Wesley Daniel, the Lyric Opera of Chicago actor burned during a pyrotechnic stunt performed attempted in dress rehearsal, has been given permission by his doctors to return to work.
"We’re very pleased to have Wesley back at Lyric," the Lyric's general director, Anthony Freud, said in a statement. "[We] are delighted that his recovery is largely complete."
Daniel suffered second degree burns -- which doctors said were akin to a severe sunburn -- to his face and throat earlier this month during a dress rehearsal for the Lyric's nearly six-hour production of "Die Meistersinger von Nurenberg."
The show opened to audiences a day after the mishap, albeit without the fiery stunt.
Daniel was released from Loyola University Medical Center a few days after being injured and had been recovering at home.
"I feel terrific and am looking forward to putting this whole incident behind me and getting back on stage," Daniel said Friday in what he said would be his only public comments on the matter.
"I am truly grateful for all the good wishes I’ve received over the past few weeks, but the coverage my accident generated was, quite frankly, overwhelming and I just want to get back to work with my colleagues."
Daniel said he looks forward to continuing his acting career once the run of "Die Meistersinger von Nurenberg" ends on March 3.
