Show Gallery: Maya and the Magic Ring

We were so glad to welcome you to Maya and the Magic Ring, our opera for families by Lori Laitman and Dana Gioia! Check out this exclusive media gallery to relive the most magical and silly moments of the show.

World Premiere Cast and Creative team

Woman with dark brown hair and navy blue dress
  

Bethany Jelinek
Maya

Virginia Reed
Grandmother

Alex Smith
Cat

Daniel J. Lee
Unicorn

Luke Harnish
Genie

Lori Laitman
Composer

Dana Gioia
Librettist

newEar Ensemble

Piotr Wiśnewski
Conductor

Nedra Dixon
Director

A man with short brown hair and a gray suit
Steven C. Kemp, Set Designer

Steven C. Kemp
Set Designer

Woman with long curly red hair and a black shirt
Nancy Robinson, Costume Designer

Nancy Robinson
Costume Designer

Selena Gonzalez-Lopez
Lighting Designer

PHOTOS

Check out these exclusive photos from the world premiere at Midwest Trust Center, as well as moments from the community performances.

Bethany Jelinek as Maya, photo by Andrew Schwartz
Virginia Reed as Grandmother, photo by Andrew Schwartz
Bethany Jelinek as Maya and Luke Harnish as Genie, photo by Andrew Schwartz
Alex Smith as Cat, photo by Andrew Schwartz
Daniel J. Lee as Unicorn, photo by Andrew Schwartz
Community performance at Shawnee Mission UU Church, photo by Andrew Schwartz
Community performance at Shawnee Mission UU Church, photo by Andrew Schwartz
Piotr Wiśniewski (Music Director) conducts newEar Chamber Ensemble, photo by Andrew Schwartz
Dana Gioia (Librettist) and Lori Laitman (Composer), photo by Andy Newbegin Photography
Set design by Steven C. Kemp
Set design by Steven C. Kemp
Set design by Steven C. Kemp
Costume design by Nancy Robinson
Costume design by Nancy Robinson
Costume design by Nancy Robinson

Video

Check out this exclusive video content for Maya and the Magic Ring, featuring behind-the-scenes content, interviews with the cast and creative team, and exclusive clips from the opera!

Videography for Maya and the Magic Ring by Andy Newbegin Photography for Lyric Opera of Kansas City

Additional media

Digital Program

Learn more about the cast, creative team, and details of this production of Maya and the Magic Ring by viewing the digital program below.

Reviews and News

See the press and reviews for Maya and the Magic Ring.


2024–2025 SEASON SPONSORS:

With public support from the State of Missouri and the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.

Additional sponsorship for Maya and the Magic Ring:

This project is supported, in part, by the Marion and Henry Bloch Family Foundation.

Additional support is generously provided by J. Scott Francis, the Francis Family Foundation; the Lyric Opera of Kansas City Foundation – Hearst Fund; the R.A. Long Foundation; and the Sherman Family Foundation.


The world premiere production of Maya and the Magic Ring was presented by Lyric Opera of Kansas City from March 27–30, 2025, at the Midwest Trust Center, and touring in the Kansas City community from April 1–12, 2025. For more information about the production, view the digital program guide.