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

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School shows also available. Click here for more information.

COMPOSER Gian Carlo Menotti
LIBRETTIST Gian Carlo Menotti
CONDUCTOR Piotr Wiśniewski

Original Production by Shawna Lucey

Running time: approximately 48 minutes with no intermission

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

Read Engagement Guide by Ruth Nott

Principal Cast

Mother, Aubrey Odle
Returning for a second season as a Resident Artist with Lyric Opera of Kansas City, mezzo-soprano Aubrey Odle’s upcoming roles this season include Mercédès (Carmen), Flora (La traviata), and returning to the Lyric’s annual production of Amahl and the Night Visitors as Mother. Other notable roles include the title role in Carmen, Mistress Quickly (Falstaff), Gertrude (Roméo et Juliette), and La Zia Principessa (Suor Angelica). Odle was recently featured as a soloist with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, performing Beethoven’s Mass in C. In recent years, she has won accolades from the Houston Saengerbund Awards, Orpheus Vocal Competition, American Prize, and the Utah Opera AriaFest. She is a graduate of Utah State University (B.M.) and Brigham Young University (M.M.).

Mother, Krista Renée Pape
Soprano Krista Renée Pape made her professional debut in 2020 as Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute with Opera North. In 2019 she made her role debut as Konstanze in The Abduction from the Seraglio (Opera in the Ozarks), and her virtual debut as Gilda in Rigoletto in 2021 (MIOpera). She has won prizes from The Metropolitan Opera Laffont National Council, National Society of Arts and Letters, MIOpera Vocal Competition, Lewisville Lake Symphony International Competition, Pasadena Vocal Competition, top prizes in the MTNA Young Artist Performance Competition in Voice, and the Tuesday Musical Club Young Artists Competition. Pape graduated with a Master of Music in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Houston. She was a Vocal Institute Fellow at the Music Academy of the West in summer 2022.

Amahl, Delilah Rose Pellow
Delilah Rose Pellow began acting onstage at three years old. In 2018, she made her Broadway debut in Anastasia. Notable roles include Cindy Lou Who (Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas), Young Tommy (The Who’s Tommy), Tiny Tim (A Christmas Carol), and Gretl von Trapp (The Sound of Music).

Amahl, Josephine Pellow
Josephine Pellow’s notable roles include Rachel Panitz (Last Days of Summer), Marta von Trapp (The Sound of Music), Belinda Cratchit (A Christmas Carol), Helen Keller (The Miracle Worker), Hana Brady (Hana’s Suitcase), The Girl (Solitary Confinement), and Kate (Men Go to Battle).

Creative Team

Conductor, Piotr Wisniewski
Piotr Wiśniewski is a Polish pianist, opera coach, and conductor. He is an active recitalist and solo piano competition winner. Wiśniewski is an avid supporter and representative of Polish music at home and internationally, performing recitals throughout Europe, the United States, and Latin America. He is an opera coach for Indiana University Opera Theater, Music Director of Graduate Opera Workshop at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, and Music Director and Head Conductor of ÓperaMaya International Music Festival. He is a regular guest with the American Institute of Musical Studies AIMS in Graz, Austria where he coaches young opera singers. Since 2019, he has held the Head of Music Staff and Chorus Master positions with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City.

Director, Tara Branham
Tara Branham is Resident Director with Opera San José and National New Play Network, and Producer-in-Residence with Prop Thtr. Recent work includes Assistant Director of Freedom Ride (Chicago Opera Theater), and Assistant Director of La traviata (Opera Theatre of Saint Louis). Branham directed the US premiere of Octagon (Jackalope Theatre), and directed and co-produced the world premiere of Good Friday (Oracle Productions). Branham is a teacher and creator of Unbridled Sound, a physical and vocal technique for actors. She graduated cum laude from Ball State University and is a student of Black Box Acting Studio.

Puppet Master, Paul Mesner
Paul Mesner takes joy in this production of Amahl and the Night Visitors. Now semi-retired, Mesner looks for other projects that interest him and is working on writing remembrances of his 45-year career. Founder of the Mesner Puppet Theater, he is former president of the Puppeteers of America. Mesner is an avid gardener and part time chicken farmer. He walks his dog as much as she likes, and when she is tired, he walks himself. He thanks his husband of three years, David Lucken, who has been his partner for 42 years.