Lyric Opera of Chicago Presents Special Events in Conjunction With the Chicago Premiere of Blue November 16 to December 1, 2024

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents special events 

in conjunction with the premiere of 

Blue

Jeanine Tesori and Tazewell Thompson's Blue, onstage at Lyric Opera of Chicago from November 16 to December 1, tells the powerful story of a Black family facing personal tragedy and systemic injustice. Its emotionally charged score explores themes of race, justice, and family, providing audiences with a reflection on societal struggles.

In conjunction with Blue's Chicago premiere, Lyric Unlimited, Lyric’s Learning & Civic Engagement department, is presenting a series of events that invite the public into spaces of reflection, healing, and dialogue. These experiences — ranging from musical and meditative sessions to thought-provoking discussions — extend beyond the opera performance, creating opportunities for the community to engage with Blue’s themes in new and impactful ways.

"Art has the power to engage and transform," says Sheran Goodspeed Keyton, Director of Civic Engagement at Lyric. "By extending our programming beyond the mainstage production of Blue, we create pathways for deeper connections within the community. Each event serves as a vital space for healing, conversation, and self-exploration, allowing participants to reflect on the opera’s themes while fostering a sense of unity and support among one another."

Of Thee I Sing! Songs of Love and Justice

Lyric Unlimited’s Artist-in-Residence Karen Slack presents Of Thee I Sing! Songs of Love and Justice on Tuesday, November 12 at 7:00 p.m. in the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Grand Foyer. The first in a three-recital series, Slack is joined by pianist Kamilla Arku and visual designer Angela L. Owens. This powerful program, created in response to George Floyd’s murder, features Langston Hughes’s The Kids Who Die and works by H.T. Burleigh, Undine Smith Moore, and others, exploring love and justice. A post-recital discussion with the artists will follow. Tickets are available now at lyricopera.org/Of-Thee-I-Sing.

Tonika Johnson Exhibition: Thoughts on Parenthood, Belonging, and Alternative Spaces

From November 13 to December 1, Lyric presents an exhibition by artist and activist Tonika Johnson, featuring three impactful art projects throughout the Lyric lobby. Thoughts on Parenthood is an interactive arts initiative that collects personal stories from Chicago parents, highlighting their dreams and challenges. Belonging focuses on the experiences of young people of color navigating racial profiling, while Alternative Spaces showcases how Black youth create free spaces to foster community and resilience.

For the opening night event of Blue on Saturday, November 16, audience members can use promo code BLUEVIP for a special $125 ticket. The evening begins with welcome drinks at 4:00 p.m., followed by a walking tour of Johnson’s exhibition hosted by Lyric Unlimited Artist-in-Residence Karen Slack at 4:30 p.m., and a reception presented by Luella’s Southern Kitchen and specialty desserts provided by Brown Sugar Bakery at 5:00 p.m. The program also includes the Shades of Blue pre-opera talk featuring Antonio C. Cuyler and Dr. Naomi André at 6:00 p.m., leading into the Chicago premiere of Blue at 7:30 p.m. In addition to the opening night, the exhibit will be open to the public from noon to 2 p.m. on November 13, 19, 20 and 26.

The RESET with Davin Youngs

On Friday, November 15, Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Music That Heals series kicks off with The RESET, a transformative sound healing experience led by artist Davin Youngs. Part of a series designed to calm, restore, and heal through the power of music, this immersive event combines improvisational singing, electronic beats, and sound healing instruments to create a unique space for relaxation and rejuvenation.

The RESET offers participants a chance to carve out their own healing spaces, serving as a counterbalance to the pain and family trauma portrayed in Blue. This restorative experience is designed not only for those attending the opera, but also for the broader community, creating a sacred environment for reflection. Tickets are $20.

Blue Opera Insights: A Deeper Look at Race and Justice

On November 18, Lyric Unlimited’s Scholar-in-Residence Dr. Antonio C. Cuyler moderates an important panel discussion on Blue at the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center, as part of Lyric’s ongoing Opera Insights series. Featuring leading voices on police violence and accountability—including Yohance Lacour, Maira Khwaja, and Jamie Kalven from the Invisible Institute, and Olivia Obineme of Public Narrative — the discussion will delve into the painful realities at the heart of Blue and the ongoing fight for justice. This free event, followed by a talkback with Blue's principal artists, requires advance registration.

Gen Z in Action: Art, Activism, Advocacy and Advancement

On Saturday, November 23, Gen Z in Action: Art, Activism, Advocacy and Advancement will feature emerging Black arts leaders in conversation about the future of the arts, drawing on themes from Blue. Moderated by Lyric’s Anthony Jones, the panel will feature nonprofit leaders Kylie Davis, Empirical Research Fellow at Kellogg School of Management; Ronnie Taylor Jr., Youth Culture Coordinator at Center on Halsted; and Zakiya Collier, STEM Coordinator at the Chicago Urban League. Together, they will explore themes of identity, belonging, and how the arts can address systemic issues. The event will conclude with a discussion curated by Kennedy-King College students and current and retired officials from the Chicago Police Department.

D-Composed Presents D-Compressed

On Sunday, December 1, D-Composed, a Black chamber music collective, will host D-Compressed, a meditative musical experience that complements the closing performance of Blue. Part of Lyric's Music That Heals series, this intimate event blends yoga with chamber music, featuring works by Black classical composers fused with hip-hop, rap, jazz and gospel. Through live performances and guided meditations, D-Compressed invites participants to process the emotional weight of Blue's narrative while engaging with the healing power of music.

Just as Blue delves into a family’s struggle with systemic injustice, D-Compressed provides a safe space for attendees to confront their own emotions, find solace, and connect with their personal stories. This experience detoxifies negative energies, creating room for positive flow, ease, and enlightenment—mirroring the themes of healing and unity that are central to Blue. By fostering a collective moment of reflection, the program highlights the role of art in supporting emotional and communal renewal. Tickets are $20.

Shades of Blue Pre-Opera Talk Series

The Shades of Blue pre-opera talks, presented as in-depth discussions, offer a chance to delve into Blue's key themes before each performance. Led by Lyric Unlimited Scholar-in-Residence, Dr. Antonio C. Cuyler, these talks feature prominent voices from Chicago’s civic and academic communities, drawing connections between the opera’s portrayal of Black family life and contemporary social issues such as violence prevention, incarceration, and systemic injustice. Blue ticket holders are invited to participate in these free discussions, which take place an hour before each performance.

Pre-Opera Talks

Saturday, November 16: An extended 1-hour conversation, beginning at 6:00 p.m., with Dr. Cuyler and Dr. Naomi André, renowned musicologist and author of the seminal book Black Opera: History, Power, Engagement, discussing Blue's themes in the broader context of music and social justice.

Wednesday, November 20: Artist and activist Tonika Johnson will explore Chicago’s social divides and the connections to identity and belonging in Blue.

Friday, November 22: Dr. Franklin Cosey-Gay, director of University of Chicago Medicine’s Violence Recovery Program, will address violence prevention and public health issues as they relate to the family’s challenges in Blue.

Tuesday, November 26: Dr. Cuyler will join representatives from the Illinois Prison Project to discuss incarceration and advocacy, building on conversations started earlier this season around Beethoven’s Fidelio.

Sunday, December 1: Chicago Police Lieutenant Jermaine Harris will join WFMT host LaRob K. Rafael for a discussion on community-based violence prevention and policing, connecting Blue's themes to current reform efforts.

For more information on Blue and all of these related special events, visit lyricopera.org/blue.

About Lyric

Lyric Opera of Chicago is committed to redefining what it means to experience great opera. The company is driven to deliver consistently excellent artistry through innovative, relevant, celebratory programming that engages and energizes new and traditional audiences.

Under the leadership of General Director, President & CEO John Mangum and Music Director Enrique Mazzola, Lyric is dedicated to reflecting, and drawing strength from, the diversity of Chicago. Lyric offers, through innovation, collaboration, and evolving learning opportunities, ever-more exciting, accessible, and thought-provoking audience and community experiences. We also stand committed to training the artists of the future, through The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center; and to becoming increasingly diverse across our audiences, staff, programming, and artists — magnifying the welcoming pull of our art form, our company, and our city.

Through the timeless power of voice, the splendor of a great orchestra and chorus, theater, dance, design, and truly magnificent stagecraft, Lyric is devoted to immersing audiences in worlds both familiar and unexpected, creating shared experiences that resonate long after the curtain comes down.

Join us @LyricOpera on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Threads and Facebook. #LongLivePassion

For more information, visit lyricopera.org.

THEO UBIQUE CABARET THEATER Presents THE SECRET GARDEN November 8-December 22, 2024

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

THE ENCHANTING WORLD OF 

THE SECRET GARDEN 

SET TO BLOOM AT THEO UBIQUE CABARET THEATER THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre announces the company for the Tony and Drama-Desk winning musical coming to the Howard Street Theatre 

November 8-December 22, 2024.

The award-winning Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre announced the cast and creative team of the enchanting classic, The Secret Garden, based on the beloved novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett and reimagined by composer Lucy Simon and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, Marsha Norman. Directed by the company’s own Producing Director, Christopher Pazdernik (any), this timeless story of hope, healing, and the transformative power of nature will captivate audiences November 8 through December 22, 2024 at Theo’s intimate cabaret venue located at 721 Howard Street in Evanston.

The Secret Garden tells the story of Mary Lennox, a young orphan sent to live with her reclusive uncle in a grand, mysterious manor. As she uncovers the mysteries and haunting secrets of the house, Mary discovers a hidden, overgrown garden that has been locked away for years. With the help of new friends, she brings the garden back to life, awakening not only the once-forgotten beauty of nature but also the broken spirits of those around her. With unforgettable songs such as "Lily's Eyes," "Come to My Garden," and "Hold On," The Secret Garden offers a timeless story worth discovering – or rediscovering—for audiences of all ages.

"The Secret Garden is a beautiful story of hope and healing which I know will be all the more poignant in our intimate space,” says Pazdernik. “I have loved this score my whole life, with music by Lucy Simon— Carly Simon's sister!—and a libretto by Pulitzer Prize-winner Marsha Norman, I am excited to bring it to our audiences with the first Chicago production in nearly a decade! It's the perfect show for the whole family to experience together over the holiday season."

Joining Pazdernik leading the creative team is Music Director Carolyn Brady (she/they), Associate Director and Choreographer Nich O’Neil (they/them), and Assistant Music Director Nathan Urdangen (he/him). Bringing the garden to life artistically is Scenic Designer Rose Johnson (they/them), Lighting Designer Levi Wilkins (he/him), Costume Designer Lucy Elkin (she/her), Properties Designer Ellen Markus (she/her), and Sound Designer and Director of Production Matthew Chase (he/him). Justin Duggan (he/him) joins the company as Dialect Coach with Maliha Sayed (she/her) as Cultural Consultant.

Onstage, Theo welcomes the performance debuts of Joryhebel Ginorio (she/her) as Mary Lennox, Jeffrey Charles (he/him) as Dr. Neville Craven, Kailey Azure Green (they/them) as Colin Craven, Dakota Hughes (they/them) as Martha Sowerby, Lincoln J. Skoien (any) as Dickon Sowerby, Kathleen Puls 

Andrade (she/her) as Mrs. Medlock, Bill Chamberlain (he/him) as Ben Weatherstaff, Brennan Martinez (she/her) as Lily Craven, Nicholas Ian (any) as Captain Albert Lennox, and Rachel Guth (she/her) as Rose Lennox. Returning to Theo is Will Koski (he/him, Assassins) as Lord Archibald Craven, Maliha Sayed (she/her, Sondheim Tribute Revue) as Ayah/understudy Lily and Rose, Kate McQuillan (she/her, Never Better) as a Pit Singer and understudy for Colin and Mary, and both Mizha Lee Overn (she/her, A Little Night Music) and Evan Morales (he/him, Assassins) as Pit Singers and understudies, respectively.

The Technical Staff includes Stage Manager Kendra Luedke (she/her), Assistant Stage Manager and Camille Foss (they/she/any), Scenic Charge Rose Johnson (they/them), Technical Director Emmanuel Jimenez (he/him) and Production Electrician Jackson Mikkelsen (he/him).

The sweeping score will also feature Kim Lawson (she/her) on violin, and Ben Heppner (he/they) on drums.

Performances of The Secret Garden take place Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30pm, and Sundays at 6:00pm November 8-December 22, 2024. There will be no performance on November 28. Single tickets are available and range from $30 to $60. Subscription packages are available featuring 3-pack options for the remaining shows this season. All tickets and subscriptions can be purchased online at www.theo-u.com or via phone at 773-939-4101. Box office hours are Wednesday-Sunday 12 p.m.-5 p.m. The company will discontinue its pre-show dinner offerings, but the cash bar will remain open during all performances, with the addition of a light bites menu from Evanston restaurant partners Peckish Pig, Ward Eight, and Estación.

The Secret Garden is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals. Production sponsored, in part, by Jim & Sue Campbell DeLapp.

Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council. This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

The Secret Garden

November 8-December 22, 2024

Previews: November 8-15, 2024 (Fridays-Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sundays at 6:00pm)

Regular Run: November 21 -December 22, 2024 (Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sundays at 6:00pm) No performance November 28, 2024.

ABOUT THEO UBIQUE CABARET THEATRE

Theo was founded in 1997 by Artistic Director Fred Anzevino. Productions were first staged at the Heartland Studio Theatre, and from 2004 to May 2018, at No Exit Café, where the company began focusing on musicals and revues, reigniting the cabaret theatre trend in Chicago. The company moved to the Howard Street Theatre, a venue owned and developed for Theo by the City of Evanston, in fall of 2018. Theo has produced more than 60 shows and won 68 Jeff Awards, having received nearly 200 nominations. Learn more at www.theo-u.com

Kokandy Productions Concludes 2024 Season with INTO THE WOODS October 10 – December 22, 2024 at The Chopin Theatre

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar 

Kokandy Productions Concludes 2024 Season with

INTO THE WOODS

Book by James Lapine

Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim

Directed and Choreographed by Derek Van Barham

Music Direction by Nick Sula 

October 10 – December 22, 2024 at The Chopin Theatre

Pictured: (left to right) Evelyn Ryan (piano), Kevin Webb, Sonia Goldberg and Stephanie Stockstill

in Kokandy Productions’ revival of Into The Woods. Photo by Evan Hanover.

Kokandy Productions is pleased to conclude its 2024 season with an immersive production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s classic Into The Woods, the first Chicago storefront production of the beloved musical in over a decade. Directed and choreographed by Producing Artistic Director Derek Van Barham with music direction by Nick Sula, Into The Woods will play October 10 – December 22, 2024 at The Chopin Studio Theatre, 1543 W. Division St. in Chicago. Tickets are now on sale at kokandyproductions.com. 

Journeying Into The Woods are Kevin Webb and Sonia Goldberg as The Baker and The Baker’s Wife, Stephanie Stockstill as The Witch, Madison Kauffman as Cinderella, Kevin Parra as Jack and Anna Seibert as Little Red. Pulling double (or more) duty are August Forman as Narrator/Mysterious Man, Shea Hopkins as Cinderella’s Prince/Wolf, Jonathan Allsop as Rapunzel’s Prince/Steward, Ismael Garcia as Rapunzel/Florinda, Britain Gebhardt as Jack’s Mother/Lucinda and Emily Goldberg as Cinderella’s Stepmother/Mother. The company of players is completed by swings Gabby Koziol, Jackson Mikkelsen, Halli Morgan, Michael Penick, Julie Peterson, Elizabeth Rentfro and Evan B Smith.

Escape into a fantastical fairytale adventure where wishes come true, but not always for free. A trove of storybook characters’ paths intertwine as they chase their deepest desires through an enchanted forest. However, once they receive their happily ever after, the unintended consequences of granted wishes unravel their worlds.

Weaving a euphoric score including the songs “Giants in the Sky,” “On the Steps of the Palace,” “No One Is Alone” and “Children Will Listen” with a darkly humorous book, Into the Woods is a sophisticated musical twist on beloved childhood fables.

“What will we find when we wander into these woods?” asks director and choreographer Derek Van Barham. “A company of players, a beloved musical and a little magic. Our hope is that by re-orchestrating for 2 pianos and a cast of 12 (half of them doubling) we can focus on the intimate and immersive nature of the show, capturing the desperate need to be seen, to be remembered and to gather together to share (and receive) a good story.”

Music Director Nick Sula adds, “Many of the characters in this musical are introduced in pairs - The Baker and The Baker's Wife, Jack and Little Red, the two Stepsisters, the two Princes - so it felt natural to include the music, the musicians and the instruments themselves as a mirror of that. Our team of three pianist/orchestrators collaborated to create a unique sound with a two-piano, four-(or more!)-hand approach that features a duo of acoustic grand pianos. We are delighted to share the full depth and breadth of Stephen Sondheim's music with our audiences in this hauntingly majestic and intimate re-imagination.” 

The production team includes G “Max” Maxin IV, (Scenic Design and Lighting Design), Rachel Sypniewski (Costume Design), Matt Reich (Sound Design), Mike Patrick (Sound Consultant), Jakob Abderhalden (Properties Design), Chels Morgan (Intimacy Choreographer), Syd Genco (Makeup Design), Keith Ryan (Wig Design), Ariana Miles and Evelyn Ryan (Orchestrators), Nicholas Reinhart (Production Manager), Shane Roberie (Casting Associate), Lynsy Folckomer (Sound Engineer), Ryan Stajmiger (Assistant Director), Kendyl Meyer (Stage Manager), Ethan Colish (Assistant Stage Manager).

PRODUCTION DETAILS:

Cast (in alphabetical order): Jonathan Allsop (Rapunzel’s Prince/Steward), August Forman (Narrator/Mysterious Man), Ismael Garcia (Rapunzel/Florinda), Britain Gebhardt (Jack’s Mother/Lucinda), Emily Goldberg (Cinderella’s Stepmother/Mother), Sonia Goldberg (The Baker’s Wife), Shea Hopkins (Cinderella’s Prince/Wolf), Madison Kauffman (Cinderella), Kevin Parra (Jack), Anna Seibert (Little Red), Stephanie Stockstill (The Witch) and Kevin Webb (The Baker).

Swings: Gabby Koziol, Jackson Mikkelsen, Halli Morgan, Michael Penick, Julie Peterson, Elizabeth Rentfro and Evan B Smith. 

Musicians: Ariana Miles (piano) and Evelyn Ryan (piano).

Location: The Chopin Studio Theatre, 1543 W. Division St., Chicago

Dates: Previews: Thursday, October 10 at 7 pm, Friday, October 11 at 7 pm, Saturday, October 12 at 7 pm, Sunday, October 13 at 5 pm, Monday, October 14 at 7 pm, Sunday, October 20 at 5 pm, Monday, October 21 at 7 pm, Thursday, October 24 at 7 pm and Friday, October 25 at 7 pm

Press performance: Saturday, October 26 at 7 pm

Regular run: Sunday, October 27 – Sunday, December 22, 2024

Curtain Times: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7 pm; Sundays at 5 pm. Please note: there will be added performances on Wednesday, November 27 at 7 pm and Monday, December 9 at 7 pm; there will not be a performance on Thursday, November 28 (Thanksgiving).

Tickets: Previews $25 (with code PREVIEW). Regular run $45 general admission, $55 reserved seating. Students/Seniors $35. There will be a limited number of $15 tickets (with code ARTIST) available to artists for each performance. Tickets are on sale now at kokandyproductions.com.

 

About the Artists

Derek Van Barham (Director/Choreographer, he/him) is the Producing Artistic Director of Kokandy Productions. Directing credits include Children of Eden in Concert (Broadway In Chicago), Spring Awakening (Flint Rep); Sweeney Todd, American Psycho and Head Over Heels (Jeff Awards and Jeff nomination, Kokandy); The View Upstairs (Circle Theatre); Miracle by Dan Savage, Poseidon (Hell in a Handbag). Choreography credits include Evil Dead (Jeff nomination), Coraline the Musical, Ghost Quartet, Shockheaded Peter and Coraline the Musical (Black Button Eyes). He was previously named one of Windy City Times’ 30 Under 30, and one of Newcity Magazine’s 50 Players 2024. MFA: CCPA/Roosevelt University. derekvanbarham.com | IG @dvbarham

Nick Sula (Music Director and Orchestrations, he/him) is an award-winning pianist, arranger and music director. Music Direction credits include the Jeff Award-winning production of Sweeney Todd with Kokandy Productions, for which he earned the Jeff Award for Outstanding Music Direction; Anything Goes with Porchlight Music Theatre [Jeff nomination]; Ghost Quartet [Jeff nomination], Nevermore, Amour, Coraline (Black Button Eyes Productions); Myths & Hymns, The Glorious Ones [Jeff nomination], Pippin (BoHo Theatre); His & His, Boys in Briefs, Broadway at the Broadway (Pride Films and Plays); Merrily We Roll Along, Head Over Heels, The Pajama Game, The Pirates of Penzance (CCPA). Nick can be heard performing with vocalists at theaters and cabaret venues around Chicagoland such as Davenport’s Piano Bar and Skokie Theater. As a professor of musical theatre he serves as a music director, instructor and vocal coach at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University.

About Kokandy Productions

Founded in 2010, Kokandy Productions seeks to leverage the heightened reality of musical theatre to tell complex and challenging stories, with a focus on contributing to the development of Chicago-based musical theatre artists, and raising the profile of Chicago's non-Equity musical theatre community.

The company's artistic staff is comprised of Derek Van Barham (Producing Artistic Director), Scot T. Kokandy (Executive Producer) and Adrian Abel Azevedo & Leda Hoffman (Artistic Associates). The Board of Directors includes Preston Cropp, Scot T. Kokandy, Danielle Sparklin and Katie Svaicer. 

For additional information, visit kokandyproductions.com.