Pick up your tickets early to beat the crowd and maybe treat yourself to a cocktail in the neighborhood. Our Box Office opens two hours before the performance at the theatre.

Food and beverage options will be available for sale at the venue. Drinks are permitted in the seating area, but food is not allowed in the theatre (please enjoy it in the lobby!).

Please note that outside food and beverages are prohibited.

Yes! You will receive a program at the theatre. A digital program will also be available to read on the website in advance of performances (go to the page for a particular show). 

We take everyone's safety seriously. If you are feeling unwell for any reason prior to performance/on the day of the performance, please do not attend. 

Contact our Patron Services team at 503-241-1802 for ticketing options. Thanks for your consideration for public safety and wellness; and for the well-being of our artists, musicians, staff members, and singers.

Depending on the performance, late seating may be available. 

If designated late seats are available, you will be directed to those seats by House Management.

If you exit the theatre during the performance, you will not be able to return to your regular seat. You may be directed to the designated late/re-entry seats for your area.

Thank you for your consideration with these policies, which are rooted in respect for your fellow audience members, as well as the artists, singers, and musicians. Please respect the guidance of our ushers and front of house team to know when and how to re-enter the theatre.

The use of cameras, phones, and other recording devices is strictly prohibited during performances. We welcome you to take photos before the show and share photos using the hashtag #pdxopera and tagging @portlandopera. Please silence devices when inside the theatre.

We'll have photographers on site at the venue before the performance and during intermission. If you would not like to be photographed, please alert us at the Concierge booth and we'll make sure you don't make the cut in our promotional materials.

Our Patron Services will open the Box Office two hours before the performance. You can also reach us during regular office hours from 10 AM - 5 PM, Monday - Friday at 503-241-1802. 

Need assistance in the lobby? Stop by the concierge booth. Our staff is happy to share more information about the performance to ensure that your experience at the opera is an excellent one. Pop by if you have question, need a cough drop, or would like assistance.

For patrons who are deaf or hard of hearing, each performance includes live English captions projected above the stage.

We are proud to offer patrons who are blind or have low-vision live audio description at Sunday matinee performances (some exceptions may apply).

Assistive listening devices (ALDs) are available free-of-charge on a first-come, first-served basis with ID at the Coat Check.

The theatre has wheelchair accessible entrances, elevators, wheelchair and companion seating options, courtesy wheelchairs available at Coat Check (advance requests recommended), and accessible restrooms (non-gender specific).

If you require wheelchair accessible and/or companion seating, or have any other hearing or vision needs, please call us so that we can ensure your visit to the theatre is an excellent one. Call 503-241-1802 or via email at concierge@portlandopera.org.

Please note that Portland Opera does not typically offer ASL Interpreted performances.

Security will be present at performances, and all attendees must have tickets. If you have a security concern please alert the concierge booth, and we'll inform House Management and the security team.

Please note that weapons are not allowed in the venue. Bags are subject to search. Oversized bags will not be permitted in the theatre.

Keller Auditorium: A single stall all-gender accessible restroom is located on the north side of the first-floor, orchestra-level lobby, as well as on the second balcony level.

Antoinette Hatfield Hall (location of the Newmark Theatre and Brunish Theatre): A single-stall, all-gender restroom is located within the Antoinette Hatfield Hall on the orchestra level (second floor) facing Broadway near Matthew's Bar on the east side of the building.

You are welcome at Portland Opera. 

Come as you are! A few years ago, the question about what to wear to Portland Opera was asked on Reddit, and a user responded with:

“This is something I have always loved about Portland; people wear whatever they want. It doesn't matter, just go. Buy a ticket and enjoy the experience.”

We agree! Some people attend Portland Opera in full gowns or tuxedos, and others in jeans and hoodies. We've had amazing audience members show up dressed in costumes that they created to match the era of the opera.

We love being Portland’s opera, and that means that we hope you will attend wearing whatever makes you feel ready to be inspired. 

We sing opera in English, Italian, French, Spanish, Russian and other languages, but you do not need to be multilingual to enjoy or understand opera. 

For each of our productions, we have live captions above the stage, so that you can see a translation of what is being sung. Sometimes you don't even need the captions to understand, on a human level, what is happening in these epic and heartfelt stories. 

We hope that language barriers won't keep you from the universal experiences of story and song. 

We don't think that opera is dead, and we do not want it to be elitist. Opera began as the people's art form, and we are energized by that notion. We believe in the future of the opera. We continue the timeless tradition of storytelling, we celebrate the universal language of music, and we honor the brilliance of the human voice.

Opera speaks a universal language: human emotion. We think that even if you've never been to an opera before, you already "know" opera—because as people we all experience things like grief, joy, love, loss, and adventure. Opera can help us make sense of the joys and challenges of the day. 

And even if you end up not loving the performance (which is up to you!), we still think that hearing opera singers live, without a microphone, is one of the most inspiring experiences in the world. We hope you'll give it a chance, and maybe even a second chance. You might just fall in love. 

Some operas deal with adult content. We recommend that the guardian make the decision that is best for the child, and our team can help. If you have questions about age and content, please reach out our Patron Services team at 503.241.1802 or by email at concierge@portlandopera.org.

Check your email the week of the performance! We will send you a detailed “Plan Your Visit” email with specific details about the performance on the date you will be attending. This email includes a schedule (including what time the box office and theater opens, how long the show is, etc.), details about pre-show lectures and post-show conversations, a link to the digital version of the program, and info about any special events that may be happening that day.

Please remember to forward this email to any guests you will bringing along! 

Are you planning a proposal at the opera, or marking a special anniversary or occasion? Reach out to us and we'll talk through some ways we can add to the joy of your celebration. 

Email us: concierge@portlandopera.org

We recommend that you arrive at the theatre at least a half-hour before the performance. That said, you should plan ahead for bridges being up, Will Call lines, and whether or not you'd like to attend the pre-show lecture that happens before select performances.

The pre-show lecture is an opportunity to enhance your opera experience by learning about the context and history of the work. Experts and artists provide unique insights and share their knowledge by answering any questions you might have as well.

Pre-show lectures are free for all ticket holders and begin one hour before select performances.

There are attended coat check rooms available at the Keller Auditorium and Antoinette Hatfield Hall. 

There are all-gender, single-stall, ADA restrooms available at the Keller Auditorium and Antoinette Hatfield Hall.

There is a single-stall, all-gender restroom at the Antoinette Hatfield Hall. It is located on the orchestra level (second floor), facing Broadway near Matthew's Bar on the east side of the building.  

At the Keller Auditorium, there is a single-stall, all-gender, accessible restroom on the north side of the first-floor, orchestra-level lobby, as well as on the second balcony level. 

Food and beverage options will be available for sale at the venue. Drinks are permitted in the seating area, but food is not allowed within the theatre (please enjoy it in the lobby!). Please note that outside food and beverages are prohibited.

This is never a popular response, but here goes: if you leave your seat during a performance to use the restroom or step out of the theatre, we may not be able to let you back in.

And, if we can let you back in, you may be escorted to "late seats" for the remainder of the act, rather than being able to return to your ticketed seat. 

And, if we can let you back in, you may be asked to wait for a pause or otherwise safe moment for re-entry. Our admissions staff knows when these moments are, and will direct you when it is safe or a good time to head into the theatre. 

This circumstance is handled differently depending on the performance venue, because of safety concerns and scale. Please review our full policies here.

P'5 does not offer a designated pumping room at either Antoinette Hatfield Hall or the Keller Auditorium. That said, our House Management team will work with you to find a comfortable private place to pump. Please stop by the Concierge booth or find a staff member for assistance. 

You may clap whenever you are moved to do so, and you can totally shout "Bravo." 

That said, here is the traditional answer: audiences will clap when the conductor takes their place at the podium and after each act, or after a particularly moving aria or chorus piece. If you’re nervous, you can always follow the lead of those around you. But let's be honest: if you are inspired by what you see or hear onstage, by all means: let the performers know!

Also, traditionally opera audiences shout out at the performers when they are really moved at the end of a solo, duet, or performance:

Bravo! for an opera singer who is a man

Brava! for an opera singer who is a woman

Bravi tutti! for an ensemble/everyone/more than one person/gender neutral option

We understand how terrible it can feel when you are running late. Our team will do our best to welcome you and figure out what makes the most sense for your situation. We will talk through late seating options (which differ depending on the performance venue) if they are available. 

In some instances, our team might not be able to provide late seating or entry. Also, if we can provide late seating options, it means that you will be escorted to late seats, rather than your ticketed seat, and then at intermission you can take your ticketed seats. 

Please review our policies.

We understand that sometimes our policies can be frustrating. Please know that there are safety concerns for you and also our performers and production team when we consider late seating options and entry into the theatre. 

In each venue, please respect the instructions of our House Management and admissions staff team. Share any complaints or concerns with our Patron Services team by emailing concierge@portlandopera.org.

This is never a popular response, but here goes: if you leave your seat during a performance to use the restroom or step out of the theatre, we may not be able to let you back in.

And, if we can let you back in, you may be escorted to "late seats" for the remainder of the act, rather than being able to return to your ticketed seat. 

And, if we can let you back in, you may be asked to wait for a pause or otherwise safe moment for re-entry. Our admissions staff knows when these moments are, and will direct you when it is safe or a good time to head into the theatre. 

This circumstance is handled differently depending on the performance venue because of safety concerns and scale. Please review our full policies here.

If you've misplaced an item at the Keller Auditorium or Antoinette Hatfield Hall, please call 503-274-6551. 

You can also email concierge@portlandopera.org.

Please do not attend the opera if you are under the weather, because you could make others sick, and make your own symptoms worse. Give us a call at 503-241-1802 and we'll talk through options. 

If you feel unwell or need medical assistance at the performance, our team can help. We often have medical technicians onsite, and we will call emergency responders if needed. Seek the help of an usher and we will assist you. We value your health and wellbeing. 

We welcome your feedback! We want the chance to address your concerns, and/or learn from you when things went well. Please email concierge@portlandopera.org, or stop by the Concierge booth in the lobby and ask if there is someone you can speak with to share your experience. 

There is no place for bigotry, discrimination, hate, harassment or intolerance at Portland Opera. Did you experience a failure of our values and commitment to cultural equity while attending a performance, or while interacting with the company? We are sorry. We will do everything in our power to ensure that it doesn't happen again and that you are supported in sharing your experience and working towards a resolution. 

If you are onsite, you can go to the Concierge booth in the lobby for immediate staff support. 

Prefer to share your experience online? Use the form on this page and remain anonymous (or not) to share your message with our Cultural Equity staff committee. 

Share your experience