By Kristen Nevarez Schweizer

December 23, 2025

Cygnet Theatre announces Christopher Lysik as the 2026 recipient of the Dee Silver, M.D. Commission—bringing his new musical Songs for the Anthropocene to San Diego for a free public reading on January 17. 

Lysik’s commissioned musical centers on an intimate circle of singers reckoning with a planet in flux. Equal parts theatre and live concert, the piece channels the ache of climate uncertainty not through statistics but through melody.

This commission is more than a moment of celebration for one artist. It underscores Cygnet’s mission to nurture creative voices by building community through bold, thoughtful art. The partnership with the Iowa Playwrights Workshop reflects Cygnet’s deep commitment to helping emerging playwrights grow and anchor the city’s artistic identity.

For more than two decades, Cygnet has been one of San Diego’s vital cultural hubs, known for elevating local voices through meaningful storytelling. And while Cygnet’s artistic excellence is evident onstage, the company’s offstage growth is proof of San Diego’s cultural evolution. The opening of The Joan and Irwin Jacobs Performing Arts Center in Liberty Station marked a milestone for the city’s creative landscape. This state-of-the-art home gives Cygnet space to spread its wings and to invite other arts groups into this gorgeous nest.

As the new year blooms, Cygnet continues to reach outward and upward. Somewhere Over the Border, a San Diego premiere inspired by The Wizard of Oz, promises a stirring journey of hope and resilience. Then comes The Lehman Trilogy, an epic play that charts over 150 years of history with inventive storytelling. In summer 2026, joy takes a playful and irrepressible turn with The SpongeBob Musical, a color-splashed celebration of optimism for theatregoers of all ages. 

Seats for the January 17 reading and reception are free but limited; reserve at CygnetTheatre.org or through the box office at Liberty Station.