Anthony Freud and Kelly Leonard
This week, Lyric Opera of Chicago unveiled a new partnership with legendary comedy troupe The Second City. According to General Director Anthony Freud, it all began with a Chicago-style date night. Freud recalled Creative Director Renee Fleming and her husband going to Second City for an opera-free evening, only to find her own voice playing over the sound system. As Freud tells it: instead of calling her lawyer, Ms. Fleming seized upon that inspiration and forged a partnership. Freud announced the collaboration along with Kelly Leonard, Executive Vice President of The Second City. Needless to say, they opened Wednesday’s event with a little humor: Hansel and Gretel at the therapist’s office.
Here’s a little taste:
Kelly Leonard spoke with WFMT’s Noel Morris about the partnership.
Lyric Opera’s partnership with The Second City is part of a broader initiative, Lyric Unlimited, designed to bring opera to new audiences. Lyric Unlimited will stage two performances this season: “Popcorn and Pasquale” on December 2 and “The Second City Guide to the Opera” on January 5th.
