Lyric Opera of Chicago announces its fall Opera in the Neighborhoods tour of Katie: The Strongest of the Strong

CHICAGO (9/17/25) — This fall, Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Opera in the Neighborhoods program will tour Katie: The Strongest of the Strong, a bold new opera for young audiences that celebrates the life and legacy of circus strongwoman Katie Sandwina. Katie: The Strongest of the Strong will be presented for schools and community groups across Chicago and the suburbs throughout October and November. The fall tour includes nine student performances and one public performance, reaching thousands of students in grades 3–6.

Composed by Faye Chiao with a libretto by Anton Dudley, Katie: The Strongest of the Strong introduces young audiences to a figure whose story embodies resilience, justice, and community. Known in her time as “the strongest woman in the world,” Sandwina was also a wife, mother, and activist who fought for women’s suffrage in the early 20th century. Featuring an all-female cast, the opera pairs the wonder of circus life with the urgency of social change, offering a meaningful entry point to conversations about gender equity and the history of women’s rights.

Public audiences can experience the production on Saturday, November 1, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts on the campus of the University of Chicago, with additional public performances planned for spring 2026.

Opera in the Neighborhoods, a program of Lyric Unlimited's Learning and Civic Engagement department, has been introducing young people and families to opera since 1994. The program has presented imaginative youth operas from around the world and has commissioned original works from leading composers, ensuring that each season connects students to themes that resonate in today’s world. All student performances are free of charge, reflecting Lyric’s commitment to community engagement.

“Katie Sandwina’s journey in this opera reminds us that strength takes many forms — physical, emotional, and communal,” says Sheran Goodspeed Keyton, Director of Civic Engagement. “Through this opera, young people will discover a story that celebrates courage and conviction while also learning about the history of women who fought for change.”

This production features mezzo-soprano Lauren Ingebrigtsen as Katie Sandwina, soprano Katy Lindhart as Marina, mezzo-soprano Hillary Watkins as Bebe Barbelle, soprano Uma Singh as Beryl Barbelle, and mezzo-soprano Miya Higashiyama as Bernice Barbelle.

The production is directed by Denise Yvette Serna with music direction by Dr. Charlene Lotz, set and prop design by Austin Abernathy, and costumes by Clair Hummel.

Katie: The Strongest of the Strong was commissioned by Houston Grand Opera and premiered in October 2020.

Reservations for the public performance open soon, with additional spring 2026 performances to be announced in the coming months. For details on school and public performances, visit lyricopera.org/Katie.

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Lyric Opera of Chicago is committed to redefining what it means to experience great opera. The company is driven to deliver consistently excellent artistry through innovative, relevant, celebratory programming that engages and energizes new and traditional audiences.

Under the leadership of General Director, President & CEO John Mangum and Music Director Enrique Mazzola, Lyric is dedicated to reflecting, and drawing strength from, the diversity of Chicago. Lyric offers, through innovation, collaboration, and evolving learning opportunities, ever-more exciting, accessible, and thought-provoking audience and community experiences. We also stand committed to training the artists of the future, through The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center; and to becoming increasingly diverse across our audiences, staff, programming, and artists—magnifying the welcoming pull of our art form, our company, and our city.

Through the timeless power of voice, the splendor of a great orchestra and chorus, theater, dance, design, and truly magnificent stagecraft, Lyric is devoted to immersing audiences in worlds both familiar and unexpected, creating shared experiences that resonate long after the curtain comes down.

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For more information on Lyric's upcoming 2024/25 Season, visit lyricopera.org/newseason.