititi, The Salzburg Marionette Theater/The Mozarteum Foundation
Assistant Director, The Pearl Fishers, The Dallas Opera

Paul Mesner, Puppet Designer
Recent
Amahl and the Night Visitors, Lyric Opera of Kansas City
Pulcinella, Jarvis Conservatory
True Story of the Three Little Pigs, Center for Puppetry Arts
Ishara Puppet Festival Trust, India

Steven C. Kemp, Set Designer
Recent
Set Designer, Becoming Santa Claus, Chicago Opera Theater
Set Designer, Il tabarro + El amor brujo, Opera Santa Barbara
Set Designer, Rigoletto, Central City Opera
Upcoming
Set Designer, La boheme, New Orleans Opera/North Carolina Opera
Set Designer, The Daughter of the Regiment, Sarasota Opera
Set Designer, The Dangerous Liaisons, Curtis Institute of Music

Michael Clark, Lighting Designer
Recent
Lighting Designer, Carmen, Houston Grand Opera
Lighting Designer, Tosca, San Francisco Opera
Upcoming
Lighting Designer, The Snowy Day, Houston Grand Opera
Lighting Designer, La traviata, San Francisco Opera

Nancy Robinson, Costume Designer
Recent
Costume Designer, Killers of the Flower Moon film (Martin Scorsese director, Robert DeNiro and Leonardo DiCaprio lead actors)
Upcoming
Costume Designer, Tartuffe, Kansas City Kansas Community College
Costume Designer, Titanic, Musical Theatre Heritage

Engagement Guide

We invite you to fully engage in the experience of seeing Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors by watching videos, listening to excerpts, learning about the story and answering questions in our free, virtual Engagement Guide. Spend time together with family, friends, or groups of students exploring the wonderful themes in Amahl and the Night Visitors: kindness. generosity, empathy, and the importance of family.

Explore our Engagement Guide.