Opera... delivered!

Opera in the Neighborhoods brings youth-focused operas to students across the Chicago area and suburbs.

By Janie Ragsdale

“We are delighted to offer students an opportunity to experience opera through Lyric's Opera in the Neighborhoods program,” says Jill LeCesne Potter, Senior Director of Learning Programs for Lyric Unlimited, the company’s learning and civic engagement division. Under the banner of Lyric Unlimited, Opera in the Neighborhoods brings the magic of opera to audiences outside the opera house, presenting live performances of youth-focused operas at venues across the Chicago area. 

After a bit of scaling back during the pandemic, the innovative and popular program returned to full strength last fall with a full-fledged tour of Jason and the Argonauts, an original work composed by Gregory Spears with a libretto by Kathryn Walat. The tour of Jason introduced around 3,000 students to the magic of opera between five school performances and two public performances at Chicago’s Vittum Theatre. 

This fall, Opera in the Neighborhoods presented Frida Kahlo and the Bravest Girl in the World, a youth opera composed by Joe Illick with a libretto by Mark Campbell, and based on the acclaimed picture book by Laurence Anholt, with Spanish translation by Arlene Martínez Vázquez. Frida recounts the real-life friendship between a young girl living in Mexico City and the legendary artist Frida Kahlo. The opera features a vibrant cast of characters, including Frida’s husband Diego Rivera and their beloved pets, all portrayed through engaging song and narrative.

“Operas like Frida Kahlo and the Bravest Girl in the World have the unique ability to inspire and educate by introducing historical figures with cultural significance and stories with relatable themes,” explains Potter. Student audiences delighted in the opportunity to connect to this musical journey about facing your fears, learning new things, and the power of friendship. 

The tour of Frida featured 11 school performances at venues throughout the Chicago area and suburbs, as well as three performances at Chicago performing arts facilities for the public to enjoy. The lineup of public performances included Kennedy-King College, the Merit School of Music, and the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts. 

By bringing opera directly to students, Opera in the Neighborhoods ensures that audiences across a wide range of communities can enjoy and be inspired by live performances. Lyric Unlimited also offers many resources for teachers to bring the arts into the classroom and integrate production themes into their curriculum. 

The longstanding program initially featured abridged, family-friendly versions of classic operas (beginning with Die Fledermaus in 1994). While this content was more familiar to educators and parents, these classic works sometimes didn’t easily connect with contemporary concerns. In response to feedback from the educators and communities the program serves, Opera in the Neighborhoods now features original works commissioned from world-class composers, which explore themes relevant to young audiences. 

New this season, Lyric provided free tickets for all performances, demonstrating its commitment to offering affordable artistic experiences to audiences of all ages. “Our goal,” explains Potter, “is to ensure the arts remain accessible to all and that an appreciation for opera continues through many generations to come.” 

Opera in the Neighborhoods is supported by Lead Sponsor CIBC with major support from the Nancy W. Knowles Student and Family Performances Fund, the Robert and Penelope Steiner Family Foundation, and an Anonymous Donor.