Opera Dives Deep: Romeo and Juliet from Page to Stage

Sidonie Garrett, Executive Artistic Director of the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, joined Opera Dives Deep on Monday, March 4, 2024, to engage audiences with topics around Roméo et Juliette. Her presentation, Romeo and Juliet from Page to Stage, went behind the scenes to explore how Shakespeare’s classic story gets told on the big stage. … Read more

Opera Dives Deep: Taming the Barbarian

Dr. Felicia Londré, Curators’ Distinguished Professor Emerita of Theatre History at University of Missouri-Kansas City, joined Opera Dives Deep on Monday, February 26, 2024, to engage audiences with topics around Roméo et Juliette. Her presentation, Taming the Barbarian, explored the history of Shakespeare’s acceptance (or lack thereof) in France with particular attention to Romeo and … Read more

LOKC Amplified: March 2024

It’s finally here: the next production of the 2023-2024 season, Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette! 🥳 This opera has it all: sword fights, large dance numbers, enormous choral numbers, spellbinding soprano arias, and moving duets all wrapped in a tremendous score that defines French grand opera. Don’t miss the return of Kansas City’s own Ben Bliss … Read more

Discovering Opera, Poetry, and Humanity

In 2021, we started a series called Community Conversations to explore the “here and now” implications of our mainstage productions and discover our shared humanity, on and off the stage. Every Community Conversation is different and always held in community spaces in collaboration with partner organizations and individuals. In the last year and a half … Read more

LOKC Amplified: February 2024

February is here, and we hope you fared well during the deep freeze 🥶 of January 2024! It may still be winter but Lyric Opera stages will soon be heating up! 🔥 We are just weeks away from opening Roméo et Juliette, 🎊 starring Kansas City’s own Ben Bliss as Roméo, and Andriana Chuchman, making … Read more

Shakespeare, Opera, and Tybalt’s death

A member of my family—my dear Uncle John—is an actor, and he’s done quite a bit of Shakespeare acting in his career. I’ve seen him in King Lear, Twelfth Night, Hamlet, As You Like It, Romeo and Juliet, and The Tempest. I’d say I’ve seen an above-average amount of live Shakespeare, which is why I’m … Read more

LOKC AMPLIFIED: JANUARY 2024

Happy New Year from Lyric Opera of Kansas City! 🎊 We start 2024 with numerous opportunities to engage with opera and our community. Highlights include a silent dinner 🍝 from our friends at Orpheus KC, Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette, 🌟 and our beloved opera written for young people, Sketchbook for Ollie, 📘 goes back on … Read more

Opera Dives Deep: Rodgers and Hammerstein and The Sound of Music

Dr. Paul Laird, Professor of Musicology at The University of Kansas and celebrated author, joined Opera Dives Deep on Monday, October 30, 2023, to engage audiences with topics around The Sound of Music. His presentation, entitled Rodgers and Hammerstein and The Sound of Music, provided an overview of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s collaboration and placed The … Read more

Opera Dives Deep: Notes of Virtue

Kansas City-based pianist, musicologist, educator, and writer Grace Odell joined Opera Dives Deep on Monday, October 23, 2023, to prepare audiences for The Sound of Music. Her presentation, Notes of Virtue, explored the fascinating world of the Trapp Family Singers and the musical they inspired. Attendees engaged in facilitated discussion and were invited to consider … Read more

LOKC Amplified: November 2023

As we say so long, farewell to spooky season and transition into a time for gratitude, the days grow shorter and the sun sets earlier. The air becomes crisper, and it’s the perfect season for breaking out our coziest sweaters and sipping on warm drinks. Just like Maria in The Sound of Music, let’s take … Read more