Yo ho, with a jazz funeral twist. Opera Columbus launches its 45th anniversary season with “Pirates! The Penzance Musical” (November 6–8, 2026, Palace Theatre) — the regional premiere of the acclaimed reimagining that moves Gilbert & Sullivan’s pirates to New Orleans and scores them with jazz, blues and big-band swing.
The production, fresh from its Broadway-adjacent success, keeps every beloved tune — the Major-General still rhymes at terrifying speed — while the setting lets Opera Columbus do what it does best: make opera feel like a party the whole city is invited to.
The company’s “American Icons” anniversary season continues with Puccini’s “La Fanciulla del West” in February and Stephen King’s “The Shining” in April.
Pirates, jazz and opera in one treasure chest. Columbus, November — dig in.
