Above: Luke Harnish as The Genie (from rehearsal at Lyric Opera Kansas city on March 24, 2025)
“Be careful what you wish for!”
Maya and The Magic Ring, a new opera for families. This original story is by Dana Gioia with music by Lori Laitman, and it was commissioned by Lyric Opera of Kansas City.
Maya, a third-grader, discovers a dazzling ruby ring in her grandmother’s belongings. She rubs the jewel and accidentally releases a genie. He grants her three wishes — but chaos ensues as her cat gains the ability to speak and sing, and her stuffed unicorn comes to life. She must choose her final wish very carefully. The opera is fanciful, funny and touching — and full of memorable tunes.
The opera is scored for 5 singers and 5 instrumentalists with a running time of 45 minutes — and features the young artists of Lyric Opera of Kansas City and the newEar Ensemble. The work premiered on March 27, 2025 for schoolchildren, and the first public premiere was on March 29, 2025 at the Polsky Theatre at the Midwest Trust Center at Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, Kansas.