Langston Hughes: A Lyrical Life is a touring production from the Lyric Opera of Kansas City that celebrates the life and legacy of one of America’s most influential writers.

Hughes was born in 1901 in Joplin, Missouri, but spent his childhood in Topeka and Lawrence, Kansas, and in the Kansas City area. An early innovator of jazz poetry, he became a key figure in the Harlem Renaissance, centered in New York City.

This semi-staged musical and literary event honors Hughes’ extraordinary legacy as a writer. He was not only a poet, but he also wrote plays, short stories, novels, autobiographies, children’s books, and newspaper columns. The performance highlights his unique voice, bringing out universal themes of joy, struggle, and hope.

This 60-minute free program features texts by Hughes, set to music by various composers, and original narration written by singer and actress Alyson Cambridge.