Guild Board in
the Opera House
What does it feel like to stand onstage at Lyric Opera?
Or get “up close and personal” with your favorite
costume? Since 1956, the opera-loving and highly-
networked professionals of the
Guild Board of
directors
have provided onstage and backstage
access to the public via the ever-popular
Backstage Tours
program. And there’s more! The Guild Board also hosts an
annual “opera unplugged” party –
Fantasy of the Opera
Gala
–
providing a place for everyone to get creative!
Backstage Tours
“
Why didn’t I
do this before?”
That’s the question that Mary
Ellen Hennessy (pictured),
longtime subscriber and donor,
asked herself as she stood at the
podium in the orchestra pit in
late February. “After all these
years, I finally took a backstage
tour. The magic, the mystery,
and the amazing complexity
of Lyric productions were all
revealed – and my favorite stop
by far was the orchestra pit!”
viva mariachi!
Lyric’s deep commitment
to reaching further into the
community rose to new
heights through the Chicago
premiere of the world’s first
mariachi opera, Cruzar la
Cara de la Luna/To Cross the
Face of the Moon. Sold out
weeks in advance, the April
7
show featured the world-
famous Mariachi Vargas and
the original cast. The award-
winning Mariachi Aztlán
from the University of Texas
Pan-American took the show
on the road with sold-out
performances at Benito
Juaréz Community Academy
in Pilsen and the Genesee
Theatre in Waukegan.
expanding initiatives
In addition to onstage
activities, other new
partnerships evolved,
including a food drive with
the Greater Chicago Food
Depository and an encore
presentation of the Opera
in the Neighborhoods
production of The Magic Flute
at the new Lurie Children’s
Hospital. Well-established
programs such as Student
Matinees and OperaKids
thrived, serving more than
10,000
children and teachers,
and Renée Fleming joined
forces with Yo-Yo Ma and
Damien Woetzel to launch a
new arts-education initiative
for all Chicago Public
Schools students.
Popcorn & PasQUaLE
In early December
Popcorn
&
Pasquale
–
Lyric’s first
family program – played to
a sold-out house. Children,
parents, and grandparents
enjoyed an abbreviated
version of Donizetti’s Don
Pasquale that gave kids a
lighthearted introduction
to the world of grand
opera. The rapt attention
of the young audience, and
their sustained ovations, gave
every indication that this
type of family programwill
become an annual offering!
Unlimited Realities
Lyric Unlimited
,
a new division of the company comprising educational
and community-engagement activities and new community events, debuted in the
2012-13
season. With leadership from its new director, Cayenne Harris, and a new
Board committee led by Eric S. Smith of JPMorgan Chase, innovative programs and
relevant partnerships are off to a roaring start.
Come for the comedy,
improv, and arias throughout
the month of June! Visit
lyricopera.org/secondcity or
call
(312) 332-2244
for tickets.
the Second City comes to lyric
Also under the Lyric Unlimited banner was the
hilarious and wildly successful
The Second
City Guide to the Opera
.
The sold-out January
performance was so successful that the orchestra
pit had to be covered to allow for additional
seating. Approximately 3,700 guests attended.
The opera-meets-improv comedy mash-up
evolved after a visit to The Second City by creative
consultant Renée Fleming. The final product
was a fully staged production cohosted by Renée
and actor Patrick Stewart, featuring members
of the Ryan Opera Center and The Second
City ensemble. In June Lyric will showcase the
evolution of this fabulous project.
The Second
City Guide to the Opera
will feature cabaret-
style seating right on the stage of the Civic Opera
House, five nights a week, May 31 – June 30.
Lyric Unlimited exceeded alL expectations during
its inaugural year. Watch for many more creative
projects and partnerships in the seasons ahead.
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