We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of former Seattle Opera General Director, Speight Jenkins. Speight began his tenure in 1983, transforming Seattle Opera into one of the leading US opera companies during his 31 years as General Director. Full announcement seattleopera.org/speightjenkins

"Furry Night at the Opera reminded me that both are, at their best, invitations: spaces built around passion, community, and the simple joy of sharing an experience with others. Art, it turns out, is for everyone." www.thestranger.com/furry/the-se...

Next Wednesday, May 13 is Pay What You Wish at Carmen 🌹 Learn more about how to buy Pay What You Wish tickets at seattleopera.org/pwyw

Amazing music, tragic story, brilliant production by @seattleopera.bsky.social

First look at rehearsals for Carmen 🌹 The principal cast rehearse Act 3, where Carmen turns her attentions to Escamillo after Don José spirals into a fit of jealousy (the first time). Carmen is on stage May 2–17. Photos by Sunny Martini.

Can confirm, furry night with Chester the Geroo (@furryopera.com) is happening! Details here: seattleopera.org/themenights

The cast of Carmen has arrived! 🌹 Today we start rehearsals for Georges Bizet's classic, Carmen, full of seductive music, dueling passions, and one of opera's most famous heroines. Carmen opens May 2 and is on stage through May 17. Get tickets at seattleopera.org/carmen

We're honored to share that we've been awarded Nonprofit of the Year at the GSBA Impact Awards! These awards recognize LGBTQ+ and allied leaders, businesses, and organizations that are strengthening Washington’s communities through connection, advocacy, creativity & economic impact.

We're honored to share that we've been awarded Nonprofit of the Year at the @thegsba Impact Awards! The GSBA Impact Awards recognize LGBTQ+ and allied leaders, businesses, and organizations that are strengthening Washington’s communities through connection, advocacy, creativity & economic impact.

If this show is ever in your town PLEASE go see it. The performance was so deeply heartfelt and meaningful. They now have a wall behind the performance. it shows up at the end and has pictures of everyone who was discharged from the Army for being queer. As a queer veteran, this shit broke me.

Thomas Mallon's novel about two men who fall in love during the Lavender Scare is both a history lesson and a painfully beautiful tragedy. I got to interview Tom at @townhallseattle.bsky.social ahead of @seattleopera.bsky.social's run of the stage adaptation, which you can (should) see this week.

Happy #openingNight to "Fellow Travelers" by @seattleopera.bsky.social. Refreshing to see a #gay romantic love story at the center of the stage. Narratives like this are still rarer than they should be. Closes 3/1/26. Review: showsiveseen.com/14787 #FellowTravelers #Opera #showsiveseen #LGBT

Next Wednesday, February 25 is Pay What You Wish night at Fellow Travelers ❤️‍🔥 Learn more about how to get Pay What You Wish tickets at seattleopera.org/pwyw

Announcing our 2026/27 season! Our 63rd season is an exploration of love in all its many forms, featuring opera classics like Salome and La bohème, a celebrated new work about Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, a concert presentation of Lakmé, and more. Learn more at seattleopera.org/discoverseason

Today we begin rehearsals for Fellow Travelers—an opera by Gregory Spears and Greg Pierce based on the 2007 novel by Thomas Mallon—with this incredible cast and creative team. Fellow Travelers opens this February 21 and is on stage through March 1. Get tickets at seattleopera.org/fellowtravelers

Join us for these upcoming events surrounding our upcoming production of Fellow Travelers! Learn more at seattleopera.org/fellowtravelers

2/20 at 7:30 PM | Join author Thomas Mallon for a conversation on the making of the novel "Fellow Travelers" along with his most recent work, “The Very Heart of It.” Presented with @seattleopera.bsky.social. 🎟️ Get tickets: buff.ly/GO0Ejz9

We've been nominated for a GSBA Impact Award for Best Nonprofit! This recognition celebrates the work we’re doing to uplift LGBTQ+ businesses, support rising leaders, and strengthen our community year-round. Vote for us at bit.ly/impactvote26

A rite of spring turned inward: Strauss’ Daphne at @seattleopera.bsky.social ✍️ Thomas May bachtrack.com/review-strau...

An opera grounded in mythology and the love of nature-- Click the link to read the preview-- @seattleopera.bsky.social #SeattleMusic #PictureThisPostMusic #PictureThisPostOpera #GreekMythology

Grab a MOD pizza at the Armory this Thursday and 25% of your purchase will go towards our youth opera programs! Use code MODGIVES25 online or in person at the Armory location (305 Harrison St.) this Thursday, January 8, and 25% of your purchase will help support our youth programs.

Our Veterans Choir, created in partnership with Path With Art, was featured in PBS News!

Happy holidays from your friends at Seattle Opera and @classicalking.org! Wishing everyone a joyful and safe holiday season as we wrap up the year.

Got holiday market plans? Our annual Black Artists Market is this Friday and Saturday only, featuring hand made crafts and unique treasures from Black artists, artisans, and Black-owned small businesses. Thoughtfully curated in partnership with @artenoirnow.bsky.social seattleopera.org/market

Throughout December we'll be collecting donations for Plymouth Housing's supply drive. Supplies will go to Kristin Benson Place, a supportive housing development for adults experiencing homelessness, located across the street from McCaw Hall.

Call for stories and photos: The Lavender Names Project is a collaboration between the American LGBTQ+ Museum and Up Until Now Collective, created in tandem with the 10th Anniversary Tour of the trailblazing opera Fellow Travelers, which begins here at Seattle Opera.

Our annual Black Artists Market is expanding to two days! In partnership with @artenoirnow.bsky.social December 5 will be in Midtown Square in the Central District, and December 6 will be at the Opera Center. Learn more at seattleopera.org/market Art by Myron Curry.

We're proud to share that our Veterans Choir performed at Peer Seattle's "Honoring All Who Served: LGBTQ+ Veterans Celebration" program this Veterans Day. Photos by David Carroll.

Time to don your gayest apparel, Seattle! Join queen Anita Spritzer for her brand new holiday special, Anita Spritzer's Gay Apparel, along with pianist Jay Rozendaal for a night full of festive music and seasonal favorites. Get tix at seattleopera.org/gayapparel

Our supply drive during The Pirates of Penzance filled an entire cart with household supplies and winter gear for our friends at CASA Latina! These supplies will help Latino immigrant workers in our local community. Check out our next donation drive at seattleopera.org/supplydrive

We had a fantastic time welcoming the community to the Opera Center at our annual Open House! Over 750 people visited, enjoying live performances, a pirate dance lesson, tours of the costumes and props shops, Q&A's, a live feed of rehearsal, and lots of activities for kids. 📸 Sunny Martini

Happy closing performance to @seattleopera.bsky.social and Seattle Symphony's "The #Pirates of #Penzance" comedic farcical #opera by #GilbertAndSullivan at McCaw Hall. Starring David Portillo. Beautiful soprano from Vanessa Becerra. Review: showsiveseen.com/14154 #showsiveseen

UPDATE: We’ve extended the registration deadline to this Friday, October 31, and added more audition slots! Register now at seattleopera.org/youthauditions

We chose Art and Joy tonight - Pirates of Penzance @seattleopera.bsky.social

We're excited to announce the world premiere of The Wedding Banquet in 2027! Composed by Huang Ruo with libretto by James Schamus, the opera is inspired by the beloved 1993 film and the reimagined version that debuted earlier this year. Learn more at seattleopera.org/weddingbanquet

This Friday, October 24 is Pay What You Wish night at The Pirates of Penzance! Learn more about how to purchase Pay What You Wish tickets at seattleopera.org/pwyw

PUPPIES OF PENZANCE! 🐾 We were very paw-leased to welcome 13 Guide Dogs for the Blind puppies-in-training and their raisers to the dress rehearsal of The Pirates of Penzance.

The queens are coming! 🦇🎃 Get ready for a night of drag artistry and Halloween antics at our annual Queens of the Night party, hosted by Seattle's own belting diva, Anita Spritzer, with performances by Queen Andrew Scott, Rowan Ruthless, and Fabi. Get tickets at www.seattleopera.org/halloween

It's vampire season and we need your blood! 🧛 In partnership with Bloodworks Northwest we're hosting a blood drive this Monday, October 13 from 10:00 AM—4:00 PM at the Opera Center. Donors will be entered to win a trip to Tokyo + concert of your choice! Register at seattleopera.org/bloodworks

Our talented cast of The Pirates of Penzance is hard at work swashbuck- *ahem* ...rehearsing for a life of piracy (or a few weeks of it, at least). Photos by David Jaewon Oh.

Did you know we share a building AND the airwaves with Classical KING? Operas from our current season and recordings from the archives are broadcast on the radio in full throughout the year. Check out the new schedule at seattleopera.org/classicalking and tune in! 📻

Anchor's away! 🏴‍☠️⚓️ This week we kick off rehearsal for The Pirates of Penzance with our amazing cast, creative, and staging teams. The Pirates of Penzance is on stage October 18 through November 1, with audio description on October 26. Get tickets at seattleopera.org/pirates

Come visit the opera center and take a peek behind the scenes! Our annual open house, in partnership with Classical KING FM, is your chance to explore all the exciting work that happens at the Opera Center. Get details at seattleopera.org/openhouse

We're holding auditions for youth chorus performers for this season's production of Carmen! Youth choristers can look forward to performing in iconic scenes like the "Chorus of Street Children" and the bullfight finale, "Les voici! Voici la quadrille." Register at seattleopera.org/youthauditions

**UPDATE: Our website and ticketing system are back up and running! ✅

Our website and ticketing system are down for scheduled maintenance today 🛠️ If you need assistance with tickets during this time, please email [email protected].

We're on Substack! Give us a follow for behind-the-scenes looks, deep dives on opera history (old and new!), and answers to common questions about attending opera. substack.com/@seattleoper...

We're holding auditions for 4 dancers for our upcoming production of Carmen! We're casting for 3 masculine characters and 1 feminine character. We welcome all gender identities to audition for the role they feel is right for them. Register to audition at seattleopera.org/dancerauditions

*UPDATE* This event is now sold out. Door tickets will be subject to availability on the day of the sale depending on room capacity.

Come work with us! We have several full-time and part-time positions open across departments, including Marketing, Programs & Partnerships, Production, Audience Services, and the Amusements Gift Shop. www.seattleopera.org/jobs