November 6 | 7:30pm | Get TicketsNovember 8 | 2:00pm | Get Tickets
Audio Description, Touch Tour, and Braille Programs are available at the Sunday performance.
An epic, city-wide collaboration on the scale of West Side Story, this co-production with the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts brings fresh energy to a beloved classic. Gilbert & Sullivan’s pirate ship docks in New Orleans in a jazzy, blues-infused reimagining of Pirates! The Penzance Musical, where the wit and wordplay of G&S meet Caribbean rhythms and French Quarter flair in an outrageously clever, high-spirited romp.
Raised by pirates, Frederic believes his 21st birthday will finally set him free, until a twist of fate complicates everything. When he falls for Mabel, the spirited daughter of Major-General Stanley, pirates, policemen, and villagers collide in a whirlwind of swordplay, mistaken identities, and fast-flying patter. Led by a tongue-twisting Major General, a swaggering Pirate King, and a shipload of unforgettable musical numbers, this high-energy adventure overflows with romance, mischief, and off-the-charts fun, perfect for first-timers and Gilbert & Sullivan aficionados alike.
#PiratesOC
This production will be performed in English with English captions.
Based on the operetta by W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan
Adapted by Rupert Holmes
What’s Interesting About This Opera…
- Pirates! The Penzance Musical is a collaboration between Opera Columbus and CAPA (Columbus Association for the Performing Arts)
- This show premiered on Broadway in April 2025 to a sold-out run
- Pirates! The Penzance Musical makes it’s first professional regional debut in Columbus!
- If you love Hamilton and Some Like It Hot, with the wit of The Barber of Seville and H.M.S. Pinafore – this one’s for you.
Synopsis
PIRATES! THE PENZANCE MUSICAL is a jazzy and joyous reimagining of the beloved Gilbert & Sullivan crowd-pleasing classic. Transporting the pirates from Penzance to 1800s New Orleans, this outrageously clever romp sizzles with Caribbean rhythms and French Quarter flair with brand-new orchestrations as well as a brand-new book by Tony Award® winner Rupert Holmes (CURTAINS). With a tongue-twisting Major General, a rabble-rousing Pirate King, romance, swordplay, wordplay, and off-the-charts fun, there’s a shipload of musical comedy delights on board to dazzle first-timers and Gilbert & Sullivan aficionados alike. Straight from Broadway in Roundabout Theatre’s rousing and rollicking revival, this version is ideal for all schools, community and professional theatres, and will bring joy to actors and audiences alike.
Operacurious?
First time at the opera?
Or a seasoned fan just wanting to learn more?
OC has you covered!
How will I understand if the opera is in another language?
Many operas are sung in another language – French, Italian, Spanish, German and more!
Every opera has English captions. These are very similar to the subtitles you see on TV shows and movies.
Want to be prepared before you even step foot into the theatre?
Check out the synopsis before coming to the show! And follow Opera Columbus on social media for video content from the cast – including explaining the plot of the show in 60 seconds.
When do I applaud during an opera?
Our performers LOVE to hear your applause! If you are ever unsure of when to applaud – take cues from your fellow audience members.
Want to feel like a true opera extraordinaire? Add a “BRAVO” (or “BRAVA” for female leads) during the cast bows. This is opera language for “well done”.
What should I wear to the opera?
There is no dress code for opera! Some patrons choose to dress for a special occasion, while others prefer to keep it casual. We encourage all of our audience members to wear whatever they are comfortable in.
How will I know what to do when I arrive?
For every opera performance, Opera Columbus sends a “Know Before You Go” email. This email includes all of the key information you will need to know before coming to the theatre.
When should I arrive to the opera?
Plan on arriving about 30-40 minutes early. This gives you plenty of time to park, get tickets from Will Call if needed, grab a drink and find your seats in the theatre without feeling rushed. And all OC show have interactive pre-show experiences in the lobby!
Late comers are seated (or stand) in the rear of the theatre until ushers take them to their seats at an appropriate point in the production.
How do I purchase tickets?
There are three ways to purchase Opera Columbus tickets:
Online
Visit CAPA Ticket Center to purchase tickets online.
Call
Call the CAPA Ticket Center at 614-469-0939
In-Person
Visit the CAPA Ticket Center located at 39 E. State St.
Accessibility and ADA Information
At Opera Columbus, we believe world-class art belongs to every body, every ability, every voice. Whether you are joining us for the first time or returning with a lifelong love of live performance, our mission is simple: to make the opera experience open, welcoming and accessible to all. Here’s how we’re making that happen:
Audio Description
Available at Sunday performances. For patrons who are blind or low-vision. our professional describers bring the production to life with real-time narration that captures the moment, staging, costumes, props, set and emotion.
Vibrating Vests
Available at all performances. Through wearable technology that transforms music into physical sensation, deaf and hard-of-hearing audience members can feel the score as it happens.
Braille Programs
Available at all performances. We proudly offer braille programs so every patron can have access to cast information, opera synopsis and program notes.
Touch Tour
Available at Sunday performance. Before the show, blind or low-vision patrons can explore the costumes, props and set pieces through a guided tactile experience.
Captions
Opera in German? Italian? English? Opera Columbus has English captions at every performance.
If you or a guest would like accessibility services, please contact us ahead of the performance so we can make your experience seamless. Questions? Reach out to Kelsi at kmoore@operacolumbus.org
What is CAPA Ticket Center All-In Ticket Pricing?
CAPA Ticket Center has implemented All-In Pricing
What does this mean for you?
You will see the full price for any ticket sold through CBUSArts.com as soon as you click the “Buy Tickets” link from any event page or description. When selecting seats, the full ticket price will be listed, as well as broken down into ticket price and fees
NOTE: The cost of the ticket will not change; you will simply see the full price from the first step, instead of being surprised at checkout
Why are we making this change?
All-In Pricing is our way to make the ticket-buying process more transparent, so you see exactly what you will pay at checkout as soon as you start shopping for seats, inclusive of the ticket price and any fees
Cast
NINA WEST (Andrew Levitt) He rose to international prominence on the 11th season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Other notable credits include Tina Romero’s Queens of the Dead (Ginsey Tonic), Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (Divine), “Dragging the Classics: The Brady Bunch” (Alice), and voiceover work for Nickelodeon’s “Blue’s Clues,” “Baby Shark’s Big Show,” “RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag Race,” the recent “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 9,” “Drag Me To Dinner,” Bobby Moynihan’s “Loafy,” Hulu’s “The Bravest Knight”, and documentaries Lady Like and Kings, Queens, and In Betweens. On stage, he starred as Edna Turnbald in the national tour of Broadway’s Hairspray The Musical. Nina has hosted events around the world. Of note: 74th Annual ACE Eddie Awards, Disney+ Pride Special, events at San Diego Comic-Con, and galas for SAGE and Bring Change to Mind, among others. His charitable foundation, The Nina West Foundation, has raised over $3 million dollars for charities in central Ohio and around the world. His first children’s book, The You Kind of Kind was published in 2022 by PA Press. 2025 saw the publication of a book of essays by drag authors, including Nina, entitled No Tea No Shade: Life As Drag Queen. It is available from Harper Collins at bookstores everywhere. Nina is thrilled to announce that her beloved best-selling children’s book, The You Kind of Kind, will make its world premiere on April 2, 2027, in Columbus, Ohio at the Columbus Children’s Theatre. The production will run through April 23, 2027 at the Riffe Center in downtown Columbus. Nina has performed with Kermit the Frog and The Muppets. It does not get better than that.
Nina West
Creatives
Arthur Sullivan
W. S. Gilbert
Rupert Holmes
Laura Braza (she/her/hers) is a director, producer, Associate Artistic Director of the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, and former Artistic Director of Attic Theater Company (NYC). MILWAUKEE REP: George & Gracie: A Love Story*, And Then There Were None, Romeo & Juliet, Much Ado About Nothing, Dial ‘M’ for Murder, Million Dollar Quartet, Grounded, Songs for Nobodies (Am premiere), Two Pianos Four Hands, and more. NYC: The Notebook of Trigorin, Strictly Dishonorable, Jericho*, The Tutors, the dreamer examines his pillow, On The Verge, The Attic; work at Keen Company, NYMF, FringeNYC. CHICAGO: We Are Out There, It Came from Outer Space* (Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Jeff Award). REGIONAL: It Came from Outer Space (Theater Squared); The Dispute (Hangar Theatre); Theophilus North (Dog Days/FSU). BFA from NYU/Tisch, Drama League Directors Project, SDC member. Teaching/Guest Directing: UNCSA, NYU/Tisch Stella Adler & Atlantic. Thank you, always, to Geoff.
Laura Braza
Benjamin Pilat (Lighting Designer) is a designer, educator, and artist. Recent designs include Sweeney Todd and The Barber of Seville with Opera Saratoga and the world premiere of Haruki Murakami’s Dance, Dance, Dance at The University of Hawaii. Previously, Benjamin headed the Production/Design program at Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA and served as the Resident Lighting Designer and Lighting Director for Los Angeles Ballet. Additional clients include: Juilliard, Yale, Music Academy of the West, International City Theatre, Colorado Mesa University, and Chaminade University of Hawaii. Benjamin regularly speaks at conferences and universities on the future of lighting and other topics at the intersection of art and technology. Member: United Scenic Artists 829 and United States Institute of Theatre Technology.
Benjamin Pilat
