The Gershwins®' Porgy and Bess, Lyric Opera of Kansas City 2025-2026 Season by TheIndependentMagazinePA

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A NOTE FROM DEBORAH SANDLER KEMPER

George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess stands as a defining work in the history of American opera. Premiering in 1935, Gershwin fused jazz, blues, spirituals, and popular song with classical operatic form, creating a musical language that was unmistakably American.

Equally central to the opera’s legacy is its capacity to invite reflection on complex and enduring issues. Long celebrated for its musical brilliance, Porgy and Bess has also inspired ongoing dialogue about representation, identity, community, and cultural context. These conversations, when approached with care and intention, deepen the work’s meaning, encouraging audiences to engage not only with its beauty but also with the historical and social forces that inform it.

At Lyric Opera of Kansas City, we have planned a series of programs to explore these many themes. Some of these events have already occurred; however, a few remain. We will partner with Black Archives of Mid-America on March 2, and then from March 15 to April 2, to tour free community performances of Langston Hughes: A Lyrical Life

This fully staged production marks the Lyric Opera of Kansas City premiere of Porgy and Bess, offering a rare opportunity to experience Gershwin’s masterpiece as it was conceived. Its presentation affirms the company’s commitment to engaging great works of the repertoire with both artistic excellence and thoughtful perspective.

Deborah Sandler Kemper, General Director and CEO

BOARD OF TRUSTEES: 2025–2026

OFFICERS

Anthony Durone, President

Richard English, Vice President

Mira Mdivani, Secretary

Mark Benedict, Treasurer

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Dr. Iván Batlle

Scott Blakesley

Richard P. Bruening

Casey Claps

Rita Cortés

Anne Elsberry

Michael D. Fields

Lafayette J. Ford

Christina Hager

Kenneth V. Hager

Mary Leonida

Edward P. Milbank

Thomas E. Nanney

Andrew Robb

Carmen Sabates

Jug Stanovcic

COUNSEL

Wade Kerrigan, Ex-Officio

AUXILIARY MEMBERS

Peggy Beal, Ex-Officio | President, Lyric Opera Circle

Nicole Browne, Ex-Officio | Ball Co-Chair, Lyric Opera Circle

Kimberlee Ried, Ex-Officio | Ball Co-Chair, Lyric Opera Circle

Photo © Karli Cadel

THE PATH TO ELEGANCE STARTS WITH US.

NUMEROUS MODELS | ENDLESS OPTIONS ONE UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE

RESIDENT ARTIST PROGRAM

Resident Artists are chosen by national audition. The program bridges graduate training to professional careers by providing performance opportunities, coaching, and career training.

MIKAYLA LYNN HATFIELD (Soprano)

Soprano MiKayla Lynn Hatfield is a rising artist currently pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts at Shenandoah Conservatory, studying with Nancy Gustafson. Praised for her expressive stage presence and vocal warmth, Hatfield has recently appeared as Alice Ford in Falstaff, Lidochka in Moscow, Cheryomushki, Eugénie in Germaine Tailleferre’s La pauvre Eugénie, and the title role in Suor Angelica. In 2022, she was selected to attend the renowned American Institute of Musical Studies (AIMS) in Graz, Austria. The following year, she was awarded the $20,000 Stephen Feinberg Scholarship by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. In 2023, she took first place in Division II of the Shenandoah Conservatory Student Soloist Competition. Most recently, she toured Spain and Portugal with Shenandoah Opera, performing the role of Galatea in Handel’s Acis and Galatea.

CHRISTINA GROHOWSKI (Mezzo-Soprano)

Mezzo-soprano Christina Grohowski holds a Master of Music in Voice and Opera from the Yale School of Music, where she studied with Adriana Zabala. She recently appeared as Clarina in La cambiale di matrimonio, Martha in Iolanta, and Mother Goose in The Rake’s Progress with Yale Opera. In summer 2024, she made her Santa Fe Opera debut as an Apprentice Singer, performing as Noble Orphan 3 in Der Rosenkavalier and in ensembles for L’elisir d’amore and The Righteous. She also covered the role of Flora in La traviata. Other recent performances include Yale Opera’s fall scenes program, in which she appeared as Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro, Alisa in Lucia di Lammermoor, and in Yale Opera on Broadway.

DAVID PELINO (Tenor)

Haitian American performer David Pelino, described as having a “powerful tenor” (South Florida Classical Review), is equally at home on the concert stage, in opera, in recital, and with professional ensembles. On stage, he recently made his role debuts as Wesley Harris in the Kentucky premiere of Paul Moravec’s Sanctuary Road, and as Sam in Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah. In summer of 2025, Pelino participated in the Bay View Music Festival, performing the roles of Booker T. Washington in Ragtime and Don José in Carmen. In concert, his versatile instrument has made him a featured soloist in major works such as Joseph Haydn’s The Creation, Handel’s Messiah, Théodore Dubois’s The Seven Last Words of Christ, Adolphus Hailstork’s I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes, and as the Evangelist in J. S. Bach’s St. John Passion

ALEX SMITH (Baritone)

Baritone Alex Smith is in his second year as the Resident Artist Baritone at Lyric Opera of Kansas City. In the 2024–2025 Lyric Opera season, he performed Fiorello in The Barber of Seville and Ping in Turandot, and study-covered Figaro in The Barber of Seville. In 2023, Smith was a Young Artist at The Glimmerglass Festival, performing in the ensembles of La bohème and Roméo et Juliette. Other recent roles include the Musiklehrer in Ariadne auf Naxos, Junius in The Rape of Lucretia, Raimbaud in Le Comte

The Rake’s Progress, and Marco in Gianni Schicchi

Sponsored, in part, by Ms. Connie Walker

Photo © Andrew Schwartz

Best Historic Small Town by USA TODAY (2025)

Top 10 True Western Town of the Year by True West Magazine (2025)

Best Presidential Attraction by Newsweek (2025)

APPRENTICE ARTIST PROGRAM

Lyric Opera’s Apprentice Artist Program gives university vocal students the opportunity to gain valuable experience and training on their way to becoming professional opera singers. Throughout the season, our Apprentice Artists gain practical career experience working alongside the industry’s most notable singers, conductors, and directors.

PAYTON BOLDT (Soprano)

Soprano Payton Boldt holds a Master of Music from the University of Missouri–Kansas City and is pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts in Voice at the same institution, studying with Dr. Maria Kanyova. Boldt has performed extensively in the United States and Italy, with roles including Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro, Zerlina in Don Giovanni, Pamina and Erste Dame in Die Zauberflöte, Adele in Die Fledermaus, Adina in L’elisir d’amore, Cinderella in Into the Woods, and Laurette in Le docteur Miracle

MADELINE FRIESEN (Mezzo-Soprano)

Mezzo-soprano Madeline Friesen is in her second year as the Apprentice Artist Mezzo-Soprano at Lyric Opera of Kansas City. During the 2024–2025 season, she performed as the Clear String in The Haberdasher Prince and appeared in the ensemble of Turandot. Other recent roles include Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro, Le Prince Charmant in Massenet’s Cendrillon, Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods, and Olga in The MerryWidow. A native of Olathe, Kansas, Friesen earned her Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from the University of North Texas and is currently pursuing her Master of Music at the University of Missouri–Kansas City Conservatory, where she studies with Dr. Aidan Soder.

SAMUEL ENRIQUEZ (Baritone)

Samuel Enriquez is a baritone from Houston, TX, who recently completed his Master of Music in Voice at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory, studying with Dr. Raymond Feener. He recently performed roles such as Father in Hänsel und Gretel, Senator Potter in Fellow Travelers, Papageno in Die Zauberflöte, Belcore in L’elisir d’amore, Figaro in Le nozze di Figaro, the Baker in Into the Woods, and Moralès in Carmen

LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

FOR ADULTS

Our community engagement programs invite audiences to connect more deeply with the stories we tell on stage—through conversation, context, and shared experiences. Regular offerings include:

Community Conversations

This event series uses opera to discover our shared humanity, on and off the stage. We invite the culturally curious to explore the “here and now” implications of productions in a series of events featuring live music and stimulating conversation. No prior opera knowledge necessary!

Opera Dives Deep

This free series provides audiences with fresh insights from regional scholars and industry professionals to enrich appreciation and understanding of the operas in our season. Both established operagoers and curious newcomers alike are sure to make discoveries.

Opera Book Club

Discover more about the operas in our season through relevant books and discussions. Members enjoy exclusive behind-the-scenes opportunities, enhancing understanding of every production.

Pre-Opera Talks

Do you have tickets to see an opera at the Kauffman Center? Come fifty minutes early to learn about the who, what, where, when, and why of the production you’re about to see.

FOR SCHOOLS

Our K–12 education programs invite students and teachers to engage with opera in classrooms and community spaces. 2025–2026 offerings include:

• The Haberdasher Prince—a touring opera for elementary schools

• Langston Hughes: A Lyrical Life—a touring production for secondary schools and community spaces

• Student Dress Rehearsals—school groups attend the final dress rehearsal of our operas at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts

Cusick Plastic Surgery

Premier Senior Living in the Heart of Kansas City

THE GERSHWINS®’

PRINCIPAL

Porgy

Bess

Crown Serena

Maria

Sportin’ Life

Clara

Jake

Mingo

Robbins/Crab Man

CAST

Eric Greene*

Michelle Bradley*

Donovan Singletary*

Katerina Burton*

La’Shelle Allen*

Jermaine Smith*

Brandie Sutton*

Norman Garrett*

David Morgans

Bernard Holcomb*

Peter

Annie

Lily

An opera in two acts by George Gershwin, DuBose and Dorothy Heyward, and Ira Gershwin

Strawberry Woman

Jim

Undertaker

Nelson

Detective

Coroner

* Lyric Opera Debut ^ Lyric Opera Resident Artist

Marcel Daly*

Amari Lewis

LaTeesha M. Jackson

MiKayla Lynn Hatfield^

Evan J. Nelson

Brian Keith Smith Jr. David Pelino*^

Alex Smith^

Paul Molnar*

The Gershwins®’ Porgy and Bess premiered on September 30, 1935 at the Colonial Theatre, Boston, MA. Presented in English with English titles projected above the stage Running time: Three hours with one intermission

THE VIDEOTAPING OR MAKING OF ELECTRONIC OR OTHER AUDIO AND/OR VISUAL RECORDINGS OF THIS PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTING RECORDINGS OR STREAMS IN ANY MEDIUM, INCLUDING THE INTERNET, IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED, A VIOLATION OF THE AUTHOR(S)’S RIGHTS AND ACTIONABLE UNDER UNITED STATES COPYRIGHT LAW. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT: concordtheatricals.com/resources/protecting-artists

CREATIVE TEAM

CONDUCTOR

DIRECTOR

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR & CHOREOGRAPHER

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

SET DESIGNER

COSTUME DESIGNER

LIGHTING DESIGNER

REVIVAL LIGHTING DESIGNER

SOUND DESIGNER

WIG AND MAKEUP DESIGNER

ASSISTANT DANCE CHOREOGRAPHER

FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHER

CHORUS MASTER & ASSISTANT CONDUCTOR

REHEARSAL ACCOMPANISTS

MUSIC LIBRARIAN

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

PROPS SUPERVISOR

LIGHTING SUPERVISOR

SOUND COORDINATOR

COSTUME COORDINATOR

WIG AND MAKEUP CREW

TITLES OPERATOR

STAGE MANAGER

ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGERS

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

CHILD COORDINATOR

HEAD CARPENTER

HEAD PROPSMAN

HEAD ELECTRICIAN

HEAD FLYMAN

HEAD SOUND ENGINEER

WARDROBE SUPERVISOR

WARDROBE ASSISTANT

Michael Ellis Ingram*

Francesca Zambello

Eric Sean Fogel

Joshua Horowitz

Peter J. Davison

Paul Tazewell*

Mark McCullough

A.J. Guban

Joel T. Morain*

David Zimmerman

Eboni Adams*

Martin English

Piotr Wiśniewski

Piotr Wiśniewski, Tessa Hartle*

Elena Lence-Talley

Rafael Toribio

Erika Baker

Selena Gonzalez-Lopez

John Story

Nancy Robinson

Charlotte Gilman, Blaine Shepherd, Camille White

Sarah Zsohar

Alayna Powell

Ellie Brown, Zoe Steenwyk

Kennedy Tolar*

Jeninne Coleman

Kyle Deckman

Stephen Cochran

Dan McMahan

Evan Suellentrop

Grant Conrad

Desiree Baird Story

Amanda McCarty

CHORUS

SOPRANO

Hannah Bullock*

Maurissa Cunningham*

Alexis Derritt*

MiKayla Lynn Hatfield^

LaTeesha M. Jackson

Sheriece Veazey-McNally*

TENOR

Marcel Daly*

Bernard Holcomb*

Prince-Russell Johnson*

David Morgans

David Pelino*^

Shane St. James-Wolfe*

Act I, Scene 2 Soloists

MEZZO-SOPRANO

Prenicia Clifton

Brietta Goodman*

Amari Lewis

Erika Manuel

Nguyen Nicholson*

Toni Rainey*

BASS-BARITONE

Cameron Ferguson

Jawan Jenkins

Paul J. Joseph*

Evan J. Nelson

Brian Keith Smith Jr.

Hannah Bullock, LaTeesha Jackson, Cameron Ferguson, Jawan Jenkins

Act II, Scene 4 Soloists

Hannah Bullock, LaTeesha Jackson, Prenicia Clifton, David Pelino, Cameron Ferguson, Evan J. Nelson

CHILD

Harper Peppers*

SUPERNUMERARY

Matt Messing

* Lyric Opera Debut

^ Lyric Opera Resident Artist

DANCERS

Winston Dynamite Brown*

Latra Ann Wilson*

CONDUCTOR’S NOTES

By Michael Ellis Ingram

George Gershwin was like a kid in a sandbox when he composed Porgy and Bess. It was his first full-scale opera, and it gave him the once-in-a-lifetime chance to experiment with musical devices that simply weren’t part of the Broadway songster’s standard toolkit. Every time I turn the page while conducting the show, I find some new, thrilling sound experiment that I had never noticed before. Here are two of my favorites…

In the opening scene of the opera, Gershwin gives each character a musical calling card (leitmotif), and as the opera progresses, he shuffles them in some very clever ways. He fuses the rattling music of the crapshooters, for example, with Crown’s brash syncopations to form an orchestral fugue when Crown starts a violent brawl in the middle of the game. The fugue is in fact an orchestral “brawl” in which different instruments pile on top of one another and threaten to pull the orchestra apart, each insisting that it is in the correct key.

Another fascinating sound experiment comes towards the end of the opera when Porgy returns to Catfish Row. Porgy’s musical calling card, which we first hear in Act I, is broad, rich, deep, soulful, slow enough to be tired but fast enough to be happy. And yet something is odd about the music this time around. Something is…off Gershwin takes Porgy’s music and turns it on its head, as if he had literally flipped the sheet music upside down. The music is off because the scene itself is off. You see, all of us in the room—audience and singers alike—know that Bess is gone. Porgy is the only person who hasn’t realized it yet, and no one has the guts to tell him. Gershwin found the most perfectly uncomfortable way for the music to underscore the awkwardness of the situation. Brilliance in a sandbox.

I described Porgy as a once-in-a-lifetime chance for Gershwin. Unfortunately, I meant that literally. Gershwin died before he was able to return to the sandbox and shake up the opera world all over again. Who knows what brilliant sound experiments he might have come up with next?

It’s a full-circle moment for me to stand in an orchestra pit in my home state of Missouri for the very first time. And it is a dream come true to be conducting the Kansas City Symphony, which was the first symphony orchestra I ever heard live. The musicians of this orchestra inspired me to become a conductor in the first place, and for that I am eternally grateful.

JUNE

OCTOBER

DECEMBER 5-7, 2025 | THE FOLLY THEATER Aha! CaBOOret

MARCH 20-22, 2026 | THE FOLLY THEATER

HONORING OUR LEGACY. FORGING OUR FUTURE.

DIRECTOR’S NOTES

By Francesca Zambello

I have directed Porgy and Bess many times, and each time I step back into the world of Catfish Row, it feels incredibly rich and satisfying. The unforgettable music, powerful characters, and the hard-hitting story speak directly to the heart. To me it is, without a doubt, the greatest American opera ever written. The story, the lyrics and music are all extraordinary achievements, fusing all the operatic elements we love in a powerful work of timeless music and storytelling.

Astonishingly, the premiere Porgy and Bess was not a commercial success. The opera, which ran for almost four hours, had the misfortune of opening in 1935, during the Great Depression, which didn’t help ticket sales. Composers like Puccini, Rossini, Verdi and others had been able to salvage works after unsuccessful premieres, but Gershwin never had the chance to revisit Porgy and Bess; he died of a brain tumor two years after it finally reached the stage. In subsequent years, many other artists and producers turned their attention to Gershwin’s masterpiece, often with drastic cuts and rearrangements. We have Houston Grand Opera to thank for the restoration of the complete original score in 1976; that production won both a Tony® Award and a GRAMMY® Award and paved the way for the work’s return to the opera house.

I first directed Porgy twenty years ago. During the two decades that have followed, we have navigated life-changing events in the world outside the theater. As I traveled with the production, the fears and hopes of the Catfish Row community often seemed to mirror the emotions we were experiencing in real life in our rapidly changing societal landscape.

I remember being in rehearsal in Washington, DC at the time of Hurricane Katrina, which gave new weight to the pivotal scene in which Jake and Clara are killed in a storm. In the production’s second outing, at Lyric Opera of Chicago, Barack Obama was elected president the night of our dress rehearsal, a real-life amplification of the hope that suffuses the opera’s final moments. The entire cast went together to Grant Park to celebrate as Obama accepted the nomination. Each time the production traveled—to Atlanta, Los Angeles, Cooperstown, and San Francisco— we found something in the lives of these characters that resonated with current events. And now I am thrilled to bring the work to the Kansas City Opera audiences.

When Gershwin was preparing to write Porgy and Bess, he set forth an audacious vision: “The production will be a serious attempt to put into operatic form a purely American theme. If I am successful, it will resemble a combination of the drama and romance of Carmen and the beauty of a Meistersinger, if you can imagine that.”

Like Carmen, Porgy tells the story of ordinary people, not the kings, queens, and cardinals that figure so prominently in so much of operatic literature. Gershwin’s sweeping score reminds us of the inherent majesty and magnitude of the human spirit, regardless of outer circumstances. As with any family, Heyward and Gershwin’s characters have a unique ability to influence one another—sometimes to hurt, sometimes to heal. Their complex interactions invite multiple interpretations, which also feels very true to the human experience. Some see Porgy’s leaving Catfish Row as a sad event; but for me, the ending feels hopeful. The community has supported Porgy, helping him face an uncertain future with optimism.

Is Porgy’s optimistic decision to strike out and leave Catfish Row foolish, or is it an indication of courage and strength? Each of us may have a different answer, but by reflecting on the question, we learn something about ourselves. As for myself, I will continue striving to hold on to the belief in a brighter future to come.

Photo © Karli Cadel

SYNOPSIS

Catfish Row and Kittiwah Island, South Carolina

PART I

One summer evening in the courtyard of Catfish Row, Clara sings a lullaby to her child as the community rests at the end of the workday. Some of the men are playing craps, including Sportin’ Life and Clara’s husband Jake. Porgy joins the game, and when the others gossip about Crown’s woman, Bess, he defends her. When Jake accuses him of being soft on her, Porgy says he isn’t soft on any woman, as he is a loner.

Crown arrives with Bess. He’s drunk, and when he loses at dice, he starts a fight and accidentally kills Robbins. Crown runs to hide but tells Bess he’ll return for her. Sportin’ Life offers to take her to New York, but she refuses. No one will shelter her before the police arrive except Porgy, who takes her in. Later, Porgy and Bess attend Robbins’s funeral together, where his widow, Serena, leads the prayers. The police enter and arrest Peter as a “material witness.” Bess leads the mourners in a spiritual as they reluctantly allow her a place in their community.

A few weeks later, Jake and the fishermen work on their nets as Porgy looks on. Maria, the matriarch of Catfish Row, chases Sportin’ Life away when he tries to sell his “happy dust.” All are preparing to leave for a church picnic on Kittiwah Island. Sportin’ Life asks Bess again to come to New York with him and tries to give her drugs, which she refuses. Porgy chases him away, and he and Bess sing about their newfound happiness. All except Porgy leave on the boat for Kittiwah Island. At the picnic, Sportin’ Life sings about his own brand of religion. Everyone is getting ready to leave when Crown, concealed in the bushes, calls out to Bess. She tells him she’s Porgy’s woman now, but he forcefully refuses to let her go.

PART II

A few weeks later, on Catfish Row, the fishermen are preparing to leave as Bess raves, still delirious after Crown’s attack on her. Peter wants to send her to the hospital, but Serena prefers to pray over her. Bess is healed and explains to Porgy that she wants to stay with him, but that when Crown arrives, she’ll be forced to leave. Porgy reassures her that she doesn’t have to go with him. A hurricane begins to rise, and Clara, frightened for her husband Jake, calls out to sea.

Everyone gathers in Clara’s room and prays for shelter from the hurricane. There is a knock at the door. Crown enters and tries to take Bess away. He laughs at the frightened townspeople and sings a bawdy song to counteract their prayers. Clara sees Jake’s boat and runs out to find him. Bess calls for a man to go after her. After taunting Porgy and asking him why he won’t go, Crown goes.

After the storm, the women cry for their men; Sportin’ Life teases them and Bess. Crown enters; he and Porgy fight, and Porgy kills him. The police and the coroner arrive at Catfish Row the next morning; they take Porgy to identify Crown’s body. Sportin’ Life warns him that when he looks at Crown, his wound will begin to bleed. Telling Bess that Porgy will be locked up, Sportin’ Life forces some drugs on her and then convinces her to go to New York with him. A week later, Porgy returns and discovers Bess has gone. The community gathers around him and helps him on his way as he decides to leave Catfish Row and follow her.

Photo © Karli Cadel

KANSAS CITY SYMPHONY

MATTHIAS PINTSCHER, Music Director

FIRST VIOLINS

Jun Iwasaki, Concertmaster, Miller Nichols Chair

Stirling Trent, Associate Concertmaster

Sunho Kim, Assistant Concertmaster

Anne-Marie Brown

Michael Brown

Betty Chen

Anthony DeMarco

Susan Goldenberg*

Tomoko Iguchi

Dorris Dai Janssen

Filip Lazovski+

Chiafei Lin

Vladimir Rykov

Alex Shum*

SECOND VIOLINS

Tamamo Someya Gibbs, Principal

Carter Coleman, Associate Principal

Kristin Velicer, Assistant Principal

Minhye Helena Choi

Samuel Frois+

Mary Garcia Grant

Kazato Inouye

Rena Ishii

Paul Kim

Stephanie Larsen

Jinyou Lee^

Sodam Lim

Ayrton Pisco

VIOLAS

MingYu Hsu, Principal

Duncan Steele, Associate Principal

Jessica Nance, Assistant Principal

Kent Brauninger

Sean Brumble

Marvin Gruenbaum

Jenifer Houck

Duke Lee

Jesse Yukimura

CELLOS

Mark Gibbs, Principal, Robert A. Kipp Chair

Susie Yang, Associate Principal, Richard Hill Chair

Alexander East, Assistant Principal

Maria Crosby

John Eadie

Lawrence Figg

Sally Kim

Meredith McCook

Allen Probus

DOUBLE BASSES

Evan Halloin, Acting Principal

Richard Ryan, Acting Associate Principal

Nils Aardahl

Lena Goodson+

Joseph Nuñez

Keith Wymer+

FLUTES

Michael Gordon, Principal, Marylou and John Dodds

Turner Chair

Shannon Finney, Associate Principal

Liz Teplitsky+

PICCOLO

Liz Teplitsky+

OBOES

Kristina Fulton, Principal, Shirley Bush Helzberg Chair

Alison Chung, Associate Principal

Matthew Lengas

ENGLISH HORN

Matthew Lengas

CLARINETS

Javier Morales-Martinez+, Acting Principal, Bill and Peggy Lyons Chair

Raymond Santos^

Trevor Stewart+, Acting Associate Principal

John Klinghammer

E-FLAT CLARINET

Trevor Stewart+

BASS CLARINET

John Klinghammer

SAXOPHONES

David Chael@

Mark Cohick@

Zachary Shemon@

BASSOONS

Ann Bilderback, Principal, Barton P. and Mary D. Cohen Chair

Thomas DeWitt, Associate Principal

Maxwell Pipinich

CONTRABASSOON

Thomas DeWitt

HORNS

David Sullivan, Acting Principal, Landon and Sarah Rowland Chair

Elizabeth Gray, Acting Associate Principal

David Gamble

Stephen Multer

Benjamin Bacni+

TRUMPETS

Julian Kaplan, Principal, James B. and Annabel Nutter Chair

Omri Barak#, Associate Principal

Shea Kelsay+

TROMBONES

Evelyn Carlson, Principal

Porter Wyatt Henderson, Associate Principal

Joseph Maiocco#

BASS TROMBONE

Joseph Maiocco#

TUBA

Joe LeFevre, Principal, Frank Byrne Chair

TIMPANI

Timothy Jepson, Principal, Michael and Susan Newburger Chair

PERCUSSION

David Yoon, Acting Principal

Justin Ochoa+, Associate Principal, Adrian and Nancy Kay Hertog Family Chair

BANJO

Kent Brauninger HARP

Chai Lee#, Principal

PIANO

Daniel Velicer@

LIBRARIANS

Elena Lence Talley, Principal

Fabrice Curtis, Associate Principal

DAVID T. BEALS III ASSISTANT CONDUCTORS

Luke Poeppel

Daniel Wiley

Justin White, Director of Orchestra Personnel

Elena Collins, Assistant Personnel Manager

Tyler Miller, Stage Manager

Mark Watson, Assistant Stage Manager

Kristina Banton, Lighting Designer * Non-Rotating Musician + One-Year Member

New Member

On Leave of Absence

ARTISTS

ERIC GREENE PORGY

Recent Benny “Kid” Paret, Champion, The Metropolitan Opera Rigoletto, Rigoletto, Royal Ballet and Opera Escamillo, Carmen, Gran Teatre del Liceu Budijov, Dalibor, Bard SummerScape

Upcoming

Baritone Soloist, Henze: El Cimarrón, Festival d’Aix en Provence Balstrode, Peter Grimes, Israeli Opera

MICHELLE BRADLEY BESS

Recent Tosca, Tosca, The Glimmerglass Festival Mother, Breaking theWaves, Houston Grand Opera

Soprano Soloist, Beethoven: Symphony No. 9, Des Moines Metro Opera Aida, Aida, Lyric Opera of Chicago Aida, Aida, The Metropolitan Opera Tosca, Tosca, San Diego Opera

DONOVAN SINGLETARY CROWN

Recent

Escamillo, Carmen, Sioux City Symphony Orchestra

Father Trulove, The Rake’s Progress, Opera Omaha Figaro, The Marriage of Figaro, Pacific Opera Victoria Count Capulet, Roméo et Juliette, Washington National Opera Bass-Baritone Soloist, Mozart: Requiem, Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra Elder John Lewis, John Lewis: Good Trouble, Opera Fusion: New Works

KATERINA BURTON SERENA

Recent Alice Ford, Falstaff, Aspen Music Festival Girlfriend 2/Congregant 2, Blue, Washington National Opera Mimì, La bohème, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis Donna Anna, Don Giovanni, Madison Opera Upcoming Micaëla, Carmen, Lakes Area Music Festival

LA’SHELLE ALLEN MARIA

Recent

Zita, Gianni Schicchi, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis Contralto Soloist, Spirituals in Motion, Opera Steamboat Maria, The Gershwins®’ Porgy and Bess, Houston Grand Opera

Upcoming

Featured Composer, Music Without Borders, Louisville Orchestra

Vocalist/Arranger, Jazz Expressions with Frank X Walker, Paul Sawiyer Jazz Festival Queenie, Show Boat, Houston Grand Opera

ARTISTS CONT’D

JERMAINE SMITH SPORTIN’ LIFE

Recent

Henry Davis, Street Scene, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis Zodzetrick, Treemonisha, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis Sportin’ Life, The Gershwins®’ Porgy and Bess, Lyric Opera of Chicago Sportin’ Life, The Gershwins®’ Porgy and Bess, The Atlanta Opera Gherardo, Gianni Schicchi, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis Sportin’ Life, The Gershwins®’ Porgy and Bess, Des Moines Metro Opera

BRANDIE SUTTON CLARA

Recent

Fairy Godmother, Cinderella, The Metropolitan Opera Clara, The Gershwins®’ Porgy and Bess, The Metropolitan Opera Gilda, Rigoletto, Indianapolis Opera Pamina, The Magic Flute, Seattle Opera Young Ida, This House, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis Julie Jordan, Carousel, Boston Lyric Opera

NORMAN GARRETT JAKE

Recent

Omar’s Brother, Omar, San Francisco Opera

The Reverend, Blue, Lyric Opera of Chicago Bob, Highway 1, LA Opera

Macbeth, Macbeth, Boston Lyric Opera

Scarpia, Tosca, Des Moines Metro Opera Crown, The Gershwins®’ Porgy and Bess, Washington National Opera

DAVID MORGANS MINGO

Recent

Julio, She Came to Me, Vertical Entertainment Laurese Glover, Blind Injustice, Opera Theatre of the Rockies Ally, X: The Life and Times of Malcom X, The Metropolitan Opera Lensky, Eugene Onegin, Opera Baltimore Narraboth, Salome, Heartbeat Opera Kevin Richardson (cover), The Central Park Five, Detroit Opera

BERNARD HOLCOMB ROBBINS/CRAB MAN

Recent

Fourth Jew, Salome, The Metropolitan Opera

The Pigeon Keeper, The Pigeon Keeper, Opera Parallèle King Kaspar, Amahl and the NightVisitors, Lincoln Center Theater Upcoming Carlson/Lennie (cover), Of Mice and Men, Lyric Opera of Kansas City The Pigeon Keeper, The Pigeon Keeper, Opera Omaha

MARCEL DALY

PETER (THE HONEYMAN)

Recent

Frog, AYear with Frog andToad, Coterie Theatre

Dewey/Grandmaster Chad, Legally Blonde, Four Corners Musical Theatre

Passion, Thoughts of a Colored Man, Black Repertory Theatre of Kansas City

Upcoming

Chorus, Legally Blonde, New Theatre and Restaurant

AMARI LEWIS

ANNIE

Recent

Olive Biddle, Pete the Cat, The Coterie

The Queen, Alice’sWonderland, The Coterie

Joann, Dreamgirls, New Theatre & Restaurant

Chrystal, Little Shop of Horrors, KC Repertory Theatre

Opal, Fat Ham, Unicorn Theater

Squeak/Ensemble, The Color Purple, KC Repertory Theatre

LATEESHA MCDONALD JACKSON

LILY

Recent

Nettie Fowler, Carousel, Musical Theater Heritage

Serena, The Gershwins®’ Porgy and Bess, Musical Theater Heritage

Mrs. Stone, A God*Sib’s Tale, Black Repertory Theatre of Kansas City

Soloist, Rhapsody in Gershwin, Quality Hill Playhouse

MIKAYLA LYNN HATFIELD STRAWBERRY WOMAN

Recent

Alice Ford, Falstaff, Shenandoah Conservatory

Galatea, Acis and Galatea, Shenandoah Conservatory

Lidochka, Moscow, Cheryomushki, Shenandoah Conservatory

Clorinda, Cinderella, Lyric Opera of Kansas City

Querulous String, The Haberdasher Prince, Lyric Opera of Kansas City

Upcoming

Soprano Soloist, Langston Hughes: A Lyrical Life, Lyric Opera of Kansas City

EVAN J. NELSON

JIM

Recent

Charlie Parker, Charlie and theWolf, Cedar Rapids Opera

Don Giovanni, Don Giovanni, Lawrence Opera Theater

Il Conte, Le nozze di Figaro, University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory

Official Registrar, Madame Butterfly, Lyric Opera of Kansas City

Mr. Gobineau, The Medium, Dramatic Voices Midwest

ARTISTS CONT’D

BRIAN KEITH SMITH JR. UNDERTAKER

Recent

Chorus, Aida, Lyric Opera of Kansas City

Chorus, Dead ManWalking, Lyric Opera of Kansas City

DAVID PELINO NELSON

Recent

Don José, Carmen, Bay View Music Festival

Booker T. Washington, Ragtime, Bay View Music Festival

Wesley Harris, Sanctuary Road, University of Kentucky Opera Theatre

Sam Polk, Susannah, Soo Opera Theater

Playful String, The Haberdasher Prince, Lyric Opera of Kansas City

Upcoming

The Ballad Singer, Of Mice and Men, Lyric Opera of Kansas City

ALEX SMITH DETECTIVE

Recent

Fiorello, The Barber of Seville, Lyric Opera of Kansas City

Cat, Maya and the Magic Ring, Lyric Opera of Kansas City

Ping, Turandot, Lyric Opera of Kansas City

Le Dancaïre, Carmen, Charlottesville Opera

Sergeant of Police, The Pirates of Penzance, Charlottesville Opera

Upcoming

Baritone Soloist, Langston Hughes: A Lyrical Life, Lyric Opera of Kansas City

PAUL MOLNAR CORONER

Recent

Serg, Art, Vermont Stage Company

Mercutio, Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey

Father Flynn, Doubt, Asolo Repertory Theatre

Lewis, Hot Mess, Jerry Orbach Theatre

Trebonius, Julius Caesar, Heart of America Shakespeare Festival

Porthos, Ken Ludwig’sTheThree Musketeers, Theatre Squared

CREATIVE TEAM

MICHAEL ELLIS INGRAM CONDUCTOR

Chief Conductor, Staatsoperette Dresden

Recent

Composer, Jubilee, Seattle Opera Composer, Der 35. Mai, Theater Bremen

Conductor, SheWho Dared, Chicago Opera Theater Orchestrator, Alles Liebe!, Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden

Conductor, Sunday in the Park with George, The Glimmerglass Festival Conductor, La bohème, Staatsoperette Dresden

FRANCESCA ZAMBELLO DIRECTOR

Artistic Director, Washington National Opera

Recent

Director, Guys and Dolls, Shakespeare Theater Company, DC

Director, Ragtime, Opera Montana

Director, Tannhäuser, Houston Grand Opera

Upcoming

Director, The Crucible, Washington National Opera Director, Oklahoma!, The Glimmerglass Festival Director, West Side Story, Washington National Opera

ERIC SEAN FOGEL ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR/CHOREOGRAPHER

Recent

Revival Director, The Magic Flute, The Metropolitan Opera Director, The Rake’s Progress, The Glimmerglass Festival Director, The Barber of Seville, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis Choreographer, Ragtime, Opera Montana

Upcoming

Associate Director, West Side Story, Washington National Opera Choreographer, Oklahoma!, The Glimmerglass Festival

JOSHUA HOROWITZ ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

Recent

Associate Director, La traviata, The Atlanta Opera Associate Director, The Gershwins®’ Porgy and Bess, Houston Grand Opera

Assistant Director, Fiddler on the Roof, Cincinnati Opera

Upcoming

Assistant Director, West Side Story, Washington National Opera Revival Director, Madame Butterfly, The Glimmerglass Festival

Assistant Director, La bohème, Lyric Opera of Kansas City

PETER J. DAVISON SET DESIGNER

Recent

Set Designer, La traviata, Lyric Opera of Kansas City

Set Designer, West Side Story, Lyric Opera of Kansas City

Set Designer, The Sound of Music, Lyric Opera of Kansas City

Upcoming

Set Designer, Oklahoma!, The Glimmerglass Festival

CREATIVE TEAM CONT’D

PAUL TAZEWELL COSTUME DESIGNER

Recent

Costume Designer, Wicked: For Good, Universal Pictures

Costume Designer, Anna Christie, St. Ann’s Warehouse

Costume Designer, Death Becomes Her, Lunt-Fontanne Theatre

Upcoming

Costume Designer, Joe Turner Come and Gone, Barrymore Theatre

Costume Designer, Disclosure Day, Universal Pictures

Artist, Crafting Character:The Costumes of PaulTazewell, Griffin Museum of Science and Industry

TIMM BURROW

ASSOCIATE COSTUME DESIGNER

Recent

Costume Director, The Magic Flute, Palm Beach Opera

Costume Director, La bohème, Palm Beach Opera

Costume Designer, Orphie and the Books of Heroes, Theater for Young Audiences

Costume Designer, Viva la mamma/Impresario, Wolf Trap Opera

Costume Designer, Bayou Legend, Debbie Allen Dance Academy

Associate Costume Designer, Samson and Delilah, Washington National Opera

MARK MCCULLOUGH LIGHTING DESIGNER

Recent

Lighting Designer, Der Ring des Nibelungen, San Francisco Opera

Lighting Designer, The Gershwins®’ Porgy and Bess, Houston Grand Opera

Lighting Designer, West Side Story, Houston Grand Opera

Lighting Designer, Aida, Lyric Opera of Chicago

Lighting Designer, Rigoletto, San Francisco Opera

A.J. GUBAN

REVIVAL LIGHTING DESIGNER

Recent

Lighting Designer, Macbeth, Washington National Opera

Revival Lighting Designer, The Gershwins®’ Porgy and Bess, Houston Grand Opera

Revival Lighting Designer, West Side Story, Los Angeles Opera

Lighting Designer, The Marriage of Figaro, Washington National Opera

Upcoming

Revival Lighting Designer, West Side Story, Washington National Opera

Lighting Designer, American Opera Initiative, Washington National Opera

CREATIVE TEAM CONT’D

DAVID ZIMMERMAN

WIG AND MAKEUP DESIGNER

Recent

Wig and Makeup Designer, Madame Butterfly, Lyric Opera of Kansas City

Wig and Makeup Designer, Dialogues des carmélites, The Dallas Opera

Wig and Makeup Designer, The Little Prince, The Dallas Opera

Wig and Makeup Designer, Don Carlo, The Dallas Opera

Upcoming

Wig and Makeup Designer, Of Mice and Men, Lyric Opera of Kansas City

EBONI ADAMS

ASSISTANT CHOREOGRAPHER

Recent

Assistant Director, The Righteous, Santa Fe Opera

Revival Choreographer, The Gershwins®’ Porgy and Bess, Houston Grand Opera

Director/Choreographer, My Name is Florence, Minnesota Opera Director/Choreographer, The Snowy Day, Minnesota Opera

Upcoming

Choreographer, Treemonisha, Washington National Opera Director, La bohème, Austin Opera

PIOTR WIŚNIEWSKI

CHORUS MASTER & ASSISTANT CONDUCTOR

Recent

Chorus Master and Assistant Conductor, Turandot, Cinderella, Madame Butterfly, Lyric Opera of Kansas City

Conductor, Maya and the Magic Ring, Lyric Opera of Kansas City

Upcoming

Music Director, Langston Hughes: A Lyrical Life, Lyric Opera of Kansas City

Chorus Master and Assistant Conductor, Of Mice and Men, Lyric Opera of Kansas City

Photo © Karli Cadel

INDIVIDUAL GIVING

Lyric Opera of Kansas City extends its deepest appreciation to the individual contributors who help support the Company’s productions and programs. We recognize annual giving to the Company and Lyric Opera Ball of $250 or more received between January 1, 2025–December 31, 2025.

*Includes contributions to Lyric Opera Ball +Includes giving to the Special Gifts Campaign ^Deceased

RICHARD J. STERN SOCIETY

($50,000+)

Mr. & Mrs. Richard Bruening

Virginia & Charles^ Clark

Shirley & Barnett Helzberg, Jr.*+

Ingram Family Foundation*

Mr. Edward P. Milbank*

Mrs. Carol Tinsman+

Mr. Michael Waterford

MAESTRO'S CIRCLE

($25,000–$49,999)

Ann Baum, G. Kenneth & Ann Baum

Philanthropic Fund*

Mr. & Mrs. A. Joseph Brandmeyer*

James & Diana Cusser*

Ken & Marilyn Hager*

The J.B. Reynolds Foundation*

Paul & Elizabeth Uhlmann+

Ms. Connie Walker*+

BEL CANTO

($10,000–$24,999)

Mrs. Raymond Backstrom

Mr. & Mrs. Lee Baty*

Peggy & Andy Beal*

Tony & Meredith Durone*+

Richard & Lauren English*+

Dr. Melinda Estes & Dr. Harold Morris

Michael D. Fields*

Dr. Gary Grunewald Charitable Fund

Joyce G. Holland

Kirk Foundation

Mark T. Benedict & Dr. Kim Mongeau+

Jill Ingram Reynolds*

Walter & Gayle Richardson

Stephen & Dolores Schroff

John & Marny Sherman*

Mr. J. Michael Sigler*

Dr. Linda E. Voigts & Mr. Gene Voigts

IMPRESARIO

($5,000–$9,999)

M. Wayne Alexander & John W. Braum

Drs. Iván & Karla Batlle*+

Scott & Joyce Blakesley

Robert & Pamela Bruce*

Christopher & Lisa Cella

Nan Chapman*

Casey Claps*

Rita M. Cortés*

Mrs. Una Creditor

Elsberry Family Foundation*

Kurt & Linnell Gretzinger*

Richard Gutknecht

Christina Hager & Neil Darling*+

Mr. & Mrs. John Hale

Yong Y. Han, M.D.

Joan Horan*+

Charlie & Marcella Huggard

Judy Kirk

Tom & Kathy Nanney

Don & Pamela Raffurty

Andrew & Brittany Robb

Deborah Sandler & Crosby Kemper*

Jug & Rachael Stanovcic*

H. Wayne & Melanie Thompson

LYRIC OPERA ANGEL

($3,000–$4,999)

Anonymous

Andy & Kathy Anderson*

Terri-Ann Beckford

Matt & Kate Beem

Gary & Suzy Bennett

Erik Bergrud & Kimberlee N. Ried*

George & Dara Bock*

Richard & Nicole Browne*

Robert Claassen

Mr. & Mrs. Bernard Craig, Jr.

Mr. & Mrs. B.J. Craig

Michael & Karen Douglas

Marilyn A. W. & Norman E Gaar, Esq.*

Trudy & Jack Gabriel*

Bruce & Kathryn Gordon

Donald J. Hall Jr.*

Mr. & Mrs. B. Caleb Jackson

Mary Lou James & Jim Taylor

Dr. Robert E. & Dr. Rebecca Johnson

Donna K. Kelly

Ms. Dana M. Koehn*

Julia & Greg Malter*

Graham & Helen Marcott

Donald & Linda Milligan

Barbara Nelson*

Drs. Margaret & Barry Nickell

Gerald & Elaine Nissenbaum

Edward & Chris Null

George & Suzy Pagels

Dr. Ronald & Donna Patton*

Dr. Joshua & Mrs. Elizabeth Petrikin

Katie & Ron Petrikin

Ms. Lisa Flynn Pruch*

Dennis & Palle Rilinger

Michelle & Chuck Ritter

Gigi & Gary Rose*

Carmen M. Sabates & Doug Peavey

Mr. & Mrs. Charles Schellhorn*

Megan C. Toal

Fr. Paul Turner

Lynne & Carl Weilert*

Deborah Wilkinson

Dr. Edward A. Wortham, Jr.

Dr. Michael J. & Cindy S. Wurm*

Dr. & Mrs. John Yungmeyer*

ARIA SOCIETY

($1,500–$2,999)

Ms. Sharon A. Barry*

Ann & Terry Bender*

Mr. & Mrs. Peter Brown*

Gerard & Judy Bukowski

Mr. & Mrs. Forrest Chumley

Vernon & Trish Church Podlasek*

Patricia E. Cleary Miller, PhD

Dr. Suzanne C. Crandall

Tim & Deanna Diebolt*

Jo Anne & Bill Dondlinger*

Randy & Edie Downing*

Peggy & Terry Dunn*

Craig & Dawn Evans

William & Eileen Everett*

Steven & Carolyn Faenger*

Rev. & Mrs. William J. Fasel*

Ms. Ellen Feldhausen

Darold & Melinda Frenzen*

Dr. John and Mrs. Hilary Fried

Philanthropic Fund*

Dr. & Mrs. James K. Gentry*

George & Frances Gerritz*

Ellen & John Goheen

Andrew Hsu*

Steve Joss

Craig & Beverly Kemp

Bev Leonard*

Sherry Love & Michael J. Hunter, Sr.*

Douglas & Nina McKenna

Mr. & Mrs. John Middelkamp*

Debra & Allen Parmet

Joseph & Kelly Privitera*

Ms. Lucinda Rice-Petrie*

Dr. & Mrs. Nelson R. Sabates*

Glen & Susan Sands*

John Scheinman & Anita Toby Grow

Betty C. Scott*

Ms. Suzanne Shank*

Clarence Simmons

Juliette Singer & Ian Spinks*

Dr. Christopher & Lisa Sirridge*

Mr. & Mrs. Leonard Slaughter*

Barbara Spilker*

Ursula Terrasi & Jim Miller*

Howard & Irene Weiner

Jeff Whitman & Danielle Forpomes*

VIRTUOUSO

($1,000–$1,499)

Anonymous Joyce Castle

Mrs. CJ Charbonneau

Donna Gould Cohen

Mr. & Mrs. Paul Copaken

Pat & Liz Daniels

Bill Dickinson & Barbara Loots

Peg Dunlap

John & Julia Duty

Anne & Howard Elsberry Family Foundation*

Dr. Karen L. Florio

Mr. & Mrs. Lafayette J. Ford III

Charles & Evelene Gallardo

Mr. Mark Gilman

John & Bernice Hamra Foundation*

Ms. Lisa Merrill Hickok*

Gary & Liddell Hobin

John & Sharon Hoffman

Mr. & Mrs. Michael C. Kirk*

Mr. & Mrs. William Kort

Mary Leonida

Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Mayer

Mr. Andrew McDonald

Carl McCaffree

Heidi McIntyre

Andrea Norris & Thomas Beisecker

The Petrie/White Higher Education & Performing Arts Fund

Nanci Regan & Robert Lunn

Kelton W. H. Smith

Jackie Spears & Dean Zollman

Dr. Gregory & Janet Starks

Nancy L. Bosche

Mr. & Mrs. Terrence P. Sullivan

Jeffrey & Alisha Walker

Sophia C. Zetmeir

COMPRIMARIO

($500–$999)

Bob & Ruth Abbott

Anonymous (3)

Richard & Emily Ballentine

Roger Bond & Victoria Hermes-Bond

Christopher & Sharon Bradford

Ron & Kathy Bremer

Arden & Mary Ann Carr

Dr. Akin & Ayca Aktas Cil*

Mr. C. L. Cocke

Craig Coen & Jeffrey Bellamy

Jeffrey & Diane Buczkowski

Mr. H. Hurst Coffman

Dennis & Ellen Cooley

Dr. & Mrs. Steve Crouch

Pat & Don Dagenais

Jerry & Frances Daniels

Dr. Michael De Priest & Ms. Barbara

Braznell

Laurie C. Eck

Mr. & Mrs. David Embry*

Warren & Jenny Erdman*

Mr. David Feiertag

Mr. & Mrs. Michael Fenske*

Ms. Barbara Fessler*

Genee Figuieras

Connie & Antoni Firner

Mrs. Alexandra Phillip Fontana

Tresia Ann Franklin*

Drs. Alexandra Golik & Alfredo Garcia

Mr. David S. Geiman

Michael & Judy Graf

Carol Grantham

Roberta Gumbel

Dr. & Mrs. Thomas B. Hall III

Christine Hands

Charles & Barbara Haviland*

Dr. & Mrs. Edward Higgins

Bill & Margo Humenczuk

Bruce & Cynda Johnson

Jonathan & Nancy Lee Kemper*

Ms. Kristina L. Klug*

Jon D. Kowing

Ms. Margaret L. Lesher*

Jenny Manka*

Kevin Martinez

Ms. Ann McCray

P. Alan McDermott

Ms. Madeleine M. McDonough

Kathy & Bill Migneron

Karen Mische*

Ron & Jane Nesemeyer*

Dr. Sieglinde Othmer*

Bill Pallucca

Floyd Pentlin

Thomas & Patty Ruehle

Bruce & Nancy Schall*

Lora Smith*

Greg & Ann Smith

Timothy Todd & Katherine

Daniel L. Turner & Carol Dziadik Turner

Mrs. Barbara Weary

Joy Wheeler*

Marcus Williams

Jean Wise

Mr. Mansour Zarinkia*

Julian & Tasha Zugazagoitia

CHORUS

($250–$499)

David Actenberg & H. Alice Jacks

Mary & Gary Adams

Ellen & John Aisenbrey

John & Janet Bennett

Nathan Brown

Dr. Rita M. Burnett

James R. Cook

Doug & Terri Curran

Cathy Daicoff

Dr. & Mrs. John M. Davis

Mr. & Mrs. Matthew DeCocq

Joi Dickmann*

Roger Dirks & Cynthia Capellari

Mr. Kenneth Eiler

Jon & Avis Erickson

Mrs. Linda Ferguson

Olga Ganzen*

Richard & Winifred Gill

Charles & Barbara Gorodetzky

Judge Jon R. Gray &

Dr. Valerie E. Chow

Michael & Carol Grimaldi

Ken & Rose Hagen

Mr. & Mrs. George E. Handley

Roger Hiatt & Patricia Haegelin-Hiatt

Mr. & Mrs. William Hirsch

Dr. Judith G. Jacobs

Drs. John & Ann Kenney*

Jessica & Wade Kerrigan

W. Russell King & Susan M. Clevenger

Jolle Kirpensteijn

Mrs. Petra Kralickova*

Drs. Douglas Law & Patricia Cox

Mr. David E. Martin

Ms. Patricia Meads

Ms. Ann M. Nigro*

Mark & Lynne O’Connell

Jean Parelman

Mr. John Pepper

Ms. Maggie Presson

Ms. Carolyn J. Price*

James Ralstin

Scott & Jeanne Redick*

Edward & Charlotte Ronan

Mr. Jim Schraeder

John Schreiman*

Mareta J. Smith

Mr. William Smith

Deirdre Squires*

Ms. Melissa Stanfield*

James Staples*

Linda Stevens

Dr. Blair Stringfellow & Dr. Judith A. Johnson

Mr. Mark J. Stuecheli

Mr. Steven E. & Dr. Evelina Swartzman

Fredrick & Abigail Woods Tempel

Ms. Beverly Thomas

Ms. Suzanne Tipton*

Mrs. John D. Turner*

Mrs. Sandra Vogel

William & Judith Webb

Gary Thor Wedow

Jeffrey R. Witsken

Ms. Janis L. Yarnevich

Mr. Steven L. York

SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We would like to thank our valued community partners whose generous contributions of time, resources, and talents have been essential to our success. We deeply appreciate your dedication to bringing opera to life throughout the Kansas City region. Thank you!

Asian American Chamber of Commerce

Kansas City

Band of Angels

Black Archives Of Mid-America

Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Center

Center for East Asian Studies,

The University of Kansas

Church of the Resurrection

Classical KC

Cupini’s

Heart of America Japan-America Society

Hella Good Deeds

Kansas City Chinese American Association

Kansas City Chinese Association

Kansas City Public Library

Kansas City Public Schools

Kansas City, Kansas Public Library

Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools

Kansas City Young Audiences

Kansas State School for the Blind

Kirk Family YMCA

Lyric Opera Community Advisory Council

Mid-Continent Public Library

Moreno Denton Language Services

The Museum of Kansas City

No Divide KC

Notre Dame de Sion Schools of Kansas City

Rainy Day Books

Shawnee Mission Unitarian Universalist Church

The Black Repertory Theater of Kansas City

The Russell Restaurant & Catering

The University of Kansas Medical Center

Turn the Page KC

Drs. Roger and Everlyn Williams

Yukari KC

Thank you to all of our school partners and Teaching Artists this season!

IN-KIND, MATCHING GIFT, & CORPORATE SHARE PARTNERS

A. Zahner Company

Baird Foundation, Inc.

Becky Minon

Colgate-Palmolive Company

Hallmark Cards, Inc.

Helzberg Diamonds

High Touch Technologies

Husch Blackwell LLP

Merrill Charitable Foundation, Inc.

Mr. Edward P. Milbank

Erik Bergrud & Kimberlee N. Ried

Sanofi-Aventis

The Sosland Foundation

Spencer Fane Britt & Browne

Splunk LLC, a Cisco Company

Swoon Cookie Crafters

T-Mobile

OCT 14-NOV 2

Copaken Stage

When the lines between predator and prey blur, the power of women’s strength rises from the shadows in this fearless adaptation of Bram Stoker’s iconic Dracula.

Follow the yellow brick road to magic adventure!and MAY 5-24

Spencer Theatre

SEP 2-21

Spencer Theatre

Indulge in a world of soul-stirring music and unyielding hope with this award-winning stage musical based on Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize- winning novel.

FEB 17-MAR 8

Copaken Stage

The ultimate family showdown is on in this new comedy hailed as “genuinely funny, topical, and heartfelt” by Entertainment Weekly.

SPECIAL EVENT! NOV 22-DEC 27

Spencer Theatre

Celebrating Gary Neal Johnson, as he prepares to take his final bow as Ebenezer Scrooge.

M A R C H 2 6 - A P R I L 1 9

T i c k e t s :

m t h k c . c o m

8 1 6 . 2 2 1 . 6 9 8 7

INSTITUTIONAL GIVING

Lyric Opera of Kansas City extends its deepest appreciation to the foundations, corporations, organizations, and government entities that help support the Company’s productions and programs. We recognize annual giving to the Company and Lyric Opera Ball of $250 or more received between January 1, 2025–December 31, 2025.

*Includes contributions to Lyric Opera Ball

+Includes giving to the Special Gifts Campaign

OPERA PRESENTING SPONSORS:

LYRIC OPERA UNDERWRITERS

($100,000+)

Lyric Opera Circle

Lyric Opera of Kansas CityOur Next Act Endowment

Lyric Opera of Kansas City Endowment Fund

Marion and Henry Bloch Family Foundation

Muriel I. Kauffman Fund for the Lyric Opera of Kansas City

Sherman Family Foundation

The State of Missouri

The Sunderland Foundation

William T. Kemper Charitable Trust, UMB Bank, n.a., Trustee

MAESTRO’S CIRCLE

($25,000–$99,999)

Arvin Gottlieb Charitable Foundation, UMB Bank, n.a., Trustee

City of Kansas City, Missouri Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund

Hallmark Corporate Foundation

John W. and Effie E. Speas Memorial Trust, Bank of America, N.A. Trustee

Lyric Opera of Kansas CityWilliam Randolph Hearst Endowed Fund

Mark Edelman Theater Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City

Pemberton Family Charitable Foundation

William T. Kemper FoundationCommerce Bank Trust

BEL CANTO

($10,000–$24,999)

Cyr Family Charitable Remainder Trust

Estelle S. and Robert A. Long Ellis Foundation

Dr. Gary Grunewald Charitable Fund

Lyric Opera of Kansas City - Polsky Fund

Mdivani Corporate Immigration Law Firm

Northern Trust Company

The Sosland Foundation

IMPRESARIO

($5,000–$9,999)

The DeBruce Foundation*

High Touch Inc*

Missouri Humanities, Missouri Humanities Trust

CORPORATE & COMMUNITY COUNCIL ($3,000–$4,999)

Commerce Bank, n.a.*

Halls KC*

JE Dunn Construction Company

Orpheus KC*

R.A. Long Foundation

RubinBrown LLP*

CORPORATE & COMMUNITY SPONSORS ($250–$2,999)

Aristocrat Motors*

Global Tax Management, Inc.*

Kansas City Museum*

JoAnn Meierhoff Charitable Foundation

Louis and Frances Swinken Supporting Foundation, Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City

The Martha Lee Cain Tranby Music Enrichment Fund

TruPay

In Honor of Rita Cortés

Ann Baum, G. Kenneth & Ann

Baum Philanthropic Fund

In Memory of Jane Gagel

Dr. Gretchen Gagel

In Memory of Naomi F. Karmeier

Connie Harre Blair

Garry Harre

Geri Harre

Ruth Harre

Betty Harre Hasheider

Lois Harre Obermeier

Norb Hasheider

Leonard Obermeier

In Memory of Bill Kort

Lyric Opera Circle

In Honor of Edward P. Milbank

Trudy & Jack Gabriel

In Memory of Carmen Celia Sabates

Carmen M. Sabates & Doug

Peavey

Gifts made January 1, 2025–December 31, 2025

In Memory of Mary Lou Sauer

Ms. Sarah Anderson

Suzanne Baker

Philip & Janet Broaddus

Marie Cook

Ms. Carol Davis

Alana S. Greenstein

Joan Huchthausen

Marsha Laner

Mary Obrien

Elisabeth Sauer

In Memory of Peter Sherrow

Lyric Opera Circle

Emergency Evacuation Procedures

The Kauffman Center is equipped with advanced life-safety early alert systems. Each performance hall is designed with emergency exits in case of an evacuation. In the event of severe weather, shelter in place inside the hall, not in a lobby area, and await further instructions.

In the event of an emergency, the performance will be interrupted. Horns and strobes will sound. Emergency instructions will be delivered from the stage.

Please remain seated as staff use an appropriate amount of investigational time to verify the source of the alarm.* Should an evacuation be necessary, lighted red (Muriel Kauffman Theatre) and green (Helzberg Hall) exit signs will lead patrons to one of eight emergency exit paths.

Patrons with mobility limitations and/or those who are not able to navigate stairs should remain in the venue near one of the marked “Emergency Evacuation Assistance” areas. First responders will evacuate those requiring assistance immediately upon their arrival.

Elevators, primary entrances and the Brandmeyer Great Hall staircase are NOT used in the case of an emergency evacuation.

For more information on emergency evacuation procedures, visit kauffmancenter.org/policies

LIFETIME GIVING

Lyric Opera of Kansas City is proud to honor the leadership and extraordinary support of the following individuals and institutions that have given generously to the Lyric over many years. Their cumulative gifts of $100,000 or more help bring our mission to life by making transformational opera experiences possible in our city. We are grateful for their investment and unwavering belief in the power of opera.

*Deceased

Anonymous

Ann & Gary Dickinson Family

Charitable Foundation

Ann & Gordon Getty Foundation

Ann Baum, G. Kenneth & Ann Baum

Philanthropic Fund

ArtsKC Regional Arts Council

Arvin Gottlieb Charitable Foundation, UMB Bank, n.a., Trustee

Sydney Backstrom & Raymond* Backstrom

Bank of America Charitable Foundation

Barnett and Shirley Helzberg Foundation

Drs. Iván & Karla Batlle

Mr. & Mrs. A. Joseph Brandmeyer

The Breidenthal-Snyder Foundation, Inc.

Drs. Doug & Mary* Brothers

Mr. & Mrs. Richard Bruening

City of Kansas City, Missouri Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund

Virginia & Charles Clark

Columbian Bank and Trust Company

Courtney S. Turner Charitable Trust, Bank of America, Trustee

Mrs. Una & Dr. Morton* Creditor

Cyr Family Charitable Fund

Pat & Don Dagenais

David T. Beals III Charitable Trust, Bank of America, Trustee

Mrs. Ann Dickinson*

DST Systems, Inc.

Mr. Richard & Mrs. Maureen*

Durwood

E. Kemper Carter & Anna Curry Carter Community Memorial Trust, UMB Bank, n.a., Trustee

Anne & Howard Elsberry

Elsberry Family Foundation

Enid & Crosby Kemper Foundation, UMB Bank, n.a., Trustee

Estelle S. & Robert A. Long Ellis Foundation

Dr. Melinda Estes & Dr. Harold Morris

Craig & Dawn Evans

Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation

Francis Family Foundation

Dr. Michael and Ginger Frost

Trudy & Jack Gabriel

H & R Block Foundation

Ken & Marilyn Hager

Hall Family Foundation

Hallmark Corporate Foundation

Helen & Sam Kaplan Charitable Foundation

Shirley & Barnett Helzberg, Jr.

Richard Hill*

Joyce G. Holland

Joan Horan

Husch Blackwell LLP

Mrs. Beth Ingram

Ingram Family Foundation

Jack & Glenna Wylie Charitable Foundation

The J.B. Reynolds Foundation

John W. & Effie E. Speas Memorial Trust, Bank of America, Trustee

John Kander

Mr. Elvin B. Klein

Lyric Opera Circle

Lyric Opera Guild

Lyric Opera of Kansas City Endowment Fund

Lyric Opera of Kansas City - William

Randolph Hearst Endowed Fund

Lyric Opera of Kansas City - Our Next Act Endowment

Lyric Opera of Kansas City - Polsky Fund

Mabee Foundation

Marion & Henry Bloch Family Foundation

Master Craftsmen Foundation

Mrs. Sandra & Mr. Albert* Mauro

Caroline French McBride*

Carl & Lee* McCaffree

McCownGordon Construction

Thomas & Jean McDonnell

Metropolitan Performing Arts Fund

Mr. Edward P. Milbank

Missouri Arts Council/Missouri Arts Council Trust Fund

Muriel I. Kauffman Fund for the Lyric Opera of Kansas City

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Family Foundation

Oppenstein Brothers Foundation, Commerce Bank, Trustee Pemberton Family Charitable Foundation

R.C. Kemper Charitable Trust, UMB Bank, n.a., Trustee

R.C. Kemper, Jr. Charitable Trust, UMB Bank, n.a., Trustee

Walter & Gayle Richardson

Michelle & Chuck Ritter

Mrs. Sarah & Mr. Landon* Rowland

Kenneth & Roswitha Schaffer

Vera & Mike* Seeley

Sherman Family Foundation

Mr. J. Michael Sigler

Rheta Sosland

The Sosland Foundation

Sprint Foundation

Richard J. Stern*

Richard J. Stern Foundation for the Arts

Stilwell Financial, Inc.

The Sunderland Foundation

Steve & Linda Taylor

Theater League

Thomas & Sally Wood Family Foundation

Mrs. Jody & Mr. Jack* Tillotson

Mrs. Carol & Mr. C. Humbert* Tinsman

Mr. Michael Waterford

The William Randolph Hearst Foundation

William T. Kemper Charitable Trust, UMB Bank, n.a., Trustee

William T. Kemper FoundationCommerce Bank Trust

BECOME A PART OF THE MAGIC

GIVE TO LYRIC OPERA OF KANSAS CITY

You can help bring the magic of opera to all of Kansas City! Your generosity allows us to:

• CREATE high-quality artistic experiences, through world-class opera, curated right here in Kansas City

• TRANSFORM the lives of more than 26,000 people every year with extraordinary music, artistry, and performances

• CAPTIVATE new audiences by introducing children (and adults!) to their first opera experience

• DEVELOP the next generation of opera performers through our nationally recognized Apprentice and Resident Artist Programs

EVERY GIFT IS MEANINGFUL

For more information about giving and the exciting benefits available, please scan the QR code below, or contact our Development Team at (816) 802-6056, or giving@kcopera.org.

GIVE NOW!

MARCH 15–APRIL 2, 2026

FREE PERFORMANCES IN COMMUNITY SPACES

Join us for Langston Hughes: A Lyrical Life! Scan the QR code, visit kcopera.org , or call us at (816) 471-7344.

Get tickets to Of Mice and Men today! Scan the QR code, visit kcopera.org call us at (816) 471-7344 to purchase.

Phone: (816) 471-7344

E-mail: patronservices@kcopera.org

Mail: Lyric Opera Patron Services, 1725 Holmes St., KCMO 64108

Regular Business Hours: Monday–Friday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm

Weekend Performance Day Hours (mainstage only): For performance weekend hours, please visit kcopera.org. Ticketing & Patron Services representatives are available at the Kauffman Center box office ninety minutes before every performance.

LYRIC OPERA PATRON SERVICES GROUP TICKETS

BRING A GROUP TO THE OPERA!

Group orders of ten or more seats receive up to a 25% off discount, subject to standard facility fees. To book your group today and learn about options to amplify the experience, call Ticketing & Patron Services at (816) 471-7344 or visit kcopera.org/groups.

LYRIC OPERA STAFF

LEADERSHIP

Deborah Sandler Kemper, General Director and CEO

FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION

Jeffrey Walker, Chief Financial Officer

Danny Boteler, Controller

Amy Tungol, HR & Payroll Specialist

Keri Fox, Staff Accountant

Melissa Roberts, Executive Assistant & Board Liaison

ARTISTIC ADMINISTRATION

Brad Trexell, Director of Artistic Administration

Piotr Wiśniewski, Head of Music Staff & Chorus Master

Michaela Martens, Resident Artist Voice Teacher

LEARNING

Neal Long, Director of Learning

Emily Bridges, Manager of School Programs

Laura Blankenship, Manager of Community Programs

PRODUCTION

Tracy Davis-Singh, Director of Production

Rafael Toribio, Technical Director

Sarah Zsohar, Artist Services Manager

Selena Gonzalez-Lopez, Assistant Technical Director/Lighting Supervisor

DEVELOPMENT

Ashley Parks, Chief Development Officer

Rebecca Ballinger Clark, Major Gifts Officer

Laurie Eck, Manager of Individual Giving & Circle Liaison

Elinore Noyes, Institutional Giving Manager

Molly Fink, Development Operations Manager

MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

Gregory Campbell, Director of Marketing & Communications

Amanda Schuster, Senior Manager of Ticketing & Patron Services

Emily Stott, Manager of Marketing Operations

Mason McBride, Manager of Digital Communications

Enrique Zabala, Graphic Designer

Gabriella Swoboda, Assistant Manager of Ticketing and Patron Services

Ellen McDonald, Publicity Consultant

Ticketing & Patron Services Representatives: Catherine Cone, Baylee Dolph, Rowan Frazier, Josephine Meyers, Aimee McCormack, Dennis Pearson, Brianna Volkmann, and Ava Waln