Choreographer

Ahoy mateys! Get ready for opera on the high seas with Gilbert and Sullivan's popular piratical comedy. The story begins as young Frederic is due to be released from his accidental apprenticeship to a band of pirates; he dreams of living an honorable life dedicated to love. However, a leap year loophole puts his freedom on the line. When the very modern Major-General's doting daughters arrive, hearts are promised, vows are made, and eventually pirates are pardoned in this light-hearted comedy.

Making its Seattle Opera debut, this production of the family-friendly farce comes to Seattle following rave reviews at The Glimmerglass Festival, The Atlanta Opera, and Opera Theatre of St. Louis. Featuring an exciting cast of operatic talent and the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, you'll be thrilled with rapid-fire lyrics and toe-tapping tunes.

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The Pirates of Penzance

Seattle Center

Prince Orlofsky is throwing the costume party of the century, and everyone is determined to be there. Dr. Falke invites his friend Eisenstein for a gentleman’s night out on the town. Little do they know that Eisenstein’s wife, Rosalinde, and her maid, Adele, each have their own mischievous plans. What starts as a harmless prank soon escalates into an epic battle of the sexes, filled with disguises, flirtations, and comedic deceptions. No matter how the evening ends, one thing is for sure — you can blame it on the champagne!

Die Fledermaus (2025)

Webster University

A house is more than four walls and a roof — it is a keeper of memories and a witness to legacy. The Walker family has lived in the same Harlem brownstone since the 1920s, and they have fought hard to keep what they have. When Zoe returns home after many years away, she asks her mother Ida and her brother Lindon to let her renovate the dilapidated building. But Ida and Lindon cannot let go of the past. The house is their whole world, and every room is full of ghostly voices and painful memories. As hidden truths about the family’s legacy come to light, Zoe begins to realize that the secrets harbored within these walls are deeper and more profound than she ever dared to imagine.

This House

Immerse yourself in a world of swashbuckling pirates, comedic adventures, and melodious tunes with "The Pirates of Penzance" at The Glimmerglass Festival. This vibrant production, directed and choreographed by Seán Curran and conducted by Music Director Joseph Colaneri, marks the return of Gilbert & Sullivan's classic to Glimmerglass for the first time in nearly two decades. Featuring set and costume designs by James Schuette and lighting by Robert Wierzel, the production promises a visually stunning and musically thrilling experience.

"The Pirates of Penzance" combines soaring vocal lines with slapstick comedy in a colorful, family-friendly production. It tells the story of Frederic, who, due to a nurse's mistake, is indentured to a band of pirates until his 21st birthday. Upon reaching his age of freedom, Frederic's attempt to leave the pirate life behind leads to a series of humorous and heartwarming encounters. The production is further enhanced by the addition of a corps of professional dancers, elevating Seán Curran's hit production to new heights.

The opera, with music by Sir Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W.S. Gilbert, will be sung in English with projected lyrics, ensuring an accessible and enjoyable experience for all. The run time is approximately 2 hours and 25 minutes, with performances scheduled from July 22 to August 19, 2024.

Generously sponsored by Eugene and Jean Stark, the cast includes notable talents such as Troy Cook as Major-General Stanley, Craig Irvin as the Pirate King, Christian Mark Gibbs as Frederic, Elizabeth Sutphen as Mabel, and Eve Gigliotti as Ruth, among others. This ensemble of characters will bring to life the enchanting and humorous tale that has captivated audiences for generations.

Don't miss your chance to experience this timeless masterpiece at The Glimmerglass Festival. Secure your tickets now for a summer filled with myth, mystery, and adventure. Join us for "The Pirates of Penzance" and be part of a world where voices soar and laughter abounds.

Alice Busch Opera Theater

Who said that passion and politics make for poor bedfellows? Experience Handel’s captivating love story of Julius Caesar and Cleopatra, whose audacious affair rewrote the course of history. As sparks fly between these two rulers, love becomes a battlefield, and the most important conquest is that of the heart. But with pretenders to the throne lurking on all sides, desire can sometimes be a double-sided weapon.

Julius Caesar

Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts

Lili’s journey — marked by love, loss and self-discovery — is the true story of a Danish painter who, with the steadfast support of her wife Gerda, became one of the first to undergo gender-affirmation surgery nearly a century ago.

Lili Elbe

The Santa Fe Opera

Life’s not easy on the high seas—especially when you’re there by mistake. Gilbert and Sullivan’s witty wordplay, swashbuckling satire, and captivating cadences make this lighthearted operetta a much-loved classic that never fails to entertain. Known for timeless (and tongue-twisting) tunes like “The Very Model of a Modern Major General” and “Poor Wand’ring One,” Pirates takes audiences on a lively adventure filled with comedy, disguises, romance, and dazzling singing.

Lyric Opera of Kansas City

Following his smash-hit company debut with The Hours, composer Kevin Puts returns to the Met with his Pulitzer Prize–winning first opera, inspired by the true events of the 1914 Christmas truce, when soldiers spontaneously set aside the horrors of the First World War and crossed the trenches to mingle, exchange gifts, and sing carols with the enemy. A poignant depiction of shared humanity in the most inhumane circumstances, Puts’s grand, cinematic opera—with a libretto by Mark Campbell based on the film Joyeux Noël—has been widely acclaimed since its 2011 premiere, hailed as “an overwhelming emotive experience” by The Guardian. Silent Night receives an evocative staging by James Robinson that takes the audience directly to the battlefields of the Western Front. The star-studded cast, featuring soprano Elza van den Heever and tenors Ben Bliss and Rolando Villazón, among many others, is conducted by debuting maestro Dalia Stasevska.

Choreographer

Seán Curran

Events

Upcoming events

1 - 27 Aug, 2026

Lili Elbe · Santa Fe Opera

20 - 28 Feb, 2027

The Pirates of Penzance · Lyric Opera of Kansas City

Mar 8 - Apr 3, 2027

Silent Night · The Metropolitan Opera

Past events

Oct 18 - Nov 1, 2025

The Pirates of Penzance · Seattle Opera

15 - 28 Jun, 2025

Die Fledermaus (2025) · Opera Theatre of Saint Louis

About

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