November 02. 2019 - November 22. 2019

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November 02. 2019 - November 22. 2019

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Lyric Premiere & New-to-Chicago Production Dead Man Walking

A young couple is brutally killed, and the convicted murderer, Joseph De Rocher, sits on death row. Sister Helen Prejean agrees to be his spiritual adviser. As she meets his family, and the families of his victims, she begins questioning every attitude she has about how human beings treat each other. Based on real-life events, Jake Heggie’s music and Terrence McNally’s libretto explore the nature of friendship and forgiveness in the most profound ways. Hugely acclaimed in major houses internationally, Dead Man Walking is widely acknowledged as one of the most riveting operas of the 21st century. It simply demands to be seen.

Language: Sung in English with projected English text
Running Time: 2 hours, 55 minutes with 1 intermission
Location: Lyric Opera House

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Must-see Lyric Opera production.”

Chicago Sun-Times

Jake Heggie’s evocative score and Terrence McNally’s illuminating libretto take us deep into a tragic story in ways that neither a book nor a film can.”

Chicago Tribune

we aren’t simply witnessing what they’re [McKinny and Racette] experiencing – we’re feeling it and living it, through music.”

Chicago Tribune

Lyric’s ‘Dead Man Walking’ is a gut-wrenching, thought-provoking reminder of the best that opera can be.”

Chicagoland Musical Theatre

This gut-punching production, directed by Leonard Foglia, is not to be missed.”

Chicago Reader

It's unflinching with its life-or-death dramatic stakes, while also being open-hearted enough to earnestly share universal emotional truths.”

Windy City Times

The silence, the phenomenal silence in that huge opera house, spoke loudly about the music-drama unfolding onstage.”

Chicago on the Aisle

This show is a testament to the power of operatic storytelling.”

Schmopera

Dead Man Walking videos

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See what critics are saying about Dead Man Walking

A young couple is brutally killed, and the convicted murderer, Joseph De Rocher, sits on death row. Sister Helen Prejean agrees to be his spiritual adviser. As she meets his family, and the families of his victims, she begins questioning every attitude she has about how human beings treat each other. Based on real-life events, Jake Heggie’s music and Terrence McNally’s libretto explore the nature of friendship and forgiveness in the most profound ways. Hugely acclaimed in major houses internationally, Dead Man Walking is widely acknowledged as one of the most riveting operas of the 21st century. It simply demands to be seen.

Dead Man Walking Panel Discussion

Hear from Author/Activist Sister Helen Prejean and Composer Jake Heggie as they discuss the importance of Lyric's upcoming production of Dead Man Walking.

Heggie & McNally's Dead Man Walking

Ryan McKinny on finding the humanity in Dead Man Walking

Hear from baritone Ryan McKinny as he talks about how he finds the humanity in this seemingly unredeemable character.

An Invitation from Susan Graham to experience Dead Man Walking

Patter Up! 60 seconds with Susan Graham

Mezzo-soprano Susan Graham, who is Mrs. De Roche in Dead Man Walking, talks first jobs, Early bird vs night owl, and what her karoke jam is.

Composer Jake Heggie on the Musical Influences in Dead Man Walking

Hear from Dead Man Walking composer Jake Heggie on how he approached the music for this incredible story and how audiences will be able to relate.

Heggie & McNally's Dead Man Walking

Dead Man Walking

By Jake Heggie & Terrence McNally

The music featured is generously furnished by Warner Classics.

"He will gather us around"

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"This journey"

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"God's love and forgiveness"

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Dead Man Walking

By Jake Heggie & Terrence McNall

Lyric Opera Commentaries are sponsored by the Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Foundation in memory of their parents.

© 2019/20 Lyric Opera Commentaries. All rights reserved.
The music featured is generously furnished by Warner Classics.
A project of the Women’s Board.

Commentary by Wynne Delacoma

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Dead Man Walking articles

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The journey of Dead Man Walking

When Terrence McNally and Jake Heggie first met in 1996 to discuss a possible opera collaboration, it was a comedy that the producer had in mind. Something light and celebratory for the millennium.

Sister Helen Prejean on Dead Man Walking

It's been nearly two decades since the powerful story of the Louisiana nun who became spiritual adviser to a condemned man first premiered on the opera stage. First a New York Times best-selling book, then an Academy Award-winning film, Dead Man Walking is now the most often-produced opera of our generation. The ongoing emotional resonance of this gripping story is undeniable.

Why Susan Graham Wants You to See Dead Man Walking

Lyric audiences have loved American mezzo-soprano Susan Graham for an astonishing three decades. Now Susan wants you to experience the Lyric premiere of Dead Man Walking, which has been incredibly close to her heart since she created the role of Sister Helen Prejean nearly 20 years ago.

Dead Man Walking: A Surprisingly Traditional Modern Opera

For an opera that premiered at the start of the new millennium, Dead Man Walking is surprisingly traditional in many ways. That should be encouraging news to anyone who's wary of contemporary opera.

Synopsis

Time early 1980s | Place Louisiana

Joseph De Rocher is on death row at Angola State Penitentiary in Louisiana, awaiting execution for rape and murder. He begins corresponding with Sister Helen Prejean. This central relationship of the opera presents two people from radically different backgrounds and life experiences,who connect with each other through the most horrifying circumstances: a nun devoted to community service and a criminal raised in poverty, living as if in a descending spiral that has led him to catastrophe.

Everything about Joseph’s crime horrifies Sister Helen, and yet she’s drawn to the human being writing the letters. A bold, determined woman who never in her life has heeded the warning “Be careful,” she sees in his letters someone truly reaching out in need. When she finally meets him face to face and becomes his spiritual adviser, she discovers a 29-year-old man full of spirit and asserting his innocence, yet at the same time overwhelmed and frightened.

Meeting Joseph’s family – especially his simple, loving, uncomprehending mother – draws Sister Helen more deeply into his situation. She advocates for him to be spared, even when confronted by the parents of the dead couple, who castigate her for seemingly ignoring their suffering.

As the date for Joseph’s execution draws near, Sister Helen experiences her own desperate crisis of faith as she’s pursued by dreams of Joseph and the couple he killed. She is motivated by a desire to make him understand that he is a child of God and will be forgiven. He remains defiant, even belligerent, and in denial of his crime. As he becomes increasingly terrified by what’s to come, he confronts Sister Helen’s continuing exhortation: “The truth will set you free.”

Program book

Go inside this production of Dead Man Walking with engaging articles, notes from the director, a complete plot synopsis, artist bios, and more.

VIEW DIGITAL PROGRAM BOOK

Meet the artists

Patricia Racette

Sister Helen Prejean

The celebrated American soprano made her role debut as Sister Helen Prejean/Dead Man Walking (2019|20).

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Susan Graham

Mrs. De Rocher

Renowned American mezzo-soprano Susan Graham has sung nine roles at Lyric Opera since 1989/90.

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Ryan McKinny

Joseph De Rocher

American bass-baritone Ryan McKinny made his Lyric Opera debut as Joseph De Rocher in Dead Man Walking (2019|20).

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Whitney Morrison

Sister Rose

Ryan Opera Center alumna

Whitney Morrison, the soprano, a Chicago native and a Ryan Opera Center alumna, has triumphed in multiple roles at Lyric.

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Clay Hilley

Father Grenville

American tenor Clay Hilley made his Lyric Opera debut as Grenville/Dead Man Walking (2019|20).

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Gordon Hawkins

George Benton

American baritone Gordon Hawkins sung in the Lyric Opera production of Dead Man Walking (2019|20)

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Nicole Paiement

Conductor

Conductor Nicole Paiement made her Lyric Opera debut with Dead Man Walking (2019/20).

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Leonard Foglia

Director

Leonard Foglia directed Dead Man Walking (2019|20) and El Pasado Nunca Se Termina (2014|15) at Lyric Opera.

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Katrina Bachus

Associate Director

Katrina Bachus's Lyric credits include Associate Director/Dead Man Walking and Luisa Miller (2019|20)

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Michael McGarty

Set Designer

Michael McGarty made his Lyric debut as Set Designer/Dead Man Walking (2019|20).

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Jess Goldstein

Costume Designer

Jess Goldstein made his Lyric debut as Costume Designer/Dead Man Walking (2019|20).

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Brian Nason

Lighting Designer

Lighting designer Brian Nason credits include Lyric's production of Dead Man Walking (2019|20).

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Elaine McCarthy

Projection Designer

American designer Elaine J. McCarthy credits include Lyric Opera's Dead Man Walking (2019|20)

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Michael Black

Chorus Master

Michael Black has served Lyric Opera of Chicago since the 2013/14 Season.

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