Actor

Langston Hughes: A Lyrical Life celebrates the life and legacy of one of America’s most influential literary voices. Born in 1901 in Joplin, Missouri, Hughes was an early innovator of jazz poetry and a leading figure of the Harlem Renaissance. This semi-staged musical program and literary experience honors Hughes’s extraordinary legacy and amplifies his singular voice and texts, illuminating the universal human experiences of joy, struggle, and aspiration.

EPSG:4326

Langston Hughes: A Lyrical Life

Lyric Opera of Kansas City

Presented for the first time in Lyric Opera history, Porgy and Bess is the quintessential American opera. The source of some of the twentieth century's most beloved songs—including “Summertime”—this jazzy Gershwin score is unforgettable. The opera paints a vivid picture of life in the Charleston neighborhood Catfish Row, where a poignant “opposites attract” romance unfolds alongside a powerful portrait of a community that unites in the face of tragedy and triumph.

The Gershwins®' Porgy and Bess

Through a heartless marriage of convenience, American naval officer Lieutenant Pinkerton ensnares young Cio-Cio-San (Butterfly), leading her to a tragic and profoundly unjust fate. A masterpiece of Italian opera, Madame Butterfly‘s lush score and timeless exploration of love, betrayal, and cultural clash soars with operatic grandeur. The enduring power of Butterfly lies in its ability to touch the deepest corners of the human heart, leaving audiences devastated.

Madame Butterfly

In this new opera for families, a young girl named Maya discovers a dazzling ruby ring in her grandmother's belongings. She rubs the jewel and accidentally releases a genie, leading to chaos as she wishes her cat and toy unicorn to life. Realizing she is in a pickle, Maya must choose her final wish carefully. Join Lyric Opera of Kansas City for this hilarious story of family and magic.

Maya and the Magic Ring

Green Hills Library Center

Midwest Genealogy Center

Shawnee Mission Unitarian Universalist Church

Victory Hills Baptist Church

Woodneath Library Center

Lawrence Arts Center

Midwest Trust Center

Christmas Eve, Paris, an attic garret...that first touch of cold hands in the dark as the music swells. Against the backdrop of 19th century Paris, the hopes and dreams of a group of young bohemians collide with the realities of poverty and disease. Whether it is your first or your hundredth experience, La bohème never fails to cast its spell. Packed with some of opera’s most cherished moments, this tale of tragic young love became the basis for the popular musicals Moulin Rouge and Rent. With a ravishing score that brought Puccini international fame, this is the perfect opera for first-timers and aficionados alike.

2023 La bohème

Alice Busch Opera Theater

Francesca Zambello’s acclaimed production of Madame Butterfly returns to Glimmerglass, directed by Joshua Horowitz and conducted by Joseph Colaneri. This elegant, visually stunning staging presents a nuanced examination of the American presence in Japan and the cultural collision at the heart of Puccini’s timeless masterpiece.

Actor

Alex Smith

Events

Upcoming events

Jul 11 - Aug 17, 2026

Madame Butterfly · Glimmerglass Festival

Past events

Mar 15 - Apr 2, 2026

Langston Hughes: A Lyrical Life · Lyric Opera of Kansas City

Feb 28 - Mar 8, 2026

The Gershwins®' Porgy and Bess · Lyric Opera of Kansas City

Future and recently performed repertoire

Prince Yamadori in Madame Butterfly by Puccini

Lyric Opera of Kansas City

Registrar in Madame Butterfly by Puccini

Glimmerglass Festival

Detective in Porgy and Bess by Gershwin

Lyric Opera of Kansas City

Cat in Maya and the Magic Ring by Laitman

Lyric Opera of Kansas City

About

Alex Smith hasn't added a bio