An American Dream

March 15. 2019 - March 17. 2019

Upcoming Dates

March 15. 2019 - March 17. 2019

Lyric Premiere & New Production An American Dream

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Treasured possessions become symbols of home in this contemporary opera inspired by true stories from American history.

Set during World War II, this opera explores the lives of two women: a Japanese American forced to leave her home, and a German-Jewish immigrant preoccupied by those she left behind. In its Seattle Opera world premiere, it was called “a heart-wrenching opera… eloquent and moving” by The Seattle Times. Join us for the Lyric premiere of a contemporary American chamber opera.

A free, pre-opera talk will begin one hour before curtain, and the audience is invited to a post-performance discussion. Attendees will also have the opportunity to view images on loan from the Alphawood Foundation from the 2017 exhibition Then They Came for Me: Incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II. Images will be on display in the lobby spaces for performances. 

  • Language: Sung in English with projected English text
  • Location: Harris Theater, 205 E Randolph Street, Chicago

An American Dream

Music by Jack Perla
Libretto by Jessica Murphy Moo

Music for An American Dream is generously provided by Seattle Opera.

Boxes

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Every Home Hides a Secret

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Don't you Recognize me

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Synopsis

Program book

Go inside this production of An American Dream with engaging articles, notes from the director, a complete plot synopsis, artist bios, and more.

View Digital Program Book

Meet The Artists

* Lyric Opera debut
** Ryan Opera Center alumna
*** Current Member, Ryan Opera Center

Public events

In conjunction with the upcoming performances of An American Dream, Lyric Unlimited is proud to partner with University of Chicago's School of Social Service Administration and the Japanese American Service Committee to bring you free, public events created to offer you the opportunity to join conversations around topics brought up in An American Dream.

Monday, March 4, 2019

Un/Settled: A Panel Discussion

Un/Settled: A Panel Discussion

6:30-8pm
FREE
University of Chicago's School of Social Service Administration
969 E. 60th St., Chicago, IL 60637

Saturday, March 9, 2019

Reminders of Home: An Interactive Storytelling Workshop

Reminders of Home: An Interactive Storytelling Workshop

1-3pm
FREE
Lyric Opera of Chicago, 40 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL, in Room 550
Enter at stagedoor, near the corner of Washington and Wacker Drive 

At the performance

At the performance

In addition to the opera and these free events, ticket holders can also enjoy a free pre-show talk about the opera and a post-show discussion at both performances. Attendees will also have the opportunity to view images on loan from the Alphawood Foundation from the 2017 exhibition Then They Came for Me: Incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II. Images will be on display in the lobby spaces for performances.

Lyric Unlimited premiere of Perla’s An American Dream generously made possible by

Lead sponsor

Cosponsors

Lester S. Abelson Foundation/ Katherine A. Abelson

Nix Lauridsen and Virginia Croskery Lauridsen

Lauter McDougal Charitable Fund

Seymour H. Persky Charitable Trust

Mary Stowell

Eric and Deb Hirschfield

Mary Patricia Gannon

Kenneth R. Norgan

With additional support from the Eisen Family Foundation and James R. Grimes.

Photo: Todd Rosenberg