Student Previews
Experience the magic of opera through special student preview performances, offering an exclusive first look at full productions before they open to the public. These events provide young audiences with an unforgettable opportunity to explore the power of live music and storytelling.
GENERAL INFORMATION:
Grade Level: Each performance is individually rated.
Cost: FREE for Title 1 Schools, $5 per student including College, $10 per chaperone
Chaperone Requirement: One supervising teacher required per 10 students (free chaperone ticket provided for every 10 students).
Student Requirement: To attend a Student Preview, you are required to be a CURRENT student and may be asked to present a student ID when picking up your ticket if you are not traveling with a large school group. If you are not able to present your student ID when picking up your ticket at will-call you will not be allowed into the event.
No school ID? Before completing your reservation, indicate in the notes section why you cannot present an ID (Homeschool student, private group, etc.)
REGISTRATION COMING AUGUST 1!
2026/27 Season Student Preview Performances
Scalia/Ginsburg
An Opera by Derrick Wang
Date: Wednesday, September 23, 2026
Time: 7 PM - 8 PM
Location: Herberger Theater Center
Rating: PG-13
Language: Performed in English with English and Spanish supertitles
Length: 1 hour with no intermission
Welcome to the Supreme Court chambers as you have never seen them before, transformed into the stage for a comedic, high-stakes operatic battle where law, wit, and music collide.
Scalia/Ginsburg is a clever and moving tribute to the extraordinary friendship between two of the most iconic Justices in American history, Justice Antonin Scalia and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Though often in sharp disagreement on the bench, they shared a deep and enduring bond rooted in a mutual love of opera, fine dining, and travel. The work weaves legal citations and excerpts from landmark opinions into recognizable melodies from the operatic canon, creating a tapestry of music and meaning that is at once playful and profound. It offers a powerful reminder that disagreement and respect can coexist. As the opera suggests, “We are different, we are one.”
El Gato con Botas
Music by Xavier Montsalvatge, Libretto by Néstor Luján
Date: Friday, November 6, 2026
Time: 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Location: Arizona Opera Wittcoff Black Box Theater
Rating: PG
Language: Performed in Spanish with English and Spanish supertitles
Length: 1 hour with no intermission
Ticket Cost: $5/student, $10/adult. Due to limited seating, there are no free tickets offered for this performance.
El Gato con Botas (Puss in Boots) is a one-act opera by Spanish composer Xavier Montsalvatge with libretto by Néstor Luján, based on the classic tale by Charles Perrault. Perfect for audiences of all ages, this charming story follows a clever and adventurous cat who, in exchange for a hat, sword, and boots, sets out to secure a kingdom and a bride for his humble master. The score is filled with lively Spanish rhythms and lyrical, colorful melodies, creating a playful and engaging theatrical experience.
Running approximately one hour and performed in Spanish with piano accompaniment, this production features the entire Marion Roose Pullin Arizona Opera Studio and offers the perfect introduction to opera for the entire family.
The Pirates of Penzance
Music by Sir Arthur Sullivan, Libretto by W.S. Gilbert
Date: Thursday, January 28, 2027
Time: 10:30 AM - 1 PM
Location: Symphony Hall, Phoenix
Rating: PG
Language: Performed in English with English and Spanish supertitles
Length: 2 hours and 30 minutes, including one 30-minute intermission
Set sail on a topsy-turvy adventure with Gilbert and Sullivan’s beloved operetta, The Pirates of Penzance.
This delightful comedy follows young Frederic, mistakenly apprenticed to a band of tender-hearted pirates. On the eve of his 21st birthday, he’s ready to leave piracy behind, only to fall head-over-heels for Mabel, the daughter of the delightfully bumbling Major-General Stanley. But just as freedom and love seem within reach, a famously “ingenious paradox” turns his world upside down: born on leap day, Frederic is technically only five years old… and still bound to the pirates.
The Pirates of Penzance is packed with witty wordplay, sword fighting, and iconic songs, including the rapid-fire “I am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General.” Fun for the whole family, it showcases Gilbert and Sullivan at their best with a spirited mix of romance and satire that has dazzled audiences for generations.
La Traviata
Music by Giuseppe Verdi, Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave
Date: Thursday, March 4, 2027
Time: 7 PM - 10 PM
Location: Symphony Hall, Phoenix
Rating: PG-13
Language: Performed in Italian with English and Spanish supertitles
Length: 2 hours and 40 minutes, including one 30-minute intermission
Experience the heartbreaking beauty of La Traviata, Giuseppe Verdi’s timeless masterpiece of love.
Set against the glamorous backdrop of 19th-century Paris, La Traviata follows the radiant courtesan Violetta Valéry. Though she is the center of every gathering, she longs for a life beyond the empty pleasures of her social world. When the devoted Alfredo Germont declares his love, Violetta must choose between her hard-won independence and the promise of a true, restorative romance.
La Traviata, renowned for some of the most unforgettable melodies in opera, unfolds as a powerful musical and theatrical journey that has moved audiences to tears for over 170 years.
More Information:
- All tickets will remain at will call (unless otherwise specified) and can be picked up at the box office at Symphony Hall beginning 1 hour before your performance.
- Seating is general admission. Please note, the front center orchestra section may be blocked off for performance production needs.
- Bus parking for symphony hall performances is provided on 3rd Street and Washington. You will receive a bus pass with specific instructions about a week before the performance. Police officers will be on site to assist with parking and will remain on site to monitor the busses.
- Car parking is available for a fee in the garages surrounding Symphony Hall. These garages include the Hyatt Regency garage, Chase garage (1st and Monroe), and the West garage (directly under Symphony Hall).
Phoenix Symphony Hall Safety Policies:
For the safety and security of all patrons, Phoenix Convention Center & Venues has implemented a screening process for all public shows at Symphony Hall.
All guests will pass through metal detectors to screen for prohibited items. Clutch Bags no larger than 8.5” x 5.5” and Clear Bags up to 12” x 6” x 12” are permitted. Medical, family, and teacher bags are allowed.
It is recommended that patrons arrive approximately 60 minutes before the performance start time. Please review our prohibited items prior to your arrival.
Join the Education mailing list to stay up to date on all education programs, and to be notified when registrations open. Please reach out to chollerbach@azopera.org for more detailed information about each rating.