Dress Rehearsal Program
Are you an educator who is looking for a spectacular field trip for your students? Consider attending a dress rehearsal at Opera Philadelphia!
You and your students can look forward to:
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Being one of the first people to see a new production at Opera Philadelphia, before the general public and the critics.
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Seeing world-class artists perform while getting a glimpse of behind-the-scenes action as the crew puts the finishing touches on the production.
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Relaxing and being yourselves while watching a show from a great seat in one of Philadelphia’s top theater venues.
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Having access to educational resources that give you context for the opera you are coming to see and topics for class discussion after the show.
All student groups in 5th through 12th grade are welcome, and all registrations are free. We ask that groups include 1 chaperone per 10 students. We are proud to welcome School District of Philadelphia students and are able to offer a transportation stipend for 5th to 8th grade SDP groups. We are also happy to welcome groups of various sizes from school groups to adult learning centers. If you are not sure whether your group would be eligible to participate, please reach out.
Participation in our program includes:
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Access to student and teacher resources.
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A direct line of contact to an Opera Philadelphia staff member for any logistical or content-based questions.
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Seats for our dress rehearsal.
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Transportation stipends for 5th to 8th grade groups from the School District of Philadelphia.
Come enjoy the magic of the opera!
Registration is now open!
Wednesday, May 13, 2026 | 7:00 p.m.
Miller Theater
This production contains racial slurs and stylized representations of violence, particularly related to slavery, as well as haze, simulated smoking, and bright flashing lights. For this reason, we recommend this production for grades 8-12.
Creator and opera revolutionary Davóne Tines brings Langston Hughes’ poem “The Black Clown” to musical life in a vaudevillian rendering of this masterpiece. Fusing gospel, opera, jazz, and spirituals into a searing night of theatrical brilliance, this visually arresting piece embodies the evolving, divided soul of Black America.
Performed in English
70 minutes with no intermission
Suddenly Last Summer
Tuesday, October 20, 2026 | 2:00 p.m.
Forrest Theatre
Recommended for 8th -12th grade
What is madness and what is truth? Must truth bend to power? This new opera is based on Tennessee Williams’ 1958 play, which was adapted the next year into a film starring Katherine Hepburn. Set in New Orleans, the opera’s plot deals with a mysterious death and a secret that must remain hidden at all costs. The role of Catharine Holly is sung by a soprano, while the other characters: Catharine’s aunt, brother, and mother, and neurosurgeon Dr. Cukrowicz, are all spoken roles played by actors. A children’s chorus adds to the mysterious atmosphere.
Performed in English with English supertitles
Approximately 90 minutes with no intermission
Let ’Em Eat Cake
Music & Lyrics by George and Ira Gershwin
Book by George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind
Wednesday, January 27, 2027 | 2:00 p.m.
Academy of Music
For the first time in its history, Opera Philadelphia is presenting a musical! Written by the Gershwin brothers in 1933, with a book by George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind, Let ’Em Eat Cake is a dystopian farce set in America that was created in reaction to the rise of fascism in Europe. With catchy tunes and dance numbers, the opera spoofs everything government takeovers, White House makeovers, and fashion shows, even casting the Supreme Court as a baseball team!
Approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes, with one intermission
Aida
Thursday, April 15, 2027 | 2:00 p.m.
Academy of Music
Verdi’s Aida takes place in an exoticized imagining of ancient Egypt. Aida is an Ethiopian princess enslaved by the Egyptian princess Amneris. The Egyptian warrior Radamès falls in love with Aida, and she with him, but Amneris is in love with Radamès too! The opera’s characters are torn between loyalty to their homelands and romantic love as they make life-or-death decisions. Verdi’s Aida is famous for its over-the-top Triumphal March, but its score also shines in more intimate, introspective moments for its characters. Our production will be visually arresting, showcasing the beauty that can emerge from challenging circumstances as diverse cultures meet.
Performed in Italian with English supertitles
Approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes, with one intermission
Sitcom
Monday, May 15, 2027 | 2:00 p.m.
Suzanne Roberts Theatre
Join us for the world premiere of Sitcom, an opera structured in episodes, just like your favorite tv show! The opera’s music is brand new, but inspired by dramatic music of the 16th and 17th centuries. The four main characters find themselves in all sorts of silly situations that they must work out before each segment ends. Sitcom is a chamber opera, with a small cast but a big impact.
Performed in English with English supertitles
Approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes, with one intermission