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| DESCRIPTION: Lyric Opera of Kansas City is one of the nation's premier regional opera companies. The organization currently performs inside downtown's historic Lyric Theatre, and will relocate to the new Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts when it is completed in fall 2011. The opera company celebrated its 50th anniversary season in 2007-2008. |
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| ADDRESS: 1029 Central Ave., Kansas City, Mo. |
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| LOCATION: The Lyric Theatre is in downtown Kansas City, at the northeast corner of 11th Street and Central Avenue. |
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| PHONE: 877-OPERA-KC |
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| WEB SITE: www.kcopera.org |
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HIGHLIGHTS:
- With nearly 100 different productions to its credit, the company performs four operas each season, which runs from September to early May.
- In the fall of 1998, the company began performing operas in the original language, a tradition which continues today with the addition of English subtitles.
- 2009-2010 season schedule: Tosca, starring Lisa Daltirus and Greer Grimsley, Sept. 11-19, 2009; HMS Pinafore, starring Daniel Belcher, Robert Gibby Brand and Ava Pine, Nov. 6-14, 2009; Rigoletto, featuring Metropolitan Opera stars Mary Dunleavy and Richard Paul Fink, March 20-28, 2010; Don Giovanni, starring Keith Phares, Andrew Gangestad and Brenda Harris, April 24-May 2, 2010.
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| HOURS: The Lyric Theatre ticket office is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday thru Friday. |
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| ADMISSION: Tickets can be purchased online, by calling 816-471-7344 or by visiting the ticket office. |
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| ANNUAL ATTENDANCE: The opera company entertains more than 22,000 people in its audiences every season. |
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HISTORY: The Lyric Opera of Kansas City began in the fall of 1958 as an "experimental" joint venture between a young conductor, Russell Patterson, and J. Morton Walker, who had been associated with civic operas in Minneapolis and Fort Worth, Texas. The Lyric Opera presented its first performance, La bohème, inside The Rockhill, a motion picture theater, as part of a four-week repertory season.
When a fire destroyed the Rockhill during the Lyric's 10th season, the company relocated to the historic Uptown Theatre where it stayed for only two years. In 1970, it moved to its current location at 11th and Central; the theater was then known as the Capri and boasted a larger auditorium with traditional backstage facilities. During the succeeding years, the Lyric presented such contemporary works as The Saint of Bleecker Street, Of Mice and Men, Die Kluge and a world premiere of Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines, along with such established masterpieces as Aida and The Magic Flute.
By 1974, the company had come into exclusive possession of the Capri under a long-term lease, consolidated its offices there, and changed the name of the theater to the Lyric. In 1991, the company purchased the theater.
Today, the Lyric Opera brings high-quality, live operatic performances to the people of the Kansas City area and the surrounding five-state region.
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| WHERE TO GET LUNCH: A few nearby restaurants offer discounts to opera ticketholders, including Phillips Chophouse (106 W. 12th), Lilly's (200 W. 12th) and Zebra Room (1215 Wyandotte). |
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| WHAT'S NEARBY: Just steps from the Convention Center, the Lyric is one of several venues in downtown Kansas City's theater district. You can also catch performances at Quality Hill Playhouse, Folly Theater, The Midland and Music Hall. After the show, sample some of the downtown nightlife inside the eight-block Kansas City Power & Light District. |
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| DID YOU KNOW: When the Lyric Opera began in 1958, it had a very modest budget of $34,000. Today, the company has a budget of more than $3.3 million and is renovating a rehearsal space on 18th and Charlotte. This space will house all of the Lyric's rehearsals as well as its costume and scenic shops. |
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| DON'T FORGET: The Lyric Theatre also currently houses performances of the Kansas City Ballet and the Kansas City Symphony. |
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| GROUP TOURS: Depending on the size of your party and the performance date, the Lyric Opera offers a group discount on tickets. For further information, contact the ticket office at 816-471-7344 and request the group coordinator. |
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| PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: Take the MAX to the 11th & Main stop. |
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DRIVING THERE: From the north: Take I-35 S to downtown Kansas City. Exit at 2S and turn right onto Broadway Boulevard. Then turn right onto 12th Street. Finally, turn left onto Central Street. The Lyric is on the corner of 11th Street & Central.
From the south: Take I-35 N to downtown Kansas City and take exit 232B for 18th Street Expressway. Continue on 18th Street and turn right onto Central Street. The Lyric is on the corner of 11th Street & Central.
From the west: Take I-70 E to downtown Kansas City. Exit on the left onto I-670 E. Take Exit 2R (Central) on the left. Turn left onto Central Street and go a few blocks. The Lyric is on the corner of 11th Street & Central.
From the east: Travel west on I-70 and continue onto I-670 W. Take exit 1A to merge onto Central Street. The Lyric is on the corner of 11th Street & Central. |
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| PARKING: There are several parking lots and garages within a block of the Lyric; fees vary. To see a detailed parking map of downtown Kansas City, visit the Lyric's Web site. |
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| PUBLIC RELATIONS CONTACT: Shannon Sundberg, marketing and communications manager, at ssundberg@kcopera.org or 816-471-4933. |
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