Meet the leads of "safronia"

For two performances only, Lyric presents the world premiere of safronia, a new musical work by Chicago’s first Poet Laureate, avery r. young. Blending gospel, blues, funk, and soul with poetic storytelling, this Afro-surrealist meditation on the Great Migration centers on the Booker family as they return South to bury their patriarch — and confront what was taken from them. 

Rooted in the music young grew up with, and shaped by the traditions of the Black church, safronia brings a sound world that feels lived-in, rhythmic, and driving into the grand space of the Lyric Opera House. It is both funky and operatic at the same time — music that propels us forward, invites response, and expands what opera can feel like. Bringing that vision to life is a multi-talented cast whose work spans opera, Broadway, television, and Chicago’s music scene.

avery r. young stars as baar booker, the patriarch of the booker family, in the world premiere of his own opera. young composed the music and wrote the libretto for safronia, marking his first full operatic work for Lyric following his acclaimed collaboration on Twilight: Gods (2020/21 Season), where he served as librettist, helping reimagine Wagner’s Ring cycle through a distinctly Chicago lens. That partnership laid the groundwork for safronia, a project that brings young’s poetic voice, musical roots, and lived experience fully onto the Lyric stage. 

young is a 3Arts Awardee, Cave Canem fellow, educator, and co-director of The Floating Museum. His poetry has appeared in The BreakBeat Poets, Poetry magazine, and alongside Cecil McDonald Jr.’s photography in In The Company of Black. His interdisciplinary work spans music, performance, visual art, and sound design, and he tours with his band, de deacon board.

Meagan McNeal makes her Lyric debut portraying safronia booker, the mercurial and determined daughter at the center of this story. A Chicago-born singer/songwriter known for her radiant stage presence and genre-spanning voice, McNeal has collaborated with Makaya McCraven, Common, The O’Jays, Eminem, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. She gained national recognition on NBC’s The Voice in 2017 under the mentorship of Jennifer Hudson and has since performed across the United States and Europe. A frequent soloist in the CSO’s Notes for Peace concerts, she brings her soulful, expansive sound to the title role this spring.

Maiesha McQueen makes her Lyric debut as magnolia booker, the family’s regal and steady matriarch. An award-winning vocalist and actor, McQueen’s work spans Broadway, regional theater, soul performance, and contemporary music. She has earned acclaim for her portrayals of Mahalia Jackson and Celie in The Color Purple, receiving multiple regional honors. A frequent collaborator in the development of new work, she most recently debuted her solo concert at The Green Room 42 in New York City.

Lorenzo Rush, Jr. makes his Lyric debut portraying king willie tate, safronia’s husband and a man determined to build something of his own. A Joseph Jefferson Award–winning performer, Rush has appeared at Marriott Theatre, Paramount Theatre, Porchlight Music Theatre, Drury Lane Theatre, Goodman Theatre, and Court Theatre. His television credits include Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., Fargo, and Sirens. He is also a recipient of a Black Theater Alliance Award.

Jeff Parker returns to Lyric as bossman, the landowner whose authority and quiet menace loom over the Booker family’s fate. Parker previously appeared at Lyric in Proximity (2022/23) as Arne Duncan in The Walkers. He has performed at nearly every major Chicago theater, including Goodman, Steppenwolf, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Writers Theatre, Court Theatre, and Marriott Theatre. He received a Joseph Jefferson Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical for Nine at Porchlight and was part of the Jeff Award–winning ensemble of The Brother/Sister Plays at Steppenwolf. His screen credits include Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., Chicago Med, The Chi, and numerous film projects.

Zachary James makes his Lyric debut portraying cholly, a figure who appears both as the town’s records official in the South and later as a physician in the North. A Grammy Award–winning bass-baritone known for his commanding stage presence, James performs internationally across opera, Broadway, and symphonic repertoire. His recent and upcoming engagements include Philip Glass’ Akhnaten at Gran Teatre del Liceu and LA Opera, and appearances with the Metropolitan Opera, English National Opera, and Opera Philadelphia.

For two nights only, April 17 and 18, 2026, audiences can experience the world premiere of safronia at the Lyric Opera House. Come ready to listen, to feel, and to experience opera in a different way. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or stepping inside the opera house for the first time, safronia offers something immediate, communal, and alive.