The provocative thriller The Listeners, the new opera by Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek, opens Sunday, March 30 at Lyric

View The Listeners images here

CHICAGO (3/28/2025) — Called "the unmissable opera of the season" by The New York Times, Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek’s The Listeners takes the Lyric Opera of Chicago stage beginning Sunday, March 30 for a limited run of five performances. The Listeners is based on a story by author Jordan Tannahill.

Chicago native Nicole Heaston stars as Claire, whose life is shattered by an unplaceable and persistent hum. She is joined by Kyle Ketelsen as Howard, the eventual cult-like leader of “the listeners," and Jasmine Habersham as Claire’s outspoken daughter, Ashley. The opera also features Daniela Mack, Jonas Hacker, Zachary Nelson, and John Moore.

Music Director Enrique Mazzola commands the Lyric Opera Orchestra through Mazzoli’s haunting and seductive score. Mikhaela Mahony revives the immersive production of original director Lileana Blain-Cruz, whose work will also be seen in Chicago this spring in the Goodman Theatre's production of Zora Howard's Bust.

Lyric is an original co-commissioner and co-producer of this darkly comedic and thought-provoking new work, continuing our ongoing commitment of creating and fostering the next generation of opera.

We hope audiences will join us and succumb to the hum of The Listeners — on stage at Lyric March 30 through April 11.

View The Listeners Images Here

A high-resolution video trailer will be available soon on Lyric's YouTube channel and in Lyric's online press room.

Read the digital program book of The Listeners before the performance.

Performance dates for The Listeners are March 30 matinee; April 2, 5, 8, and 11. All performances take place at the Lyric Opera House, 20 North Wacker Drive, Chicago.

Content Advisory: The Listeners includes explicit language and sexual content, along with brief mentions of self-harm and suicide, that may be triggering or uncomfortable to some audience members. This production also includes the occasional use of strobing/flashing lights and theatrical gunfire. Recommended for mature audiences.

Performed in English with projected English titles above the stage.

A total running time of 2 hours and 30 minutes, including one intermission.

Audio description and a guided touch tour of the set are available at the Sunday, March 30 matinee performance. American Sign Language interpretation and SoundShirts are available at the Wednesday, April 2 evening performance. Braille and large-print programs, high-powered opera glasses, assistive listening devices, and booster seats are available from the main floor coat checks at all performances. For more information on these and other accessibility assets, visit lyricopera.org/accessibility.

Co-commissioned and co-produced by Lyric Opera of Chicago, Norwegian National Opera, and Opera Philadelphia.

Music by Missy Mazzoli. Libretto by Royce Vavrek. Based on a story by Jordan Tannahill.

For tickets and information, call 312.827.5600 or go to lyricopera.org/listeners.

^{Lyric’s presentation of Mazzoli and Vavrek’s The Listeners is generously made possible by Lead Sponsor the Robert and Penelope Steiner Family Foundation with additional support from production sponsor the Zell Family Foundation.}

^{Maestro Enrique Mazzola is generously sponsored by Alice & John Butler, H. Gael Neeson, Sylvia Neil & Daniel Fischel, and the Robert and Penelope Steiner Family Foundation as members of the Enrique Circle.}

^{Major support for The New Work Fund provided by the Robert and Penelope Steiner Family Foundation, David W. Carpenter and Orit K. Carpenter, in loving memory of David W. Carpenter, and Virginia Tobiason.}