Dead Man Walking

Based on the acclaimed non-fiction book that inspired the 1995 film starring Susan Sarandon and Sean Penn, Dead Man Walking is a contemporary opera that explores the relationship between a death row inmate and the nun who becomes his spiritual advisor. Making its Chicago premiere at the Lyric Opera, this production is different than what you usually see onstage at the Civic Opera House: the lyrics are all in English, the show opens with a scene depicting sexual violence and the script is rife with explicit language. Think of it as an decidedly R-rated version of a night at the opera.