CHICAGO (8/20/2025) — Lyric Opera of Chicago launches its 2025/26 Season in unforgettable style with two of Broadway’s most luminous, Tony Award-winning stars:
Brian Stokes Mitchell & Laura Benanti in Concert, for one night only on
Friday, October 10 at 7:00 p.m. Joined by the renowned Lyric Opera Orchestra and led by conductor Rob Fisher, the pair will take the iconic Lyric stage for the Lyric Opening Concert — a sweeping evening of Broadway showstoppers, jazz standards, and beloved classics from the Great American Songbook.
This landmark performance marks the Lyric debuts of both Mitchell and Benanti — two powerhouse performers who last shared the Broadway stage in
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. Known for their commanding vocals, effortless charm, and emotional depth, they bring decades of experience and charisma to Chicago’s largest stage for a dazzling start to the season.
Dubbed “the last leading man” by
The New York Times,
Brian Stokes Mitchell is one of Broadway’s most accomplished and dynamic performers. He won a Tony Award for
Kiss Me, Kate and earned nominations for his powerful performances in
Ragtime,
King Hedley II, and
Man of La Mancha. His rich baritone and commanding presence have made him a favorite of major symphony orchestras around the world, from Carnegie Hall to the Kennedy Center. On screen, he has appeared in
The Good Fight,
Mr. Robot, and
Madam Secretary, and voiced “Through Heaven’s Eyes” in
The Prince of Egypt. Also a skilled arranger and producer, he has released acclaimed solo albums including
Simply Broadway and
Plays With Music.
Laura Benanti, a Tony Award winner and five-time nominee, makes her Lyric debut as one of Broadway’s most luminous stars. She first took Broadway by storm at just 18 as Maria in
The Sound of Music and has since starred in ten more Broadway productions — including
Gypsy (Tony Award),
She Loves Me,
Into the Woods,
Nine (opposite Antonio Banderas),
My Fair Lady, and Steve Martin’s
Meteor Shower. On screen, she has had recurring roles in HBO’s
The Gilded Age,
Younger,
Elsbeth, and
Life & Beth, among many others. She will soon be seen as a series regular in
Mayor of Kingstown and in the film
Everything’s Going to Be Great alongside Bryan Cranston and Allison Janney. Her solo comedy show
Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares — a
New York Times Critic’s Pick — recently played to sold-out crowds at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and in London. It is now streaming on Audible.
Rob Fisher, an Emmy and Grammy nominee, returns to Lyric Opera of Chicago following his acclaimed work conducting Lyric’s 2014 production of
The Sound of Music. A leading figure in American musical theater, he was the founding music director of the Tony Award-winning Encores! series and has led major orchestras across the U.S. On Broadway, he served as score supervisor and arranger for
An American in Paris and
Anything Goes, and continues as music supervisor for
Chicago: The Musical. He has conducted concert stagings of
Carousel,
My Fair Lady, and
Sweeney Todd, and collaborated with top artists including Renée Fleming, Kristin Chenoweth, and Patti LuPone.
The Lyric Opening Concert is the centerpiece of Lyric’s
Season Opening Gala, presented by the Lyric Women’s Board. The Gala is led by Honorary Chair Shirley Welsh Ryan and chaired by Women’s Board member Suzanne Welsh Mulshine, with Karen Z. Gray-Krehbiel serving as president of the Women’s Board. Gala guests will enjoy a red carpet welcome, pre-performance cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, and premium concert seating, followed by an elegant dinner and lively dancing in the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Grand Foyer. This year’s Gala theme —
Lyric Lights Up Broadway: A Night of Glamour and Music — promises a glittering evening celebrating the performing arts.
Concert-only tickets for
Brian Stokes Mitchell & Laura Benanti in Concert start at $59 and are available at
lyricopera.org/opening-concert.
To purchase Gala seating and learn more, visit
lyricopera.org/gala.
