Wichita, KS – 2-21-2024 – The Wichita Grand Opera is proud to announce its upcoming performances of Leonard Bernstein's brilliant operetta, Candide, starring acclaimed actor Kelsey Grammer who narrates the tale and performs the role of Dr. Pangloss.

This semi-staged production will take place at Century II Concert Hall on April 27th and 28th, 2024, and promises to be a scintillating night of music, laughter, profound emotion, and hope.

Grammer, best known for his Emmy Award-winning roles on television's Frasier and Cheers, brings his signature wit and charm to the stage in this glittering satire. He will be joined by a brilliant cast of singers gathered from across the United States, along with the Wichita Grand Opera Orchestra and Chorus led by WGO Artistic Director Whitney Reader.

Metropolitan Opera veteran Emily Pulley, who made a cocoaliscious splash in Wichita last April portraying chocolate-cake chef Julia Child in Lee Hoiby’s Bon Appétit, returns to Wichita to direct the production and perform the hilarious role of the Old Lady. Rising stars Jonathan Johnson and Amy Owens will sing the leading roles of Candide and Cunegonde.

With Candide, inspired by Voltaire’s 1759 novella of the same name, Bernstein, WGO, and Kelsey Grammer tell the story of the naïve young protagonist who journeys through a world filled with misfortune and absurdity as he searches for happiness and meaning. The operetta is a dazzling whirlwind of musical styles, ranging from romantic grandeur to memorable tunes and rhythms and replete with jazz, foxtrot, waltz, polka, hornpipe, bolero, barcarolle, gavotte, and a tremendous tango, as the story makes its way through a world of musical styles and genres.

Grammer's comedic charisma, combined with the virtuosic vocals of the cast, a clever narrative, lush orchestration, and the vibrant energy of the chorus all guarantee to come together for a magical night of theater and laughter, not soon to be forgotten!