World premiere The Factotum

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.

Language: Sung in English with projected English titles
Running Time: 2 hours 20 minutes with 1 intermission
Location: Harris Theater

ASL-interpreted performance

All dialogue and lyrics will be translated into American Sign Language by two certified interpreters located near the stage. Select seats are reserved to give you the best sight lines to follow the interpretation and all the action on stage.
Audio-described performance

Audio-described performances include a narration which guides the listener through the presentation with concise, objective descriptions of new scenes, settings, costumes, and body language, communicated to the patron through headphones at appropriate times throughout the performance. Devices may be borrowed from coat check 1 on the main floor.
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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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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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

Matthew Ozawa talks new opera at Lyric

Join us for a conversation on new works with Lyric’s Chief Artistic Administration Officer, Matthew Ozawa

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.”

Will Liverman **

Co-Creator & Mike

Will Liverman

Co-Creator & Mike

Ryan Opera Center alumnus

The American baritone and Ryan Opera Center alumnus earned critical acclaim as Dizzy Gillespie/Charlie Parker’s YARDBIRD .

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DJ King Rico *

Co-Creator

DJ King Rico

Co-Creator

Artist bio coming soon.

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Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj *

Co-Book Writer, Director, Dramaturg

Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj

Co-Book Writer, Director, Dramaturg

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Martin Luther Clark ***

CJ

Martin Luther Clark

Tenor

Ryan Opera Center Ensemble

Third-year Ryan Opera Center tenor Martin Luther Clark recently completed his studies at the Curtis Institute of Music, receiving a master’s degree in opera.

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Cecilia Violetta López *

Rose

Cecilia Violetta López

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Norman Garrett

Garby

Norman Garrett

Garby

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Melody Betts

Chantel

Melody Betts

Chantel

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Nissi Shalome *

Cece

Nissi Shalome

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Symone Harcum *

Sandra

Symone Harcum

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Lunga Eric Hallam ***

Bootleg Joe

Lunga Eric Hallam

Tenor

Ryan Opera Center Ensemble

Third-year Ryan Opera Center tenor Lunga Eric Hallam is from Khayelitsha, South Africa.

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Terrence Chin-Loy

Charlie

Terrence Chin-Loy

Charlie

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Adam Richardson *

Leeroy

Adam Richardson

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Ron Dukes ***

Sam

Ron Dukes

Bass

Ryan Opera Center Ensemble

First-year Ryan Opera Center bass Ron Dukes is from Indianapolis, IN.

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Di'Aire Wilson *

Neil

Di'Aire Wilson

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Kedrick Armstrong *

Conductor

Kedrick Armstrong

Conductor

Music Supervisor Kendrick Armstrong's Lyric credits include We Got Next (2017/18).

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Maleek Washington

Choreographer

Maleek Washington

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Devario Simmons *

Costume Designer

Devario Simmons

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Harlan Penn *

Set Designer

Harlan Penn

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Roma Flowers

Video Designer

Roma Flowers

Video Designer

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Mikaela Fraser *

Sound Designer

Mikaela Fraser

Sound Designer

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Jiyoun Chang *

Lighting Designer

Jiyoun Chang

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