THE NUTCRACKER
(December 5-8)

RENTAL PARTNER
Presented by: Sole City Dance
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​This classic holiday tale has become a regional favorite!  This soaring story, framed by Tchaikovsky’s legendary score, captures the wonder and expectation of the night before Christmas when a mysterious gift sparks an extraordinary journey. 

Follow Clara as she embarks on an adventure filled with colorful characters, majestic scenery, and breathtaking costumes.  You’ll find your heart dancing as Clara and the Nutcracker Prince overcome obstacles on their way to the Land of Sweets. 

From the captivating dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy to the iconic snow scene, this delightful holiday classic continues to enthrall audiences of all ages.  Whether you're seeing it for the first time or it's an annual treat, start your holiday season in grand style with the ones you love.

Performance Schedule:
  • Wednesday, December 4 (10am & 12pm)
  • Thursday, December 5 (7pm)
  • Friday, December 6 (7pm)
  • Saturday, December 7 (2 & 7pm)​
  • Sunday, December 8 (2pm)
  • *Contact Sole City Dance for tickets to school shows (603) 750-7777

CHARLES DICKENS' A CHRISTMAS CAROL
​(December 12-22)

THEATRE SERIES/ARTS & EDUCATION
Sponsored by: Profile Bank, Service Credit Union
​Co-sponsored by: Studley's Flower Gardens, United Insurance

Christmas isn't Christmas without revisiting the beloved tale of the penny-pinching and bad tempered old miser Ebenezer Scrooge and the awakening of his long forgotten festive spirit.  This ghostly tale of the Past, Present, and Future is brought to life in this exciting new musical adaptation.  Keeping true to the original text and bringing the atmosphere of Victorian Christmas traditions to the stage, it draws upon the themes of time, family, and society's ills to warm even the coldest of hearts.

With a cavalcade of colorful Dickensian characters and a ghostly quartet of guardians, A Christmas Carol is the perfect way to get you into the Christmas spirit. This new adaptation has something for everyone, both young and old.

Performance Schedule:
  • Thursday, December 12 (7:30pm)
  • Friday, December 13 (7:30pm)
  • Saturday, December 14 (2 & 7:30pm)
  • Sunday, December 15 (2pm)
  • Thursday, December 19 (7:30pm)
  • Friday, December 20 (7:30pm)
  • Saturday, December 21 (2 & 7:30pm)
  • Sunday, December 22 (2pm)

School Performances:
  • Thursday, December 19 (10am)
  • ​Friday, December 20 (10am)
  • ​Call (603) 948-1682 for tickets. $7 per ticket, every 16th is free.

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE
Tuesday, December 24 (3pm & 5pm)

RENTAL PARTNER

Carols, Candlelight, and the Christmas Story. Presented by Grace Community Church. FREE and open to all! This will be the highlight of your holiday season as we celebrate Christmas at the historic Rochester Opera House! Enjoy Christmas carols, special music, and reflections on Christmas on this special night.  Each service is only 1 hour long and will be family friendly. This event is free and we encourage you to invite your friends and family!

RECYCLED PERCUSSION
​Thursday, December 26 (12:30pm, 4:30pm, 7:30pm)

RENTAL PARTNER

Legendary New Hampshire drumming group RECYCLED PERCUSSION is back in the Granite State on Wednesday, December 26, 2019 to celebrate and rock the Rochester Opera House in Rochester, NH for 3 BIG SHOWS. 

​You may have seen them impressing the judges on America’s Got Talent, or even seen them perform in Las Vegas or maybe as they opened the 2017 Super Bowl or on their new TV show “Chaos & Kindness”! Maybe, just maybe, you are one of the few that have not seen this amazing show. Whether it’s your first time or your tenth, a Recycled Percussion show always rocks!

Don’t miss this show packed full of surprises and crowd favorites in an incredible turbo-charged performance. Be part of a one of a kind show and relive the journey of the local boys all the way to the entertainment capital of the world, Las Vegas!

COMEDIAN BOB MARLEY
(December 28-29)

RENTAL PARTNER

Marley’s brand of high energy and off beat observation of everyday life things has captured the minds of fans of all ages including teenagers to grandparents in their 80’s. He has been featured in his own special on Comedy Central, and is one of the few comics to do the complete late- night TV circuit: "The Late Show" with David Letterman, "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno, "Late Night" with Conan O'Brien and "The Late Late Show" with Craig Ferguson and Craig Kilborn. Marley, a Maine native and University of Maine at Farmington graduate, uses biographical and observational material for his high-energy routines. He began his career in his hometown of Portland, and then moved to Boston to gain experience in a city known for spawning comedy all-stars!

Bob has also placed his mark on the silver screen with the cult favorite “Boondock Saints” as the memorable and always goofy Detective Greenly. Performing with acting greats like Willem Dafoe, Billy Connolly and Peter Fonda. Marley's dedication to always coming up with new material is leading him into his 20th year as a stand-up comedian performing over 250 shows a year across Maine, New England and around the country.

You don't need to be a 'Maine-iac' to laugh yourself silly at Bob's wicked funny antics.

Performance Schedule:​
  • ​​Saturday, December 28 (4pm, 6:30pm, 9pm)
  • Sunday, December 29 (3pm, 5pm, 7:30pm)

​THE FULL MONTY
​(January 9-26)

THEATRE SERIES
Handicap Access in Balcony Only
Reserved table seating on the orchestra level. Call (603) 335-1992 to reserve.
Co-sponsored by: The Rochester Voice

Based on the cult hit film of the same name, The Full Monty, a ten-time Tony Award nominee, is filled with honest affection, engaging melodies and the most highly anticipated closing number of any show. The powerhouse team of Terrence McNally (Ragtime) and David Yazbek (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) cooks up a real crowd pleaser.

While spying on their wives at a "Girls' Night Out," a group of unemployed steelworkers from Buffalo sees how much they enjoy watching male strippers. Jealous, out of work and feeling emasculated, the men come up with a bold and unclothed way to make some quick cash. In preparing, they find themselves extremely exposed; not merely physically but emotionally. As they conquer their fears, self-consciousness and prejudices, the men come to discover that they're stronger as a group, and the strength that they find in each other gives them the individual courage to "let it go."

The Full Monty is a story full of heart. Right to the end, you will be wondering if these lovable misfits will really pull it off. With a raucous mix of razor-sharp humor and toe-tapping pizzazz, this heartwarming, upbeat comedy is a must see. Show Credits

Performance Schedule:
  • Thursday, January 9 (7:30pm) GET TICKETS
  • ​Friday, January 10 (7:30pm)
  • Saturday, January 11 (2 & 7:30pm)
  • Sunday, January 12 (2pm)​
  • Friday January 17 (7:30pm)
  • Saturday, January 18 (2 & 7:30pm)
  • Sunday, January 19 (2pm)​
  • Friday, January 24 (7:30pm)
  • Saturday, January 25 (2 & 7:30pm)
  • Sunday, January 26 (2pm)​

THE ELVIS & ORBISON SHOW​​ 
Friday, February 7 (8pm)

​FrankFM TRIBUTE SERIES
Sponsored by: Leone, McDonnell & Roberts, Professional Association
​
A true celebration of two legendary performers in one amazing show! The Elvis & Orbison Show is a unique and incredible tribute concert experience.  In the first set, the portrayal of Roy Orbison is extraordinary. The look, the voice and the phenomenal songs all come to life right in front of your ears and eyes - Oh Pretty Woman, Only The Lonely, Crying, In Dreams, It's Over, Dream Baby, Blue Angel to name a few.
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In the second set, Elvis Presley is back in the building as the celebration continues. Jailhouse Rock, Burnin' Love, Hound Dog, Suspicious Minds, Love Me Tender and many more of Elvis' great tunes are brought back to life as the audience is transformed back to a time when Elvis ruled the musical world in an outstanding tribute to the King of Rock & Roll.

FRANK SANTOS JR. COMIC HYPNOTIST
​Friday, February 14 (8pm)

MAINSTAGE
Sponsored by: Leone, McDonnell & Roberts, Professional Association
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Celebrate Valentine’s Day with this hilarious, energetic and unique show! Frank Santos, Jr. has been mesmerizing audiences for over twenty years with his spectacular display of mind bending antics that can turn any skeptic into a fan.  No two shows are ever the same as the audience becomes the stars.  Under his hypnotic spell, audience members are more than willing to follow every command, from awkward to outrageous in the unpredictable, hilarious, laugh until your sides hurt R-rated comedy show.   He is returning to our stage by popular demand for a tenth season!

HEY NINETEEN (STEELY DAN TRIBUTE)
Saturday, ​February 22 (8pm)

​FrankFM TRIBUTE SERIES
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Hey Nineteen is a Steely Dan Tribute band, an eleven-piece groove machine which brings an enormous amount of performance energy and spot on Steely Dan music. Hey Nineteen will amaze you with their exacting solos (as originally recorded), vocals, harmonies, and musicality, all while keeping you moving with their high energy show. Hey Nineteen a Tribute to Steely Dan is comprised of top professional musicians, many of whom have performed with Grammy- winning, international artists. Hey Nineteen brings the big hits and the deep cuts, from ‘Do It Again’ to ‘Your Gold Teeth II’, from ‘Reelin’ in the Years’ to “Doctor Wu” and “Peg” and many more.

LOS LOBOS
​​​Friday, March 6 (8pm)

MAINSTAGE SERIES
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Their journey began in 1973, when Hidalgo (vocals, guitar, and pretty much anything with strings), Perez (drums, vocals, guitar), Rosas (vocals, guitar), and Lozano (bass, vocals, guitarrón) earned their stripes playing revved-up versions of Mexican folk music in restaurants and at parties. The band evolved in the 1980s as it tapped into L.A.’s burgeoning punk and college rock scenes. They were soon sharing bills with bands like the Circle Jerks, Public Image Ltd. and the Blasters, whose saxophonist, Steve Berlin, would eventually leave the group to join Los Lobos in 1984.

Early on, Los Lobos enjoyed critical success, winning the Grammy® for Best Mexican-American Performance for “Anselma” from its 1983 EP …And a Time to Dance. A year later, the group released its full-length, major-label debut, How Will the Wolf Survive? Co-produced by Berlin and T Bone Burnett, the album was a college rock sensation that helped Los Lobos tie with Bruce Springsteen as Rolling Stone’s Artist of the Year.

A major turning point came in 1987 with the release of the Ritchie Valens biopic, La Bamba. The quintet’s cover of Valens’ signature song topped the charts in the U.S. and the U.K. Rather than capitalize on that massive commercial success, Los Lobos instead chose to record La Pistola y El Corazón, a tribute to Tejano and Mariachi music that won the 1989 Grammy® for Best Mexican-American Performance. 

That kind of sharp artistic turn has become Los Lobos’ trademark, serving to both fuel the band’s creativity and keep its fans engaged. In 1992, that willingness to defy expectations led them to record Kiko, an adventurous album produced by Mitchell Froom that’s considered by many to be one the band’s very best. 

Since then, Los Lobos has continued to deliver daring and diverse albums such as Colossal Head (1996), Good Morning Aztlán (2002), The Town and the City (2006), Tin Can Trust (2010) and Gates of Gold (2015). On top of that, the band’s live shows never disappoint, as documented on the recent concert recordings Live at the Fillmore (2005) and Disconnected in New York City (2013). Through the years, they’ve managed to keep things interesting with unexpected side trips like an album of Disney songs in 2009, along with countless contributions to tribute albums and film soundtracks. One of those – “Mariachi Suite” from the 1995 film Desperado – earned the band a Grammy® for Best Pop Instrumental Performance. 

Los Lobos has sold millions of records, won prestigious awards and made fans around the world. But perhaps its most lasting impact will be how well its music embodies the idea of America as a cultural melting pot. In it, styles like son jarocho, norteño, Tejano, folk, country, doo-wop, soul, R&B, rock ’n’ roll and punk all come together to create a new sound that’s greater than the sum of its parts.

​KASHMIR (LED ZEPPELIN TRIBUTE)
​​Saturday, March 7 (8pm)

​FrankFM TRIBUTE SERIES
​
Kashmir is the most authentic representation of Led Zeppelin on the modern national touring scene. Each of the 4 band members assumes their individual role with pinpoint accuracy. Kashmir possesses the live stage show, sound, and likeness to bring audiences and fans back to the days when the mighty Led Zeppelin ruled the musical landscape. With the playlist of every classic rock station and the most identifiable voice in rock history, Kashmir’s show features Page’s iconic double-neck guitar, Bonham’s drum solo, the stage show of the era, and most importantly, the greatest hits that make up the soundtrack to peoples’ lives. For those who dream to experience a live Led Zeppelin show, dream no more—Kashmir will fit the bill, hitting every stop along the way, leaving you thirsty for more.

​THE SPIRIT OF JOHNNY CASH
​Friday, March 13 (8pm)

​FrankFM TRIBUTE SERIES
Sponsored by: First Seacoast Bank
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This is what country music is all about – the music of Johnny Cash.  Harold Ford is incredible as Johnny Cash.  He sings and looks exactly like the man in black – and it comes naturally.  Accompanied by the Red Hot Cash Band, an extraordinarily talented team of musicians, The Spirit of Johnny Cash recreates the music that made Johnny Cash country music’s most iconic performer.
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The spirit of Johnny Cash emanates through tribute artist Harold Ford with his deep baritone and striking resemblance to the country music icon.  In this incredible recreation of Johnny Cash in Concert, you’ll hear many of Cash’s greatest hits, including Folsom Prison Blues, I Walk the Line, Ring of Fire, Jackson, and many more.   The performance also features great songs by The Highwaymen, a project that featured Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson, as well as Carter Family tunes.  Audiences are mesmerized by the stage presence and charisma reminiscent of Johnny Cash performing at the Grand Ole Opry.

DANCE NORTHEAST
​Saturday, March 14 (2 & 7pm)

FAMILY SERIES
Presented by: Sole City Dance
​
Junior Companies and Student Choreography: 2pm
$9 all seats

Delight in the joy and artistry of dance when Sole City Dance and the Rochester Opera House join together to showcase talented dancers from companies and dance education centers around the region. The celebration presents an afternoon performance with junior companies and up-and-coming student choreographers. The show is filled with colorful, energetic performances of innovative, diverse choreography by some of the region’s finest young dancers.
Senior Companies and Guest Artists: 7pm
$15 adults / $11 students and seniors

​Delight in the joy and artistry of dance when Sole City Dance and the Rochester Opera House join together to showcase talented dancers from companies and dance education centers around the region. The show is filled with colorful, energetic performances of innovative, diverse choreography by some of the region’s finest dancers. The evening performance features senior and professional companies along with special guests.

​TUSK (FLEETWOOD MAC TRIBUTE)
​Saturday, April 4 (8pm)

​FrankFM TRIBUTE SERIES
Co-sponsored by: The Rochester Voice
​
No wigs, no backing tracks, no gimmicks, just five musicians recreating the music of Fleetwood Mac to perfection with note for note renditions that no other Fleetwood Mac tribute on the touring scene today can come close to duplicating.  

​Tusk covers all the great hits of Fleetwood Mac, which has featured the talents of Mick Fleetwood, Christine and John McVie, Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks and others over the years. The five seasoned, well-respected musicians comprising Tusk have been making music together in various combinations and styles, in original outfits and in cover bands, for over twenty-five years.  It seemed only fitting that they should come together to form the Ultimate Fleetwood Mac Tribute, and pay homage to a group that dominated the charts during the band members’ formative years.
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Authentic sounding and always respectful, Tusk leaves no stone unturned in replicating the sounds of one of the world’s best-loved, top selling bands.

MACBETH
​(April 16-24)

THIS EVENT WILL BE HELD AT RPAC
​32 North Main Street, Rochester NH 03967
​
A Tale Full of Sound and Fury... Through the prophecy of the Three Witches, Macbeth learns that one day he will rule as King of Scotland. Spurred by ambition for power and at the urging of Lady Macbeth, the once brave general chooses a murderous path to take the throne from King Duncan.  After seizing power, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, wracked with guilt by their evil deeds, begin the descent into madness. The play, considered one of Shakespeare’s darkest, most powerful works, dramatizes the corruptive psychological and political effects, when the desire for power becomes malevolent.  An ROH Production.  Contemporary Impressions.

Performance Schedule:​
  • Thursday, April 16 (10am)
  • Friday, April 17 (10am)
  • Thursday, April 23 (10am)
  • Friday, April 24 (10am)
  • ​Call (603) 948-1682 for tickets. $7 per ticket, every 16th is free.

LOTTERY COCKTAIL PARTY
​Friday, April 24 (5:30pm)

A BENEFIT TO SUPPORT OPERATIONS
Handicap Access in Balcony Only
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Tickets $100 admits two people. Celebrate 80’s Rock ’n Roll at the Rochester Opera House Lottery Cocktail Party, the premier fundraising event of the season!  Ten lucky ticket holders share $13,000 in cash prizes and the last ticket drawn names the $10,000 Grand Prize winner!  Join us for a fantastic evening, featuring tasty hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, music, games, prizes and a live and silent auction.  Funds raised during this event substantially support operations and our ability to present outstanding programming for adults, seniors, families, teens and children.

We invite you to attend and/or to consider a donation of goods, services, gift certificates or gift baskets for the live and silent auctions.  You might also consider supporting this fundraising event with a sponsorship or the purchase of a program ad. Rochester Opera House is a not-for-profit organization, so your donations are tax deductible.  All donors are recognized in the program.

ROCK OF AGES
​​(April 30 - May 17)

THEATRE SERIES
Sponsored by: DF Richard, Studley's Flower Gardens
Reserved table seating available on orchestra floor
Handicap Access in Balcony Only
​
Rock of Ages takes you back to the times of big bands with big egos playing big guitar solos and sporting even bigger hair! This five-time Tony Award -nominated Broadway musical features the hits of bands including Night Ranger, REO Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister, Styx, Whitesnake, and more.
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It’s the tail end of the big, bad 1980's in Hollywood, and the party has been raging hard. Aqua Net, Lycra, lace, and liquor flow freely at one of the Sunset Strips last legendary venues, a place where sex machine Stacee Jaxx takes the stage and scantily clad groupies line up to turn their fantasies into reality. Amidst the madness, aspiring rock star (and resident toilet cleaner) Drew longs to take the stage as the next big thing (and longs for small-town girl Sherri, fresh off the bus from Kansas with stars in her eyes). But the rock and roll fairy-tale is about to end when German developers sweep into town with plans to turn the fabled Strip into just another capitalist strip mall. Can Drew, Sherri, and the gang save the strip–and themselves–before it's too late? Only the music of hit bands holds the answer. 

“Rock of Ages” is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc., a Concord Theatricals Company. Book by Chris D’Arienzo. Arrangements and Orchestrations by Ethan Pop.

Performance Schedule:
  • Thursday April 30 (7:30pm) GET TICKETS
  • Friday, May 1 (7:30pm)
  • Saturday, May 2 (2 & 7:30pm)
  • Sunday, May 3 (5pm)
  • Friday, May 8 (7:30pm)
  • Saturday, May 9 (2 & 7:30pm)
  • Sunday, May 10 (5pm)
  • Friday, May 15 (7:30pm)
  • Saturday, May 16 (2 & 7:30pm)
  • Sunday, May 17 (5pm)

CURIOUS GEORGE: THE GOLDEN MEATBALL
​​(May 21-23)

ARTS & EDUCATION/FAMILY SERIES
​ ​
Everyone's favorite mischievous monkey and his friend in the yellow hat sing and dance up a storm in this adventure-filled musical. Join Curious George, the inquisitive, lovable monkey-star of books, movies and the award-winning PBS television show in a brand-new musical. Curious George: The Golden Meatball is a loveable adventure, specifically designed for young audiences, that is sure to leave them singing and swinging down the aisles.

All You-Can-Eat Meatball Day came just once a year. George had been waiting all month for that day, a day almost bigger than his birthday! On Meatball Day, George helped his friend, Chef Pisghetti, cook some delicious meatballs and serve them to the hungry crowd. But this year, the crowd had vanished! Something was keeping people away... something pretty big. And that something was Phinneas T. Lightspeed and his speedy Meatballs-o-Matic machine. In despair, Chef Pisghetti vows to cook no more. Determined to help his friend, George goes on a mission to enter the Chef's meatballs in the world-famous Golden Meatball Contest in Rome.

Performance Schedule:
  • Friday, May 22 (7pm)
  • ​Saturday, May 23 (11am)​

School Performances:
  • Thursday, May 21 (10am)
  • Friday, May 22 (10am)
  • ​Call (603) 948-1682 for tickets. $7 per ticket, every 16th is free.

​THE CORVETTES DOO WOP REVUE
Friday, June 5 (8pm)

​MAINSTAGE SERIES
Sponsored by: 105.9 WMEX

Returning by popular demand, The Corvettes Doo Wop Revue is not just a concert, it’s an all-out Doo Wop celebration!  Dedicated to preserving and performing the greatest music ever made – the music of the 1950’s Doo Wop era – The Corvettes fresh new energy, incredibly entertaining show and comical stage antics leave happy audiences screaming for more!  Cruise back in time to reminisce with Come Go with Me, Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ on, In the Still of the Night, Earth Angel, Sea Cruise, At the Hop, Runaround Sue, and many, many more!
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In addition to performing their own outstanding concerts, The Corvettes have toured with many legendary Doo Wop groups including The Drifters, The Tokens,  Danny & The Juniors, The Platters, The Coasters, The Marvelettes, the Shirelles  and many more.