Lyric Opening Gala

October 10, 2025

Upcoming Dates

October 10, 2025

Lyric Opening Gala

Join us on Friday, October 10, for Lyric Lights Up Broadway: A Night of Glamour and Music — a thrilling night of entertainment featuring Tony Award winners Brian Stokes Mitchell and Laura Benanti in concert. This year’s Lyric Opening Gala merges style and fashion with musical entertainment — every moment is sure to be a delight to the senses. From a red carpet welcome to the final dance at the after-party, this will be a glamorous and unforgettable night you won’t want to miss.

6:00 PM - Cocktail and hors d’oeuvres reception

7:00 PM - Brian Stokes Mitchell & Laura Benanti in Concert with intermission reception

9:30 PM - Dinner in the Mezzanine theater boxes or in The William B. and Catherine Graham Room,​ followed by dancing in the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Grand Foyer

The Lyric Opening Gala is a project of the Women’s Board

President Karen Z. Gray-Krehbiel
Lyric Opening Gala Honorary Chair Shirley Welsh Ryan
Lyric Opening Gala Chair Suzanne Mulshine

  • Location: Lyric Opera of Chicago, 20 N. Wacker Drive
  • Dress code: Black tie

Artists

* Lyric debut

Sponsor levels and requirements

$100,000 Showstopper Sponsor

$100,000 Showstopper Sponsor

  • 18 premium performance tickets to Brian Stokes Mitchell & Laura Benanti in Concert including:
    • Pre-performance reception at the Lyric Opera House
    • Mezzanine box seating with post-performance dinner (3 boxes with 6 seats each) or Steiner Parquet Select or Steiner Parquet Prime seating with post-performance dinner
    • Dancing with a live band post-dinner
  • Valet parking for you and all your guests at the Lyric Opera House
  • Name or logo recognition on the invitation, printed materials, and website

$75,000 Marquee Sponsor

$75,000 Marquee Sponsor

  • 12 premium performance tickets to Brian Stokes Mitchell & Laura Benanti in Concert including:
    • Pre-performance reception at the Lyric Opera House
    • Mezzanine box seating with post-performance dinner (2 boxes with 6 seats each) or Steiner Parquet Select or Steiner Parquet Prime seating with post-performance dinner
    • Dancing with a live band post-dinner
  • Valet parking for you and all your guests at the Lyric Opera House
  • Name or logo recognition on printed materials and website

$50,000 Spotlight Sponsor

$50,000 Spotlight Sponsor

  • 10 premium performance tickets to Brian Stokes Mitchell & Laura Benanti in Concert including:
    • Pre-performance reception at the Lyric Opera House
    • Mezzanine box with post-performance dinner (2 boxes) or Steiner Parquet Select or Steiner Parquet Prime with post-performance dinner
    • Dancing with a live band post-dinner
  • Valet parking for you and all your guests at the Lyric Opera House
  • Name recognition on printed materials and website

$25,000 Limelight Sponsor

$25,000 Limelight Sponsor

  • 6 premium performance tickets to Brian Stokes Mitchell & Laura Benanti in Concert including:
    • Pre-performance reception at the Lyric Opera House
    • Mezzanine box with post-performance dinner (1 box) or Steiner Parquet Select or Steiner Parquet Prime with post-performance dinner
    • Dancing with a live band post-dinner
  • Valet parking for you and all your guests at the Lyric Opera House
  • Name recognition on printed materials and website

$10,000 Glow Sponsor

$10,000 Glow Sponsor

  • 2 premium performance tickets to Brian Stokes Mitchell & Laura Benanti in Concert including:
    • Pre-performance reception at the Lyric Opera House
    • Mezzanine box with post-performance dinner or Steiner Parquet Select or Steiner Parquet Prime with post-performance dinner
    • Dancing with a live band post-dinner
  • Valet parking for you and all your guests at the Lyric Opera House
  • Name recognition on printed materials and website

$2,000 Individual Ticket

$2,000 Individual Ticket

  • 1 premium performance ticket to Brian Stokes Mitchell & Laura Benanti in Concert including:
    • Pre-performance reception at the Lyric Opera House
    • Steiner Parquet Prime with post-performance dinner
    • Dancing with a live band post-dinner
  • Valet parking for you at the Lyric Opera House

RSVP

Reservations for the Lyric Opening Gala are now closed. If interested in attending, please reach out to our Boards Office at 312.827.5676 or email [email protected].

A thank you to our sponsors

$100,000 Showstopper Sponsors

Patrick G. & Shirley Welsh Ryan

Lisbeth Stiffel

$75,000 Marquee Sponsors

Aon
ITW
Northern Trust
Ryan Specialty
Wilkie Farr & Gallagher LLP

$50,000 Spotlight Sponsors

Margarita Chavez & Mark Tatro

Karen Z. Gray-Krehbiel & John H. Krehbiel, Jr.

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Rebecca & Lester Knight

Suzanne & Brendan Mulshine

The Negaunee Foundation

Scott & Nancy Santi

Penelope R. Steiner, in honor of Karen Z. Gray-Krehbiel

$25,000 Limelight Sponsors

BMO

Mr. & Mrs. Michael P. Cole

Eisen Family Foundation

Caroline & Charlie Huebner

Karen & Neil Kawashima

Philip G. Lumpkin

Susan & Nick Noyes, Make it Better Foundation

Cathy & Bill Osborn

Anne & Chris Reyes

Segal Family Foundation

Miles D. White

$10,000 Glow Sponsors

Cabrera Capital Markets

Marie Campbell

Anne & Don Edwards

Christina & Ronald Gidwitz in honor of Shirley Ryan and Karen Z. Gray-Krehbiel

Mr. & Mrs. Julian Harvey

Annie & Gregory Jones

Lynne & Paul McDonough

Allan & Elaine Muchin

Eileen & Chris Murphy

Sylvia Neil & Dan Fischel

Mary O’Brien & Greg Pearlman

Bonnie Pritchard

Nancy S. Searle, in honor of Suzanne Mulshine & Shirley Ryan

Mr. & Mrs. Alejandro Silva

Dr. Ross Slotten & Ted A. Grady

Roberta L. Washlow & Robert J. Washlow

The deadline for sponsors to be featured on gala print materials is September 19, 2025.

Lyric’s 2025/26 Season is presented by the Robert and Penelope Steiner Family Foundation.

Lyric Opera of Chicago thanks its Official Airline, United Airlines, and acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council.