Langston Hughes: A Lyrical Life explores the shared human experience and complex racial landscape in America, all of which are exemplified in Hughes’ poetry.  Highlighting Hughes’ life and work throughout, some of his greatest texts are set to music, providing a musical and theatrical journey that follows parallel life experiences of Black and white people in the United States—topics and feelings as relevant today as in Hughes’ lifetime. Through the narratives of the soprano and tenor, "Journey 1" illustrates the path from youthful joy and innocence to the painful realities of prejudice—ultimately showing the resilience of being Black in America. "Journey 2" follows the mezzo-soprano and baritone to capture the complexities of being white in America, focusing on themes of empathy, confusion, allyship, and witnessing the heartbreaking the loss of innocence. Ultimately, these overlapping narratives reveal that regardless of different paths and racial experiences, we all came into the world with similar dreams and hopes, endured strife and struggles, and we must conclude with a collective dream and hope for betterment for future generations.