Proximity

March 24. 2023 - April 08. 2023

Wednesday
03/29/2023
7:00 PM

Tickets

Starting at $40

Wednesday
04/05/2023
2:00 PM

Tickets

Starting at $40

Saturday
04/08/2023
7:30 PM

Tickets

Starting at $70

March 24. 2023 - April 08. 2023

Tickets

World premiere Proximity

Sure to be one of the most widely heralded musical events of 2022/23, Proximity is a gripping, powerful trio of new works that confronts head-on some of the greatest challenges affecting us as a society: yearning for connection in a world driven by technology; the devastating impact of gun violence on cities and neighborhoods; and the need to respect and protect our natural resources. As the story zooms in and out from the individual to the community to the cosmic, we find ourselves in a compelling snapshot of 21st century life, with all of its complex intersections and commonalities. This new Lyric commission, bringing together a complement of some of the most important creative minds of our time, including winners of the Pulitzer Prize, Grammy Awards, and the MacArthur Genius Grant, promises to be by turns riveting, provocative, and inspiring.

The Walkers Composed by Daniel Bernard Roumain with libretto by Anna Deavere Smith.
Four Portraits Composed by Caroline Shaw with libretto by Caroline Shaw and Jocelyn Clarke.
Night Composed by John Luther Adams with libretto by John Haines.

Content advisory: Proximity features adult content that may not be suitable for some audiences, including detailed, firsthand accounts of gun violence, death by gun violence, and profanity. Proximity also includes themes related to loneliness, isolation, and climate change.

  • Language: Sung in English with projected English titles
  • Running Time: 2 hours 15 minutes with 1 intermission
  • Location: Lyric Opera House

Lyric’s world premiere of Proximity is generously made possible by an Anonymous Donor, OPERA America, and support from the National Endowment for the Arts.

 

Additional support is provided by Lyric Opera of Chicago's Production Circle. 

Sunday, March 26 Post-Show Panel

Creating Change: Arts and Activism

Creating Change: Arts and Activism

“The role of the artist is that of the soldier of the revolution.”
-Diego Rivera

Through captivating music and compelling words, Proximity addresses three major issues that affect us all, and every day, artists around the world are using the arts to create change on the ground. Following the matinee performance on Sunday, March 26, audience members are invited to stay for a conversation with those working at the intersection of arts and activism, using different forms of expression to ignite change every day. Chaz Ebert, CEO of The Ebert Company and member of the Lyric Opera of Chicago Board of Directors, will moderate this conversation.

This program is dedicated to the memory of Joseph London Smith, grandson of Chaz Ebert.

Videos

Swipe

Daniel Bernard Roumain on the musical language of THE WALKERS (PROXIMITY)

Haitian-American composer Daniel Bernard Roumain (@dbrmusic) discusses the influence of Black American music — from hip-hop to jazz, rock, and soul — on his newest opera, The Walkers.

Get a glimpse inside an early working rehearsal and see the fully realized production of this genre-bending work onstage as part of Proximity

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents the world premiere of PROXIMITY

Sure to be one of the most widely heralded musical events of 2022/23, Proximity is a gripping, powerful trio of new works that confronts head-on some of the greatest challenges affecting us as a society: yearning for connection in a world driven by technology; the devastating impact of gun violence on cities and neighborhoods; and the need to respect and protect our natural resources. As the story zooms in and out from the individual to the community to the cosmic, we find ourselves in a compelling snapshot of 21st century life, with all of its complex intersections and commonalities. This new Lyric commission, bringing together a complement of some of the most important creative minds of our time, including winners of the Pulitzer Prize, Grammy Awards, and the MacArthur Genius Grant, promises to be by turns riveting, provocative, and inspiring.

Proximity: Creating a World Premiere

Proximity: Creating a World Premiere is a documentary co-produced by Lyric Unlimited, Learning & Creative Engagement and Street Level, a program of Urban Gateways that explores the making of a trio of new American operas by Lyric Opera of Chicago. Featuring interviews with the director, composers, librettists, and community collaborators; the film explores the creative process, the challenges of bringing a new opera to life, and the importance of community engagement.

John Holiday and Zoie Reams on working with living composers

Much of the traditional operatic repertoire was created long ago, leaving any future interpretation up to directors, conductors, and individual artists. In this episode of "Mixing it Up," Proximity stars John Holiday and Zoie Reams discuss the perks of collaborating with living composers and librettists like Caroline Shaw, Daniel Bernard Roumain, Anna Deavere Smith, and John Luther Adams.

Anna Deavere Smith on THE WALKERS (PROXIMITY)

Award-winning actress and playwright Anna Deavere Smith is known for her hit roles in dramas like The West Wing, Nurse Jackie, and more. However, it was her documentary-style play "Notes from the Field" that inspired Renée Fleming to bring her on board for Lyric's newest world premiere opera, Proximity. In The Walkers, Smith transforms first-hand accounts from Chicagoans into a searing libretto set to music by composer Daniel Bernard Roumain. 

PROXIMITY: A first look at the innovative set design

Composed of 440 LED panels, the high-tech set for Proximity is unlike anything you've ever seen before. Hear how this groundbreaking design evolved from director Yuval Sharon and production designer Jason H. Thompson, and watch the infinite possibilities unfold onstage March 24-April 8.

Yuval Sharon introduces you to PROXIMITY: A TRIO OF NEW AMERICAN OPERAS

Sure to be one of the most widely heralded musical events of 2022/23, Proximity is a gripping, powerful trio of new works that confronts head-on some of the greatest challenges affecting us as a society: yearning for connection in a world driven by technology; the devastating impact of gun violence on cities and neighborhoods; and the need to respect and protect our natural resources.

Photos

Swipe

Whitney Morrison as Yasmine Miller, Gordon Hawkins as Preacherman, and the company of Lyric's 2022/23 Season production of Proximity. 

Zoie Reams as Sibyl in Lyric's 2022/23 Season production of Proximity.  

Gordon Hawkins as Preacher Man and the company of Proximity (2022/23 Season).

Lucia Lucas as B, Whitney Morrison as Yasmine Miller, Kathryn Henry as Passenger 1, Lindsey Reynolds as Passenger 2, Stephani Sanchez as Passenger 3, Kathleen Felty as Passenger 4, Cornelius Johnson as Passenger 5, Alejandro Luévanos as Passenger 6, and Darren Drone as Passenger 7 in Lyric's 2022/23 Season production of Proximity. 

Kearstin Piper Brown as Chief's Daughter #1 and Jamion Cotten as Lil' Bunchy Bates in Lyric's 2022/23 Season production of Proximity. 

Lindsey Reynolds as Very Loud Girl, Zoie Reams as Chief's Daughter #2, and the company of Proximity (2022/23). 

Lucia Lucas as B, John Holiday as A, and the company of Proximity (2022/23 Season).

Issachah Savage as Curtis Toler, Jamion Cotten as Lil' Bunchy Bates, and the company of Proximity (2022/23 Season). 

Articles

by Matthew Ozawa, Chief Artistic Administration Officer

Speaking of the present

The great opera houses of the world have fostered new work for as long as the art form has existed — taking risks and making investments, cultivating emerging talent and expanding audiences. Here in Chicago, Chief Artistic Administration Officer Matthew Ozawa shares how Lyric is evolving and expanding the art form.
Read More
Swipe

Notes on Night

Composer John Luther Adams discusses his collaboration with poet John Haines and the meaning behind his new work, Night.
Read More

Notes on The Walkers

Composer Daniel Bernard Roumain and librettist Anna Deavere Smith share insights into the creation of their world premiere opera, The Walkers.
Read More

Notes on Four Portraits

Composer Caroline Shaw and co-librettist Jocelyn Clark dive into the inspirations behind their new opera, Four Portraits in this creators' note.
Read More
by Yuval Sharon

Proximity Director's Note

The ultimate irony in working on a project called Proximity is that most of it was made in the era of "social distance." Hear how this world premiere opera went from idea to reality in this director's note from Yuval Sharon.
Read More
By Graham Meyer

Seeing ourselves: new work at Lyric

“I believe opera is for everyone,” says Anthony Freud, Lyric’s General Director, President & CEO. “Lyric has an unswerving commitment to exploring the great works of the operatic repertoire, mining their power and relevance. But I understand that the heritage repertoire may not have obvious appeal to everyone. I want us to find and create new works that will both thrill the existing opera lover and intrigue and excite people who have never been in the building before.”
Read More

Meet the artists

  • John Holiday

    John Holiday *

    A

  • Lucia Lucas

    Lucia Lucas *

    B

  • Whitney Morrison

    Whitney Morrison **

    Yasmine Miller

  • Kearstin Piper Brown

    Kearstin Piper Brown

    Chief's Daughter #1

  • Zoie Reams

    Zoie Reams

    Soloist / Chief's Daughter #2

  • Gordon Hawkins

    Gordon Hawkins

    Preacher Man

  • Issachah Savage

    Issachah Savage

    Curtis Toler

  • Norman Garrett

    Norman Garrett

    Bilal

  • Kamari Saxon

    Kamari Saxon

    Chief's Son #2

  • Ron Dukes

    Ron Dukes ***

    Chief's Son #1 / Passenger 8

  • Kathryn Henry

    Kathryn Henry ***

    Passenger 1

  • Lindsey Reynolds

    Lindsey Reynolds ***

    Passenger 2 / Very Loud Girl

  • Stephanie Sanchez

    Stephanie Sanchez

    Passenger 3

  • Kathleen Felty

    Kathleen Felty **

    Passenger 4

  • Cornelius Johnson

    Cornelius Johnson

    Passenger 5

  • Alejandro Luévanos

    Alejandro Luévanos ***

    Passenger 6

  • Darren Drone

    Darren Drone

    Passenger 7

  • Jeff Parker

    Jeff Parker *

    Arne Duncan

  • Jamion Cotten

    Jamion Cotten

    Lil' Bunchy Bates

  • Corinne Wallace-Crane

    Corinne Wallace-Crane

    GPS

  • Daniel Bernard Roumain

    Daniel Bernard Roumain

    Composer

  • Anna Deavere Smith

    Anna Deavere Smith

    Librettist

  • Caroline Shaw

    Caroline Shaw

    Composer & Librettist

  • Jocelyn Clarke

    Jocelyn Clarke

    Librettist

  • John Luther Adams

    John Luther Adams

    Composer

  • John Haines

    John Haines

    Librettist

  • Kazem Abdullah

    Kazem Abdullah *

    Conductor

  • Yuval Sharon

    Yuval Sharon

    Director

  • Jason H. Thompson

    Jason H. Thompson

    Production Designer

  • Kaitlyn Pietras

    Kaitlyn Pietras

    Production Designer

  • Carlos J Soto

    Carlos J Soto

    Costume Designer

  • Jody Elff

    Jody Elff

    Sound Designer

  • Michael Black

    Michael Black

    Chorus Master

  • Josephine Lee

    Josephine Lee

    Children's Chorus Master

  • Rena Butler

    Rena Butler

    Choreographer

  • Renée Fleming

    Renée Fleming

    Curator

 

CORNELIUS JOHNSON
PASSENGER 5

 

UNITING VOICES CHICAGO

 

* Lyric debut
** Ryan Opera Center alumnus
*** Ryan Opera Center Ensemble

Program book

Go inside this production of Proximity with engaging articles, notes from the director, a complete plot synopsis, artist bios, and more.

VIEW DIGITAL PROGRAM BOOK