Lyric Opera 2025-2026 Issue 1 - Medea

Lyric Opera of Chicago | 70 From Classroom to Curtain Call “I never tire of watching students walk into the opera house for the first time. Their eyes widen, they pause for photos, they laugh, and they smile,” says Elise LaBarge, Learning Programs Manager for Lyric Unlimited, the company’s learning and creative engagement division. One way Lyric Unlimited shares the magic of opera with young audiences is through the Student Dress Rehearsals program. The program offers free tickets for Lyric dress rehearsals to all students grades 6-12, inviting young people to experience the magic of opera as they watch Lyric’s extraordinary artists prepare for an exciting run during a fully orchestrated and staged performance. These field trips are also an immersive way for students to learn about the art form and see firsthand how opera comes together. From watching the tech table set up during a show, to learning that singers may choose not to use full voice, or the possibility of a start and stop, students have the opportunity to experience all the intricacies of a working professional dress rehearsal. During the 2025/26 Season, middle and high school students (grades 6-12) are invited to experience Così fan tutte, Madama Butterfly , and El último sueño de Frida y Diego . This season’s dress rehearsals for Medea, Cavalleria rusticana & Pagliacc i, and Salome are recommended for high schoolers (grades 9-12), due to their mature content and themes. Attending a dress rehearsal can spark a lifelong love of the performing arts. By Janie Ragsdale Lyric Unlimited’s free Student Dress Rehearsals program brings young audiences to the opera house Kyle Flubacker