HELP OUT: Share Your Parenting Stories With Lyric Opera Through February 28 and Be Part of An Interactive Arts Project

Get involved with Thoughts on Parenthood

*As a special thank you for your time, survey participants can enter to win tickets to special Lyric performances and events!* 

Thoughts on Parenthood is an interactive arts project presented by Lyric Opera of Chicago in conjunction with the upcoming Midwest premiere of Blue. With the help of activist and photographer Tonika Johnson, this project will connect with communities across the city of Chicago, gathering personal stories of parents – their greatest wishes, biggest needs, and proudest moments.

Take the survey HERE: lyricopera.org/ChillMama

How does it work? 
Participating in this project is easy!
Parents are invited to take a short survey capturing stories about their experiences. The deadline for the survey process is February 28. 15–20 respondents will be selected to be profiled on Lyric's website with an interview and portrait by artist and activist Tonika Johnson.

Starting in May, the public is invited to visit Lyric's website to view selected profiles of parents from across the city.

As a special thank you for your time, survey participants can enter to win tickets to special Lyric performances and events!

Meet Tonika Johnson
Tonika Johnson is a visual artist/photographer from Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood. As a trained photojournalist and teaching artist, she has been engaged in building an artistic legacy that gained citywide recognition in the last two years.






Coming this June: Blue
Blue
June 19-28, 2020
Sung in English with projected text
Presented at the Yard at Chicago Shakespeare
Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand Ave., Chicago
Tickets start at $35

Lyric Opera of Chicago
20 N. Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
United States

Lyric premiere of Blue is made possible by support from Gene and Jean Stark, Allstate Insurance Company, Baker & McKenzie, BMO Harris Bank, Conagra Brands Foundation, the Eisen Family Foundation, Virginia and Gary Gerst, Eric and Deb Hirschfield, the Lauter McDougal Charitable Fund, Magellan Corporation, Drs. Walter and Anne-Marie Bruyninckx, Debbie K. Wright. 

What does "parent" mean?

For the purposes of this survey, a “parent” is defined as anyone who has taken legal and/or social responsibility for a child. The goal of this project is to include as many unique stories of parenthood as possible. So, if you consider yourself to be a “parent,” please feel free to participate!

Examples of parents include, but are by no means limited to:

Biological parents

Adoptive parents

Step-parents

Foster parents

Caregivers (grandparents, aunts/uncles, family friends, etc.)

Parents who conceived through alternative means (surrogacy, IVF, IUI, etc.)

Parents whose children are adults

Estranged parents or parents separated from their children

For more information, you can also go to www.lyricopera.org/parenthood.  

Lyric Opera of Chicago is conducting a project in conjunction with their upcoming production of a new opera by Tazewell Thompson and Jeanine Tesori, Blue. Thoughts on Parenthood is an interactive arts project examining the unique experience of parenthood. With the help of activist and photographer Tonika Johnson, Lyric will connect with communities across the city of Chicago, gathering personal stories of parents – their greatest wishes, biggest needs, and proudest moments. Share your story and personal experience as a parent by completing this short survey: www.lyricopera.org/ChillMama