Welcome to Our House

Sheran Goodspeed Keyton, Director of Civic Engagement at Lyric, has a warning for anyone who is coming to the opera house for the Explore Your Lyric event on April 26. "There's no way you can do it all," she says. "I'm hoping that families will sit down together ahead of time and really build their own adventure."

It's wise counsel. When the opera house opens its doors that day, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the offerings are so plentiful that the three hours are sure to fly by.

Formerly known as Family Day, the event began in 2018, and returned the next year to great success (meaning not only great attendance, but a great time for close to 1,000 guests). The pandemic interrupted the activity — but it returns this spring full of innovative and engaging activities that go beyond basic enjoyment. "We were always going to have our expert Lyric makeup artists on hand to do face painting," Keyton notes. "But by adding display copies of the drawings that makeup designers submit to directors, people will see how things evolve from concept to sketch to a full face of makeup. Even though our face painting will include flowers and butterflies and stuff like that, it will be connecting the two in a fun and educational way."

That's a big part of the magic: parents and children get an up-close look at the expertise required to bring grand opera to life. It's an ideal entryway for guests of all ages to understand and relate to the many elements of opera — the kind of connection that can create fans for life. Conceived and produced by Lyric Unlimited staff, and activated with the help of numerous volunteers from Bank of America, the main sponsor, Explore Your Lyric is a day meant to pull back the curtain and foster appreciation of our grand art form.

Of course, the best thing to experience in the opera house is live performance, and this year the centerpiece element will be two performances of Frida Kahlo and the Bravest Girl in the World, a story about facing your fears, learning new things, and the power of friendship. This season, the production has toured the city as the main offering of Lyric Unlimited's Opera in the Neighborhoods initiative, which provides complimentary performances to school groups, close to where they live and attend class. The 40-minute youth opera will be presented twice, at 11:15 a.m and 1:15 p.m.

Based on the acclaimed book by author and illustrator Laurence Anholt, the story follows the real-life friendship of Mariana, a young girl living in the heart of Mexico City, and Frida Kahlo, the famed artist. When Mariana plucks up her courage to meet Frida, a friendship blossoms between them. As well as a chance to meet Kahlo's husband, the painter Diego Rivera, the charming show also features a singing parrot, dog, and monkey.

Between the two performances, attendees have a rare opportunity to "Peek in the Pit." The activity, running from noon to 1 p.m., offers a birds-eye view of the orchestra pit, a first-hand discussion with orchestra members, and a chance to see their instruments up close.

Those planning to attend the event would do well to take a look at the menu of options they will encounter. Here's a partial list:

Photo Booth/Costume Design
A mini-museum containing elaborate costumes, and a chance to create a keepsake photo.

¡Anímate! Studio/Set Building
An interactive installation about the skillsets involved in building opera sets.

Meet the Maestro
Chat with Lyric Music Director Enrique Mazzola.

Mobile Street Art Cart/Set Design
Artist William Estrada will be on hand, helping guests to create make-and-take art.

Audio Engineering
Alongside a display of audio equipment, J. Mayberry Events will provide live music for the entire event.

The Magic of the Spellbinder
Live performance of family-friendly tricks, featuring Walter King.

Stage Combat
Safe, expert sessions teaching this critical aspect of theatrical performance. Two 20-minute sessions, at 12:05 p.m. and 12:35 p.m

Jasmin Cardenas
Multiple workshops offered throughout the day by expert storyteller Jasmin Cardenas, for different groups organized by age.

Renaming the event Explore Your Lyric was an intentional choice by Afton Battle, Vice President, Lyric Unlimited & Artistic Operations, meant to signal that the space is truly open to all.

"This is an opportunity for anyone to actually come into the opera house and learn who we are, what we do, and why we do it, and hopefully become greater connoisseurs of art," Keyton adds. "We don't at all want to exclude people who don't have little ones."

Lyric Opera of Chicago strives to define the concept of "accessibility" in the broadest terms — the ticket price for the day is quite affordable, for instance — and Explore Your Lyric is a good example of the approach. "I've come to realize over time that when you say the word 'accessibility,' people think of ADA compliance. But it's larger than that. It's about a sense of being welcome. Opera doesn't have to mean putting on a fur coat or a ball gown. You can bring people who may not be opera lovers yet, but they'll get a taste of it and then leave loving it."

On April 26, Lyric will swing its doors wide open for Explore Your Lyric, an afternoon of smart fun for opera fans (and not-yet fans) of all ages.