Photo Flash: First Look at Lyric Opera of Chicago's ROMEO AND JULIET, Helmed by Bartlett Sher

Lyric Opera of Chicago continues its 61st season with ROMEO AND JULIET in a new-to-Chicago production created by Tony Award-winning director Bartlett Sher, tonight, February 22, through Saturday, March 19 (nine performances). This is the eighth and final mainstage opera production of the widely acclaimed 2015/16 season. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the company in action below!

Gounod's 19th-century interpretation of Shakespeare's immortal young-love tragedy will be sung in French with projected English texts. Lyric's production stars two ardent Romeos, tenors Joseph Calleja (6 performances, Feb. 22-Mar. 8) and Eric Cutler (3 performances, Mar. 11-19), wooing the fair Juliet, portrayed by soprano Susanna Phillips. Baritone Joshua Hopkins is Romeo's irreverent best pal Mercutio, and bass-baritone Christian Van Horn is the well-intentioned Friar Laurence, whose efforts to mend the feud between the Capulets and Montagues have tragic results. Lyric's production also features mezzo-sopranos Marianne Crebassa/Stephano (Lyric debut) and Deborah Nansteel/Juliet's nurse Gertrude (Lyric debut), baritone Philip Horst/Capulet, tenor Jason Slayden /Juliet's hot-headed cousin Tybalt (Lyric debut), bass-baritoneDavid Govertsen/Duke of Verona, tenor Mingjie Lei/Benvolio, and baritones Takaoki Onishi/Paris and Anthony Clark Evans/Gregorio.

Emmanuel Villaume conducts and Bartlett Sher (Lyric debut) directs the production designed by Michael Yeargan (sets), Catherine Zuber(costumes), and Jennifer Tipton (lighting). Michael Black is chorus master. Legendary fight director B. H. Barry created the fight sequences.Chase Brock (Lyric debut) is the choreographer.

The current Broadway hit productions of THE KING AND I and FIDDLER ON THE ROOF are directed by Sher, with set designs by Yeargan and costume designs by Zuber.

Performance dates are February 22, March 5, 8, 11, and 16 at 7:30pm; and February 25, 28, March 2, and 19 at 2pm. For tickets and information call (312) 827-5600 or go to lyricopera.org. Estimated running time 3 hours 5 minutes.

Photo Credit: Todd Rosenberg