safronia: A Chicago story born on Chicago’s greatest stage

 

CHICAGO (4/21/2026) — Lyric Opera of Chicago has completed its triumphant, sold-out world premiere run of safronia, the landmark new opera by Chicago’s inaugural Poet Laureate avery r. young, performed April 17 and 18, 2026 at the historic Lyric Opera House.

Rooted in blues, gospel, funk, and the call-and-response traditions of the Black church, safronia tells the story of the Booker family’s return to Mississippi to bury their patriarch and reclaim land stripped from them — a reckoning with memory, inheritance, and the unfinished business of American history.

young, who composed the libretto and score, also performed in his own work as baar jacob booker — a role drawn from his own great-grandfather's journey north during the Great Migration. This world premiere, five years in the making, featured young alongside Meagan McNeal, Maiesha McQueen, Jeff Award winner Lorenzo Rush, Jr., and Grammy Award winner Zachary James as well as longtime Chicago actor Jeff Parker.

Director Timothy Douglas led a creative team built for new work, including costume designer Jessica Jahn, associate lighting designer Sarah Riffle, sound designer Stephanie Farina, video designer VAM Studio, and choreographer Kia Smith.

The Lyric Opera Orchestra, conducted by Paul Byssainthe, Jr., joined forces with members of young’s ensemble de deacon board, featuring three-time Grammy nominee and Blues Hall of Fame inductee Billy Branch on harmonica and Chicago jazz pianist Theodis Rodgers Jr. on keyboards. In total, more than 60 artists — 14 principal singers and 47 musicians — filled  the Lyric stage for these historic performances.

The spirit of safronia will live on beyond its Lyric world premiere: avery r. young and Timothy Douglas will bring a new production to Court Theatre — the Tony Award-winning professional theater of the University of Chicago — with performances May 14 – June 13, 2027. More information is at courttheatre.org/season-tickets/2026-2027-season/safronia.