SUU Opera Presents The Lyric Kings: The Music of Porter & Sondheim
Published: November 04, 2025 | Author: Kol Gibson | Read Time: 2 minutes
The Department of Music at Southern Utah University is proud to present an evening of timeless wit, charm, and musical brilliance with The Lyric Kings: The Music of Cole Porter & Stephen Sondheim, presented by the SUU Opera under the direction of Carol Ann Modesitt. Performances will take place November 11-14, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. in the Thorley Recital Hall. Admission is free and open to all.
This fall’s SUU Opera production brings together the music of two of Musical Theatre’s most celebrated lyricists and composers—Cole Porter and Stephen Sondheim—whose songs helped define American musical theatre across generations. Directed and stage by Carol Ann Modesitt, with Sunny Chen as accompanist and Nancy Dobbs Owen as choreographer, the performance features a vibrant cast of SUU vocal students performing selections from beloved shows such as 42nd Street, Kiss Me Kate, High Society, Company, Into the Woods, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Follies, and A Little Night Music.
“Sondheim and Porter wrote the lyrics to their songs before they wrote the actual songs,” said Modesitt. “Both men were extremely successful in the musical theatre genre. We hope to put together a musical evening of their most famous songs. So many of these songs are considered to be pop standards today, and the cast has had a great deal of fun working and learning them.”
The Lyric Kings highlights the craftsmanship and creativity of two writers who turned words into music that still move audiences decades later. From Porter’s irresistible melodies and sly humor to Sondheim’s emotional depth and lyrical sophistication, the concert will take audiences on a journey through some of Broadway’s most unforgettable works.
Join the SUU Opera for this free celebration of musical storytelling and artistry. For more information about SUU’s Department of Music and upcoming performances, visit www.suu.edu/pva/music.
About the College of Performing and Visual Arts
The College of Performing and Visual Arts (CPVA) at Southern Utah University comprises 41 academic programs including liberal arts (BA/BS) and professional (BFA, BM, BMEd) degrees in art, design, dance, filmmaking, music, and theatre. It includes graduate programs in the fields of arts administration (MFA, MA), music education (MME), and music technology (MM). More than 60 full-time faculty and staff are engaged in teaching and mentoring over 900 majors in the College. CPVA presents over 100 performances, lectures, presentations, and exhibitions each year which are complemented by the Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA) and Shakespeare Studies at SUU, and is affiliated with the Tony award-winning Utah Shakespeare Festival (USF). Southern Utah University is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Art & Design (NASAD), National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD), National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), and the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST) making SUU the first public university in the state of Utah to be accredited by all four associations. For more information about the College of Performing and Visual Arts, visit www.suu.edu/pva.Tags: Opera Music Education Music Community College of Performing and Visual Arts
Contact Information:
Kol Gibson
435-865-8667
kolgibson@suu.edu