The Factotum

February 03. 2023 - February 12. 2023

February 03. 2023 - February 12. 2023

World premiere The Factotum

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Grammy-nominated baritone Will Liverman, a Ryan Opera Center alumnus, is rapidly rising to national prominence and recently triumphed at the Metropolitan Opera. Now he joins dynamic producer/DJ/multi-instrumentalist DJ King Rico in creating a new work inspired by Rossini's The Barber of Seville that has grown into a joyful, original piece all its own, commissioned by Lyric. Updating the action to a Black barbershop on Chicago's South Side, this gifted duo has created an irresistibly upbeat work that celebrates the strength of community. The Factotum blends diverse musical styles with boundless imagination to create a soul opera, moving from gospel and funk to rap, hip-hop, classic barbershop quartet, and R&B. Those styles connect brilliantly with classical singing in a very human comedy that redefines everything that opera can be.

The Factotum addresses adult themes and contains adult language.

The Factotum will have an at-home streaming option available in 2023.

  • Language: Sung in English with projected English titles
  • Running Time: 2 hours and 30 minutes, including one intermission
  • Location: Harris Theater

Concept, Music, and Lyrics by Will Liverman and DJ King Rico
Book by Will Liverman, DJ King Rico, and Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj
Dramaturgy by Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj

Commissioned by Lyric Opera of Chicago and Houston Grand Opera. Co-production of Lyric Opera of Chicago, Houston Grand Opera, Portland Opera, and Washington National Opera.

 

Lyric’s world premiere of The Factotum is generously made possible by the Ford Foundation, The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center Board, Roberta L. & Robert J. Washlow, the John R. and Grace K. Stanek Charitable Fund, Gene & Jean Stark, OPERA America, the Bill & Orli Staley Foundation, Mary Stowell, the Eisen Family Foundation, an Anonymous Donor, and Laurel Appell Lipkin.

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

Videos

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Breaking Down the Score of THE FACTOTUM

Pulling inspiration from diverse musical genres like funk, hip-hop, barbershop quartet, trap, and more, The Factotum is a new kind of opera. In this video, hear how co-creators Will Liverman and DJ King Rico were able to weave in so many musical styles and modern touches while still allowing the classical voice to shine.

Inside THE FACTOTUM: "Legacy"

Grammy-nominated baritone Will Liverman and multi-instrumentalist DJ King Rico are shaping their own legacy as co-creators of The Factotum. Hear them put the finishing touches on one of Mike’s arias, “Legacy,” in this video and see it all come together onstage February 3-12 in the world premiere of this exciting new work.

Creating The Factotum

What does it take to bring a new opera to life? Find out in this behind-the-scenes documentary by Chicago filmmaker Raphael Nash. Follow the development of The Factotum, a new opera inspired by Rossini's The Barber of Seville, created by acclaimed baritone and Ryan Opera Center alumnus Will Liverman and DJ/recording artist DJ King Rico.

Images

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Nissi Shalome as Cece and Norman Garrett as Garby in The Factotum (2022/23 Season).

Photo: Cory Weaver

The Company of The Factotum (2022/23 Season).

Photo: Cory Weaver

The Company of The Factotum (2022/23 Season).

Photo: Cory Weaver

The Company of The Factotum (2022/23 Season).

Photo: Cory Weaver

Will Liverman as Mike in The Factotum (2022/23 Season).

Photo: Cory Weaver

Co-Creator, DJ King Rico, in The Factotum (2022/23 Season).

Photo: Cory Weaver

Articles

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By Dr. Naomi André

Expanding the tradition

The Factotum celebrates Black joy, merges influences, and widens our view of what opera can be. The co-creators who made this “everything” opera are Will Liverman and Rocket Jackson, two artists who grew up knowing each other at the Governor’s School for the Arts in Virginia when they were voice students studying opera and music in high school. While Liverman stayed with opera, Jackson moved into jazz, hip hop, and production to become DJ King Rico. Both got their early music exposure in the Black church, primarily through gospel. Given their musical fluency, it is not surprising that The Factotum comprises a wide range of musical styles — almost a little of everything from gospel, barbershop quartet, R&B, and jazz to funk, hip hop, and trap.
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The baddest shop in town

Master Kutz is a family-owned, neighborhood barbershop located on the South Side of Chicago — at least, it exists there in the fictional world of THE FACTOTUM, a soulful comedy making its world premiere at Lyric this season. And like any business, real or imagined, it has to have a presence on Yelp. We found a profile of the small business, with plenty of revealing reviews.
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A vision of hope

Among the most visible of Lyric's community engagement activities surrounding The Factotum is a series of colorful murals appearing around Chicago. Lyric commissioned Chicago artist Barrett Keithley to create the set, inspired by the themes of the opera.
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Q&A with Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj

As opening night of the world premiere of The Factotum approaches, we had a chat with co-book writer, director, and dramaturg Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj. In this interview, read about his experience working with co-creators Will Liverman and DJ King Rico, the importance of connecting art and activism, his dreams for the opera’s legacy, and more!
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THE FACTOTUM inspiration playlist

Co-creators Will Liverman and DJ King Rico are expanding the sonic bounds of contemporary American opera as they draw from various genres — including gospel, funk, rap, hip-hop, classic barbershop quartet, and R&B — to tell the story of THE FACTOTUM. This playlist features some of the music the two composers were listening to and inspired by as they wrote this new work.
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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.”
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Meet the artists

  • Will Liverman

    Will Liverman **

    Co-Creator & Mike

  • DJ King Rico

    DJ King Rico *

    Co-Creator

  • Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj

    Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj *

    Co-Book Writer, Director, Dramaturg

  • Martin Luther Clark

    Martin Luther Clark ***

    CJ

  • Cecilia Violetta López

    Cecilia Violetta López *

    Rose

  • Norman Garrett

    Norman Garrett

    Garby

  • Melody Betts

    Melody Betts

    Chantel

  • Nissi Shalome

    Nissi Shalome *

    Cece

  • Symone Harcum

    Symone Harcum *

    Sandra

  • Lunga Eric Hallam

    Lunga Eric Hallam ***

    Bootleg Joe

  • Terrence Chin-Loy

    Terrence Chin-Loy

    Charlie

  • Adam Richardson

    Adam Richardson *

    Leeroy

  • Ron Dukes

    Ron Dukes ***

    Sam

  • Di'Aire Wilson

    Di'Aire Wilson *

    Neil

  • Kedrick Armstrong

    Kedrick Armstrong *

    Conductor

  • Maleek Washington

    Maleek Washington

    Choreographer

  • Devario Simmons

    Devario Simmons *

    Costume Designer

  • Harlan Penn

    Harlan Penn *

    Set Designer

  • Roma Flowers

    Roma Flowers

    Video Designer

  • Mikaela Fraser

    Mikaela Fraser *

    Sound Designer

  • Jiyoun Chang

    Jiyoun Chang *

    Lighting Designer

* Lyric debut

*** Ryan Opera Center Ensemble

** Ryan Opera Center alum

Program book

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

VIEW DIGITAL PROGRAM BOOK

Original mural artwork by Barrett Keithley commissioned by Lyric Opera of Chicago. Photo: Todd Rosenberg.