Deep into the American psyche: Carlisle Floyd’s Of Mice and Men

Matthew Pearce (Lennie), John Moore (Milton) with Waverly

Matthew DiBattista (Curley) and Sara Gartland (Curley’s Wife)

Schyler Vargas (Slim) and Sara Gartland (Curley’s Wife)

John Moore (Milton) and Matthew Pearce (Lennie)

Wayne Tigges (Candy) with Charlee Blue

By Hilary Stroh, 03 May 2026

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Reviewed at Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, Kansas City on 1 May 2026

Floyd, Of Mice and Men

Lyric Opera of Kansas City

Joseph Mechavich, Conductor

Kristine Mcintyre, Director

Luke Cantarella, Set Designer

Kara Harmon, Costume Designer

Kate Ashton, Lighting Designer

Kansas City Symphony

John Moore, George Milton

Matthew Pearce, Lennie Small

Matthew Dibattista, Curley

Sara Gartland, Curley's Wife

Wayne Tigges, Candy

Schyler Vargas, Slim

Bernard Holcomb, Carlson

David Pelino, Ballad Singer

Porgy and Bess: Catfish Row arrives in Kansas City

Hilary Stroh, 28th February

Francesca Zambello's magnificent production of the Gershwins’ American epic comes to the Lyric Opera of Kansas City.

****1

Rockabilly meets Rossini: Cinderella at Lyric Opera of Kansas City

Hilary Stroh, 3rd October

Michael Shell's sparkling new production of La Cenerentola, built locally, opens the season at the Lyric Opera Kansas City.

****1

A big and bold Turandot in Kansas City

Hilary Stroh, 2nd May

Lyric Opera of Kansas City ends its season with Garnett Bruce's blockbuster production of Puccini's Turandot.

****1

It’s complicated: Georgia O’Keeffe and Alfred Stieglitz in letters

Hilary Stroh, 27th September

Based on letters between Georgia O’Keeffe and her husband, Alfred Stieglitz, Kevin Puts’ The Brightness of Light at the Lyric Opera of Kansas City portrays marriage as a collaborative work in progress.

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Heavy symbolism in Kansas City's Roméo et Juliette

Hilary Stroh, 9th March

A visually captivating and lyrically authentic production by Doug Scholz-Carlson for the Lyric Opera of Kansas City.

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Shawna Lucey directs verismo's inseparable twins in the Lyric Opera of Kansas City's outstanding season opener.

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Hilary Stroh

Hilary is an independent scholar and academic historian, based in DC. She has a background in violin, piano and ballet. Educated at Dublin and Cambridge, she has recently published her first two books.

Deep into the American psyche: Carlisle Floyd’s Of Mice and Men in Kansas City