Lyric Opera Production Photos from The Mikado
by Karen Almond

Lyric Opera Presents Classic Comedic Opera
slideshow by Julie Denesha for KCUR.org

For more information about the Lyric Opera production of The Mikado, click here.

The Mikado, photo by Karen Almond.

The reviews are in for The Mikado.  See what the critics said below and if you attended the show, share your experience.  As reviews come in they will be added.

Libby Hansen for The Kansas City Star
Lyric Opera’s ‘The Mikado’ sets just the right tone
“Tenor Joshua Kohl and soprano Sarah Jane McMahon were sweetly matched, vocally and personality-wise, and in their delightful duet.”

Paul Horsley for The Independent
NIGHT AT THE OPERETTA: Lyric delivers G&S favorite with punch and sumptuous visuals
“the Lyric’s production, which closes the company’s 2012-13 season, is a treat for the eye and the ear.”

Karen Hauge for KCMetropolis.org
Terrific topsy-turvydom in the town of Titipu
“The Lyric’s production of “The Mikado” is pure sunshine, full of bubbly energy, side-splitting humor, and pitch-perfect performances that range from tender to witty to ridiculous.”

Kelly Luck for KC Stage
Lyric’s Mikado Tries Too hard, Succeeds Anyway
“Musically, the performance is everything you could ask for. The principals and chorus were in fine voice throughout the opening night performance, and the orchestra under Mark Ferrell does right by Sullivan’s score.”

Alexia Lang for The Vignette
2 Thumbs Up For ‘Mikado’
“the Lyric Opera’s retelling of “Mikado” is funny, charming and surprising all rolled into one.”

For more information about the Lyric Opera production of The Mikado, click here.

To learn more about or purchase tickets to the all new Lyric Opera production of The Mikado, click here.

The Mikado photo by Cory Weaver for Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre

The Lyric Opera production of The Mikado by Gilbert and Sullivan opens at the Kauffman Center on Saturday and this past Sunday The Kansas City Star featured a preview article about the new production.  If you missed the article, click the headline below to learn more about this hilarious operetta.

Patrick Neas for The Kansas City Star
Lyric Opera launches the wacky, absurd ‘Mikado’

For more information about the Lyric Opera production of The Mikado, click here.

Much of the work on the set for the new Lyric Opera production of The Mikado is finished at this point, but don’t think the painters or crew are done just yet. While the move to the Muriel Kauffman Theatre stage began earlier this week, work continued at a furious pace, especially in the paint room. The stage deck has been finished and moved, the final set of scrolls are being wrapped up, and the feature that many are sure to remember, the turntable, was completed and is now on stage. In addition paint is being added to some of the last screens and touch-up work will begin at the theater.  The Company owes a big thanks to all those who helped turn wood, metal and paint into what our patrons will see on stage during The Mikado next weekend. Great work everyone!

For more information about the upcoming Lyric Opera production of The Mikado, click here.

Lee Hartman at KCMETROPOLIS.org
INTERVIEW: Denyce Graves, mezzo-soprano

Official Press Release
Lyric Opera of Kansas City Presents The Mikado

For more information about the upcoming Lyric Opera production of The Mikado, click here.

With a little under a week to have the set for The Mikado ready to move to Muriel Kauffman Theatre at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, work will be happening all weekend as the crew and painters work to complete the set. This week metal work for the trellis’ is mostly finished, with work concentrated on adding plywood. In addition painting has finished on the second set scrolls, the sky scrolls, and continued on a number of screen panels that will be seen on stage during The Mikado. Prep work on the shows electrics also began, and rehearsal with the full cast began last weekend. Just imagine how much will be done in the next week!

For more information about the upcoming Lyric Opera production of The Mikado, click here.

Chris Carr

Chris Carr recently took some time to answer 10 questions about his life as a opera singer and student.  Mr. Carr, who will be starring as Pish Tush in The Mikado, is in his second year in the Lyric Opera/UMKC Apprentice Program and has some exciting plans after he finishes at UMKC this spring. Read below as Mr. Carr talks about how his interest in opera began and why he probably knows how to ride a horse!

1.  How did your initial interest in the art form of opera begin?
Mr. Carr: My interest of opera grew during college. I had begun college as a performance major in saxophone and was taking voice lessons for scholarship money. I was put in a production the first semester and I haven’t looked back.

2.  Where did you grow up?
Mr. Carr: I grew up in Quasqueton, IA. A small town in Eastern Iowa with a population around 500-600 people. My mother is a horseback riding instructor so we moved there when I was young to start our own farm.

3.  What is an average day like for you? Do you have a set routine?
Mr. Carr: An average day for me consists of just a few key things. Rehearsals/practicing, workout, and keeping social. I have no set routines, but I consider it an good day when all three of those things happen.

4.  What is your favorite opera to watch/experience?
Mr. Carr: Tough question, but probably Pagliacci. It was the first opera I ever saw that made me realize that I wanted to be an opera singer.

5.  What was the first opera to watched/experienced?
Mr. Carr: I believe the first opera I saw was The Magic Flute, when I was probably 12 or so. Funny thing is I hated it! I had no interest in opera and I remember spending the night being fidgety and bored.

6.  What language(s) do you speak fluently?
Mr. Carr: Just English

7. What have you learned or experienced during your apprenticeship with the Lyric Opera that has been most helpful? Alternatively, what do you hope to get out of your apprenticeship with the Company?
Mr. Carr: I have been fortunate enough to have the time to understudy several roles in my time here. It gives me a great chance to see how the professionals work on a daily basis and more importantly to me, I get to meet them and connect with people I don’t know. Meeting new people is one of my favorite parts of this job.

As far as what I hope to get out of it, this season is giving me those things. I have some good roles this season and I’m getting to work pretty much full time as a singer. Steady work is a great thing to have.

8.  What facts about you would our audiences be surprised to learn?
Mr. Carr: Growing up on a horse farm in small town Iowa, I was trained and competed on horses. I didn’t start singing until college. I had originally intended to be a jazz musician in my life time.

9.  The opera role you haven’t performed, but would like to perform the most in your career?
Mr. Carr: Pelleas from Pelléas and Mélisande and Macbeth from Verdi’s Macbeth.

10.  If you bumped into me at a coffee shop and learned that I had never been to an opera before, what would you say to entice me to give it a try?
Mr. Carr: I would say that opera would surprise anyone that goes to see it. It’s still entertainment written for everyday enjoyment. The stereotypes of opera are old and outdated. If you give it a chance, you’d probably be surprised. I have yet to meet someone who went to the opera for the first time and didn’t walk out happy.

For more information about the upcoming Lyric Opera production of The Mikado, click here.

1. How did your initial interest in the art form of opera begin?

Mr. Travis: I always loved to sing and was quite involved in choirs, musicals, and even was in a rock band in high school and college.  I did my first opera as a senior in high school, singing Balthazar in Amahl and the Night Visitors. I was still not sure about what I wanted to do so I went to Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania to play football and major in Geology.  Because of a football injury, I suddenly had a lot of free time, so I auditioned for the university choir.  After hearing me, the choir director took me immediately to the voice faculty.  After singing for them, I was accepted into the music program as a Vocal Performance major.  That’s how this all started.

2.  Where did you grow up?
Mr. Travis: Pennington, NJ

3.  Do you have a significant other? Children? Pets?
Mr. Travis: I’ve been married to my wife, Lisa, since 1984, so next year we celebrate our 30^th anniversary. She is a flautist, pianist, and is the Music Director at our church.  She taught elementary music for 12 years and now teaches flute and piano privately.  We have a son, Zachary, who graduates from high school this year and is continuing on to college as to major in Music.  He is a French horn player and enjoys conducting and writing music.

4.  What is an average day like for you? Do you have a set routine?
Mr. Travis: I like to read the paper first thing in the morning, work out for an hour, and then work on upcoming repertoire for a few hours.  If I am working, then it’s off to rehearsal or a performance.  If I’m home, I take care of whatever needs attention: wife, son, parents, in-laws, house, etc.  If I have free time, I love to play golf or fly fish.

5.  What is your favorite opera to watch/experience?
Mr. Travis: I have no favorites – there is so much wonderful repertoire and styles, each have something to offer.  If I had to pick one, I guess it would be Puccini or Janacek.

6.  What language(s) do you speak fluently?
Mr. Travis: I wouldn’t say I’m “fluent”, but I am pretty comfortable speaking German and Italian, and can function quite well when I’m in Europe there singing or traveling

7.  What story about your professional life do you wish reporters would tell when promoting your work for a producing Company, but have not?
Mr. Travis: I have been singing professionally for 28 years and have developed a stage technique that was taught to me from some of the greatest Italian singing actors of the 20^th century – Italo Tajo, Paolo Montarsolo, and Renato Capecchi.

8.  What facts about you would our audiences be surprised to learn?
Mr. Travis: My favorite singers are Elvis and Frank Sinatra.   I used to perform a lot of Elvis tunes in my rock bands and Sinatra songs as a singing waiter.

9.  The opera role you haven’t performed, but would like to perform the most in your career?
Mr. Travis: Baron Ochs from Der Rosenkavalier.

10.  If you bumped into me at a coffee shop and learned that I had never been to an opera before, what would you say to entice me to give it a try?
Mr. Travis: Go to a comic opera first – they are the most accessible and enjoyable for a first timer.  After that, try Puccini for gorgeous melodies and heartfelt emotion.

For more information about the upcoming Lyric Opera production of The Mikado, click here.

Work continues full force on the set for The Mikado. This week metal work for the trellis’ continues, with work on the smaller of the two progressing. In addition painting has started on the second set scrolls, the sky scrolls, as well as on a number of screen panels that will be seen on stage during The Mikado. In addition to construction and painting, prop work has begun in the form of an ax for the executioner and stage management prepared for rehearsals which begin this weekend. Keep up the hard work everyone!

For more information about the upcoming Lyric Opera production of The Mikado, click here.