Contemporary stories are having a welcome moment at Lyric Opera. While Dead Man Walking continues its powerful run at the Civic Opera House, a new Lyric kids’ opera, Earth to Kenzie, takes on the subject of homelessness. The 45-minute work, with music by Frances Pollock and libretto by Jessica Murphy Moo, was commissioned by Lyric for a series of local school performances (some of which were canceled during the CTU strike). There are three ticketed public performances this weekend at the Vittum Theater.
An informal poll of fourth-graders sitting around me for a performance at Senn High School this week revealed that—just as in opera for adults—without supertitles, it’s hard to catch some of the words. That said, the story line was clear to them, and they were captivated. v
Sat 11/9, 1 PM, and Sun 11/10, 1 and 3 PM, Vittum Theater, 1012 N. Noble, lyricopera.org/kenzie, $10-$20.
