San Francisco Opera's Bohème Out of the Box Travels to Peninsula and East Bay in April & June 2024
Free mobile stage performances of Puccini’s opera (abridged version) takes opera out of the Opera House and into Bay Area communities
First Act family workshops presented before all Bohème Out of the Box shows
Boheme out of the box.pdf Photos
San Francisco, CA (February 15, 2024; updated April 29) — San Francisco Opera’s popular Bohème Out of the Box returns to Bay Area communities this spring and summer. Free, live afternoon performances of an abridged version of Giacomo Puccini’s La Bohème will travel to outdoor locations in Burlingame, Alameda, Albany and Union City in April and June 2024. Puccini’s beloved opera about love and loss among a group of bohemian artists will be performed in an intimate 75-minute version on a converted shipping-container-turned-mobile opera stage.
The June 29 Union City stop will feature two afternoon performances: Bohème Out of the Box and Out of the Box: Encore Concert, a one-hour concert of opera arias performed by San Francisco Opera Adler Fellows, the talented young artists from the Company’s acclaimed resident artist program.
Families with young children are invited to participate in free First Act Workshops 45 minutes before showtime at all Bohème Out of the Box performances. Explore Puccini’s La Bohème and get to know the passionate artists in the story. Bring along a favorite stuffed-animal friend and dance to “Musetta’s Waltz,” one of the most famous melodies in all of opera.
Directed by Jose Maria Condemi, Bohème Out of the Box is sung in Italian with English narration and features a cast of San Francisco Opera’s Adler Fellows and guest artists with piano accompaniment. Live English supertitles will be available via personal mobile devices.
The cast for all performances features (*current San Francisco Opera Adler Fellow): Caroline Corrales* (Mimì), Christopher Oglesby (Rodolfo), Samuel Kidd* (Marcello), Georgiana Adams* (Musetta), James McCarthy* (Colline), Jongwon Han* (Schaunard) and Philip Skinner (Benoit/Alcindoro), with pianists Julian Grabarek* and Yang Lin*, and narration by Michael Bragg. The creative/technical team includes: Jose Maria Condemi (Stage Director), Cassandra Carpenter (Costume Consultant), Ryan O’Steen (Set Coordinator) and Justin A. Partier (Lighting Director).
Launched last season as part of the Company’s centennial, Bohème Out of the Box brings La Bohème’s powerful emotions and soaring music to outdoor locations throughout the Bay Area. Though the first 2023 shows scheduled for Alameda were canceled due to inclement weather, the mobile-stage production was performed for audiences in South San Francisco, Los Gatos and Dublin. In addition to this season’s free public performances in the Peninsula and East Bay, Bohème Out of the Box also plans to travel to Silicon Valley this spring to present free staff performances at tech/corporate campuses.
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SAN FRANCISCO OPERA PRESENTS BOHÈME OUT OF THE BOX
Bohème Out of the Box runs approximately 75 minutes with no intermission and features piano accompaniment. Performed by San Francisco Opera Adler Fellows and guest artists in Italian with English narration. Live English supertitles will be available on personal mobile devices.
Bohème Out of the Box is a free event. Registration at sfopera.com/box is encouraged but not required.
Admission/seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Food and beverages will be available for purchase at many of the locations or nearby, and audiences are welcome to bring their own food and beverages to enjoy during the shows.
Casting and schedule subject to change. Additional event information will be announced at a later date. For more information, including directions, parking, public transit and event updates, visit sfopera.com/box.
PLEASE NOTE: In the event of rain and inclement weather, these outdoor performances may be cancelled or delayed. Register at sfopera.com/box to receive updates via email or follow @sfopera on social media.
FREE FIRST ACT WORKSHOPS: Families with young children are invited to participate in free First Act Workshops 45 minutes before showtime at all Bohème Out of the Box performances. Explore Puccini’s La Bohème and get to know the passionate artists in the story. Bring along a favorite stuffed-animal friend and dance to “Musetta’s Waltz,” one of the most famous melodies in all of opera.
BURLINGAME
Saturday, April 13, 2024 at 2 p.m. – Bohème Out of the Box
Sunday, April 14, 2024 at 2 p.m. – Bohème Out of the Box
Washington Park, 850 Burlingame Avenue, Burlingame
Washington Park is a vibrant center for Burlingame recreation, boasting a beautiful and recently renovated Community Center. Nestled in the center of the Bay Area’s Peninsula region, the outdoor Bohème Out of the Box performances will take place steps away from a Caltrain stop and Burlingame Avenue, with its many shops and eateries. Chairs will be provided at the parking lot performance location (available on a first-come, first-served basis), and audiences are welcome to bring their own seating. Food and beverages will be available for purchase onsite. This event is presented in partnership with the Burlingame Parks and Recreation Department.
ALAMEDA
Saturday, April 20, 2024 at 2 p.m. – Bohème Out of the Box
Sunday, April 21, 2024 at 2 p.m. – Bohème Out of the Box
Radium Runway, 2151 Ferry Point, Alameda
In partnership with the City of Alameda and RADIUM Presents, an initiative to establish a performing arts center in Alameda catering to the needs of the local East Bay arts community, Bohème Out of the Box will be performed at Radium Runway, a short walk from the Seaplane Ferry Terminal. With the San Francisco skyline and Bay Bridge as the backdrop, seating will be on the concrete taxiway, covered with an artificial lawn. Audiences are encouraged to bring blankets or low camp chairs (a limited number of folding chairs will be available on a first-come, first-served basis). Food and beverages will be available for purchase onsite.
ALBANY
Thursday, June 27, 2024 at 1 p.m. – Bohème Out of the Box
The performance will take place at the intersection of Solano Avenue and Evelyn Avenue, Albany
Bohème Out of the Box makes a lunchtime visit to perform along Albany’s charming Solano Avenue, full of restaurants and local businesses. Audiences are encouraged to purchase lunch at one of the local restaurants and join us in the closed street intersection for a unique lunchtime experience (chairs will be provided on a first-come, first served basis). This event is presented in partnership with the City of Albany.
UNION CITY
Saturday, June 29, 2024 at 1 p.m. – Bohème Out of the Box
Saturday, June 29, 2024 at 4:30 p.m. – Out of the Box: Encore Concert
Kennedy Park Amphitheater, 1333 Decoto Road, Union City
The beautiful park amphitheater in Charles F. Kennedy Park is the setting for two performances: a 1 p.m. performance of Bohème Out of the Box and at 4:30 p.m., Out of the Box: Encore Concert, a free one-hour concert of popular opera arias and duets performed by Adler Fellows, San Francisco Opera’s resident artists. Seating will be on the gently sloping hills of the outdoor amphitheater. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. The venue is walking distance from Union City BART. This event is presented in partnership with the City of Union City.
*For the complete press release, including cast and calendar, open the PDF version above.