Patrick Stewart and Renee Fleming to Host Lyric Opera’s The Second City Guide to the Opera

Tony Award nominee Patrick Stewart (Macbeth) and opera legend Renee Fleming will co-host the world premiere of the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s The Second City Guide to the Opera at 8pm on Saturday, January 5, at the Ardis Krainik Theatre of the Civic Opera House.

The revue-style show will feature opera-themed comedic sketches written by Kate James, Tim Sniffen, and Jesse Case. The Second City is known worldwide for its improvisation and comedy, and has resident companies in both Chicago and Toronto. It is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

In addition to sharing emcee duties, Fleming and Stewart will both appear in these satirical vignettes, while Fleming will also provide musical accompaniment. The show will also feature members of the Second City Ensemble along with mezzo-soprano J’nai Bridges and tenor Bernard Holcomb.

In addition to Macbeth, Stewart’s many stage credits include Hamlet, The Tempest, A Life in the Theatre, The Caretaker, and A Christmas Carol. He is also well known for his portrayal of Captain Jean-Luc Picard on Star Trek: The Next Generation and its subsequent films, as well as Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men film series.

Fleming was appointed vice president and creative consultant of The Lyric Opera in 2010, and is aiding the company in creating new program. She is well known for her work at New York’s Metropolitan Opera, where she has appeared in Capriccio, Rusalka, Thais, and numerous other works.

For more information, visit www.lyricopera.org.