The great American musical at Lyric

Presenting Great American Musicals at Lyric Opera of Chicago was once a startling new idea. That was 15 years ago: Now, Lyric’s big, bold Broadway productions have become one of the most exciting and enduring entertainment options in the city.  

There is of course the singing and dancing from Broadway performers at the top of their field, and the crowd-pleasing classic titles, and the breathtaking playing of the full Lyric Opera Orchestra — but these shows are more than the sum of their parts. They are a spectacular theater experience, on Chicago’s largest stage, with the scores sounding bigger and better than anywhere else.

This June, Lyric presents what some consider the greatest title of them all — Guys & Dolls. This brassy musical, inspired by the short stories of Damon Runyon, opened in 1950 and ran for 1,200 performances, picking up the Tony for Best Musical along the way. The tale follows its cast of ne’er-do-wells and evangelists from the seedy side of New York City to the sweltering streets of Havana and back as they look to win big — on their gambling wagers and in love alike.

Frank Loesser’s classic Broadway score features beloved numbers like "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat," "I've Never Been in Love Before," "Luck Be a Lady," and the famed title song. All will be offered up by an all-star cast accompanied by the lush sound of the Lyric Opera Orchestra.

The company first began producing musicals with Show Boat in the 2011/12 Season and then Oklahoma! in the 2012/2013 Season. Following the artistic and audience success of those productions, Lyric began expanding its traditional opera season to include a musical as the thrilling finale of each season, including The Sound of Music (2013/14), Carousel (2014/15), The King and I (2015/16), My Fair Lady (2016/17), Jesus Christ Superstar (2017/18), and West Side Story (2018/19). A critically acclaimed Fiddler on the Roof opened the 2022/23 Season, and was bookended that spring by an energetic West Side Story.

Consistent among these wide-ranging titles are the star-studded casts, featuring leading lights of stage and screen; imposing sets and extravagant costumes; and productions that marshal the powerful forces of the Lyric Opera Orchestra and Chorus to bring the musicals' theater-filling orchestrations to life. The grand scale of these shows would be impossible on nearly any other stage in the country. Musicals at Lyric feature massive ensembles of nearly 100 musical and dramatic artists on the stage and in the orchestra pit, far bigger than any ensemble currently on Broadway or at any of Chicago's other storied theaters.

Whether it's the awe-inspiring scale of the show, or the unforgettable tunes, or the thrill of seeing Broadway-caliber talents close to home, this season’s Guys & Dolls promises an enduring thrill for everyone in the family. You can bet on it.