What happens when Langston Hughes’ poetry moves from the page into the singing voice?

In this episode, soprano and director Alyson Cambridge shares the creative process behind Langston Hughes: A Lyrical Life, a new production with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City that weaves poetry, music, and storytelling into a 45-minute theatrical experience.

Amity is also joined by poet and professor Stanley Banks, who places Hughes within a larger cultural and historical context—revealing the rhythms, voices, and lived experiences that shaped his work.

From the Harlem Renaissance to Kansas City’s own musical and storytelling traditions, this episode explores Hughes as both a literary icon and a living influence.

Because when poetry is heard—really heard—it becomes something we carry forward.