In this director' note, director and librettist Tazewell Thompson shares his journey through creating the narrative for Blue.
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Blue
November 16. 2024 - December 01. 2024
Upcoming Dates
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November 16. 2024 - December 01. 2024
Lyric premiere Blue
Blue is destined to become an American classic. Co-produced by Lyric, The Glimmerglass Festival, and Washington National Opera, the opera presents the moving story of a Black middle-class family in Harlem whose hopes and dreams for their teenage son are shattered when he is shot by a white police officer. Tony-winning composer Jeanine Tesori’s magnificently moving music is matched by Tazewell Thompson’s probing, deeply sensitive libretto. The vocally and theatrically formidable bass Kenneth Kellogg (Lyric debut), who scored a triumph in the world premiere and in productions around the world, plays opposite two outstanding American artists – mezzo-soprano Zoie Reams and baritone Norman Garrett – in this anticipated Chicago premiere.
Content advisory: Blue includes profanity, racial slurs, and an off-stage death resulting from police violence. Recommended for mature audiences.
- Language: Sung in English with projected English titles
- Running Time: 2 hours and 30 minutes, including 1 intermission
- Location: Lyric Opera House
Lyric’s presentation of Jeanine Tesori and Tazewell Thompson’s Blue is generously made possible by the Pritzker Traubert Foundation and The Joyce Foundation, with additional support from Conagra Brands Foundation.
Videos
Photos
Kenneth Kellogg as Father and Zoie Reams as Mother.
Photo: Kyle Flubacker
Kenneth Kellogg as Father, Travon D. Walker as Son, and Zoie Reams as Mother.
Photo: Kyle Flubacker
Adia Evans as Girlfriend #2, Zoie Reams as Mother, Krysty Swann as Girlfriend #3, and Ariana Wehr as Girlfriend #1.
Photo: Kyle Flubacker
Christopher Humbert Jr. as Policeman #3, Kenneth Kellogg as Father, Jonathan Pierce Rhodes as Policeman #2, and Terrence Chin-Loy as Policeman #1.
Photo: Kyle Flubacker
Kenneth Kellogg as Father and Norman Garrett as Reverend.
Photo: Kyle Flubacker
Kenneth Kellogg as Father, Zoie Reams as Mother, and the company of Blue.
Photo: Kyle Flubacker
Kenneth Kellogg as Father and Travon D. Walker as Son.
Photo: Kyle Flubacker
Articles
This November, American bass Kenneth Kellogg makes his Lyric debut as the Father in Blue. Read about his journey with the piece — from early workshops to Lyric's main stage — in this interview.
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The 2019 work Blue presents the moving story of a Black middle-class couple in Harlem, whose lives are shattered when their teenage son is shot by a white police officer. Experience its Lyric debut November 16-December 1.
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Events
November 16 - December 1, at Lyric Opera
Tonika Johnson Exhibition
Tonika Johnson Exhibition
Join us for the intersection of art and music during the Chicago premiere of Blue. Lyric presents work from three unique exhibitions by Chicago artist and activist Tonika Johnson at the Lyric Opera House: Thoughts on Parenthood, Belonging, and Alternative Spaces. Johnson’s work explores issues of parenthood, race, and resiliency. The exhibit is open to ticket holders during Lyric performances November 16 - December 1 and open to the public November 13, 19, 20 & 26 from 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.
December 1, 11:00 AM, at Lyric Opera
D-Compressed
D-Compressed
Black chamber music collective string quartet D-Composed will present its music and meditation series, D-Compressed, as part of Lyric Opera’s Music That Heals series. This music & meditation experience creates a space for healing and reflection featuring the music of Black composers. Cherish Hicks of Beyond Wellness will provide meditative affirmations to create healing sound waves throughout the experience.
Pre-opera talks
Shades of Blue
Pre-opera talks for Blue will be presented as Shades of Blue, a series of conversations between Lyric Unlimited Scholar-in-Residence, Dr. Antonio C. Cuyler, and special guests who will explore the themes and complex community issues that this contemporary opera brings to the surface.
The following is the schedule for Blue pre-opera talks:
- November 20, 6:00 PM. 30-minute pre-opera talk between Dr. Cuyler and local artist and activist Tonika Johnson, whose work is on display during Lyric’s production of Blue.
- November 22, 6:00 PM 30-minute pre-opera talk between Dr. Cuyler and Dr. Franklin Cosey-Gay, director of University of Chicago Medicine’s Violence Recovery Program.
- November 26, 5:45 PM 30-minute pre-opera talk between Dr. Cuyler and representatives from the Illinois Prison Project, continuing the conversation started during Fidelio.
- December 1, 1:00 PM 30-minute pre-opera talk between LaRob K. Rafael, 98.7WFMT program host and founder of Hearing in Color, with Lieutenant Jermaine Harris, a current Chicago Police Department officer as well as a grassroots community leader around violence prevention.
Artists
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Zoie Reams
Mother
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Kenneth Kellogg *
Father
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Travon D. Walker ***
Son
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Norman Garrett
Reverend
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Ariana Wehr *
Girlfriend #1/Nurse
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Adia Evans ***
Girlfriend #2
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Krysty Swann
Girlfriend #3
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Terrence Chin-Loy
Policeman #1
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Jonathan Pierce Rhodes *
Policeman #2
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Christopher Humbert, Jr. ***
Policeman #3
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Joseph Young *
Conductor
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Tazewell Thompson *
Director
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Donald Eastman *
Set Designer
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Jessica Jahn
Costume Designer
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Robert Wierzel
Lighting Designer
* Lyric debut
*** Ryan Opera Center Ensemble
Program book
Go inside this production of Blue with engaging articles, notes from the director, a complete plot synopsis, artist bios, and more.
Scenery and Costumes for this production of Blue are co-produced by Lyric Opera of Chicago, Glimmerglass Festival, Washington National Opera.
Header images: Scott Suchman/Washington National Opera, Karli Cadel/The Glimmerglass Festival