Opera Colorado will perform Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance on the Historic Elitch stage on Friday, May 16, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. — 135 years after the beloved operetta was first performed at this very theatre in 1891. The performance is part of the theatre’s Elitch Encore Series — bringing live theatre back to Denver’s oldest stage.
Full of sentimental pirates, blundering policemen, absurd adventures, and improbable paradoxes, experience Gilbert and Sullivan’s hilarious farce!
Opera Colorado’s production is fully staged with sets, costumes and props and has been expertly abridged to 60 minutes — making it accessible and engaging for opera lovers and first-time audiences alike.
The story follows the misadventures of young Frederic, an orphan apprenticed to a raucous band of pirates until his twenty-first birthday. After leaving the pirates’ way of life, Frederic falls for the beautiful Mabel, whose father is Major-General Stanley.
But, when Frederic’s former boss the Pirate King discovers the Major General’s secret plot, complications abound.
Set sail with this classic comedy that boasts some of the most memorable tunes in operetta.
The evening includes a post-performance Q&A with artists.
Tickets are just $20 (plus fees). Buy them here.
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