TV: First Look at Rene Flemming in Susan Stroman-Helmed THE MERRY WIDOW

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents the sparkling operetta The Merry Widow by Franz Lehár in a new-to-Chicago production to launch the holiday season. It opens on Saturday, November 14 with 10 performances through Sunday, December 13. Performances are in English with projected titles.

This captivatingly complicated comedy comes to Lyric in a lavish production that premiered last New Year's Eve at the Metropolitan Opera. Lyric's music director Sir Andrew Davis conducts the festive operetta directed and choreographed by Broadway legend Susan Stroman in her company debut.

Renée Fleming (7 performances Nov. 14-Dec. 3) and Nicole Cabell (3 performances Dec. 9-13) share the title role of Hanna Glawari, the merry widow whose fortunes may save her homeland - if she marries a fellow Pontevedrian. Thomas Hampsonportrays Count Danilo, the playboy-bon vivant who's her former lover (and eventual new husband), with Heidi Stober (debut) as the saucy Valencienne, Michael Spyres as her would-be suitor Camille (who Valencienne tries to set up with Hanna), and Patrick Carfizzi (debut) as Valencienne's diplomat-husband Zeta. The production is designed by Broadway veterans Julian Crouch(sets/debut), William Ivey Long (costumes/debut), and Paule Constable (lighting). Michael Black is chorus master.

The new English translation by Jeremy Sams was prepared especially for this production.