Baltimore, MD
Modell Center at the Lyric – Performances of the Lyric Opera Baltimore take place here – 140 Mt. Royal Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21201.
Main website: http://lyricoperahouse.com.
Seating Chart: http://lyricoperamedia.s3.amazonaws.com/_pdf/OperaHouseSeatChart.pdf.
Tickets: http://lyricoperahouse.com/live-performances-in-baltimore.php.
Directions and Parking: http://lyricoperahouse.com/page.php?cms_id=69 and http://lyricoperahouse.com/page.php?cms_id=68.
Fairfax, VA
Center for the Arts – Performances of the Virginia Opera in Fairfax take place here – 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030.
Main website: http://cfa.gmu.edu. The Center for the Arts is part of and on the campus of George Mason University.
Floorplan: Not available. It is a smaller venue and just about all the seats are relatively close to the stage and the sound and acoustics are excellent, though the orchestra is seated behind the stage.
Seating Chart: http://cfa.gmu.edu/about/seating.php.
Tickets: http://www.vaopera.org/season-tickets/2015-2016-season.html.
Directions and Parking: http://cfa.gmu.edu/directions/. There is free and paid parking close to the concert hall. Check the campus map on the directions website.
Norfolk, VA
Harrison Opera House – Performances of the Virginia Opera in Norfolk take place here – 160 East Virginia Beach Blvd, Norfolk, VA 23510.
Main website: http://www.sevenvenues.com/about-sevenvenues. The Harrison Opera House is part of the City of Norfolk’s SevenVenues.
Floorplan: Not available. I have not visited this venue as yet.
Seating Chart: http://www.vaopera.org/season-tickets/plan-your-visit/harrison-opera-house/harrison-opera-house-2.html.
Tickets: http://www.vaopera.org/season-tickets/2015-2016-season.html.
Directions and Parking: http://www.vaopera.org/season-tickets/plan-your-visit/harrison-opera-house/harrison-opera-house-3.html.
Philadelphia, PA
The Academy of Music – Opera at the Academy Series for Opera Philadelphia takes place here - 1420 Locust Street (Locust and South Broad Street), Philadelphia, PA 19102.
Main website: https://www.operaphila.org/your-visit/venues/academy-of-music/.
Floorplan: Not available. The box office is entered from the side of the Academy on South Broad Street. Seating is entered there and on the side of the Academy on Locust Street. Entrance to the floor seating area inside the theater is through portals numbered 1 through 9. Balconies can be accessed via stairs or elevators – can be a small wait. Restrooms are on each floor; ladies to the left as you come from seating on the main level and men on the right. Additional restrooms and refreshments are downstairs on the lower level; refreshments not permitted in the seating areas.
Seating Chart: https://www.operaphila.org/your-visit/venues/academy-of-music/, scroll down to “Seating Plan”.
Tickets: https://www.operaphila.org/your-visit/venues/academy-of-music/, click on “What’s On” tab at the top and select desired performance.
Directions and Parking: https://www.operaphila.org/your-visit/getting-here/.
The Perelman Theater - The Aurora Series for Chamber Opera for Opera Philadelphia takes place here, which is just south of the Academy of Music - 300 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102.
Main website: https://www.operaphila.org/your-visit/venues/perelman-theater/.
Floorplan: Not available. Not yet visited.
Seating Chart: https://www.operaphila.org/your-visit/venues/perelman-theater/, scroll down to “Seating Plan”.
Tickets: https://www.operaphila.org/your-visit/venues/perelman-theater/, click on “What’s On” tab at the top and select desired performance.
Directions and parking: https://www.operaphila.org/your-visit/getting-here/.
Pittsburgh, PA
Benedum Center – Performances of the Pittsburgh Opera utilize this and two other venues in the city – 237 Seventh Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.
Main website: https://opera.culturaldistrict.org/venues/benedum-center. The Benedum Center for the Performing Arts is in the Cultural District.
Floorplan: Not available. I have not visited this venue as yet.
Seating Chart: http://www.pittsburghopera.org/uploads/Seating_Chart_Benedum_basic.pdf.
Tickets: http://opera.culturaldistrict.org/po_home. Use for all three Pittsburgh Opera venues.
Directions and Parking: http://www.pittsburghopera.org/pages/directions-and-parking.
CAPA Theater – Performances of the Pittsburgh Opera utilize this and two other venues in the city – 111 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.
Main website: http://www.pittsburghopera.org/pages/directions-and-parking.
Floorplan: Not available. I have not visited this venue as yet.
Seating Chart: http://www.pittsburghopera.org/pages/directions-and-parking.
Tickets: http://opera.culturaldistrict.org/po_home. Use for all three Pittsburgh Opera venues.
Directions and Parking: http://www.pittsburghopera.org/pages/directions-and-parking.
Pittsburgh Opera Headquarters – Performances of the Pittsburgh Opera utilize this and two other venues in the city – 2425 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.
Main website: http://www.pittsburghopera.org/about/pittsburgh-opera-headquarters. The Pittsburgh Opera Headquarters is in the Strip District.
Floorplan: Not available. I have not visited this venue as yet.
Seating Chart: Appears to be general admission.
Tickets: http://opera.culturaldistrict.org/po_home. Use for all three Pittsburgh Opera venues.
Directions and Parking: http://www.pittsburghopera.org/pages/directions-and-parking.
Richmond, VA
The Carpenter Theatre – Performances of the Virginia Opera in Richmond take place here – 600 E Grace Street, Richmond, VA 23219.
Main website: http://www.richmondcenterstage.com/venues/carpenter-theatre. This theater is part of the Richmond CenterStage downtown complex, at the corner of Grace and 6th Street.
Floorplan: Not available. The Carpenter Theatre is relatively young, built in in 1928, but renovated in 2009. It is relatively small and comfortable, with all seats relatively close to the stage.
Seating Chart: http://www.etix.com/ticket/v/8084/carpenter-theatre-virginia-opera?performance_id=1647602&language=en&country=US. Best approached by looking at individual performances, then clicking on the Seating Chart tab.
Tickets: http://www.vaopera.org/season-tickets/2015-2016-season.html.
Directions and Parking: http://www.richmondcenterstage.com/plan-your-visit/directions-centerstage. Parking here is relatively easy with several parking decks within a 2-3 block walk. There is even an open air lost across the street from the box office on Grace Street.
Washington, DC
The Kennedy Center – This is the venue for the Washington National Opera company; performances by other opera companies are also sometimes offered - 2700 F Street, NW Washington, DC 20566.
Main website: http://www.kennedy-center.org
Floorplan: http://www.kennedy-center.org/accessibility/maps.html; the Kennedy Center has three theaters and the Millenium Stage. The Opera House is the center of the Kennedy Center. The opera box office and a gift shop are located in the Hall of States.
Seating Chart: http://www.kennedy-center.org/tickets/opera.html.
Tickets: http://www.kennedy-center.org/calendar/genre/OPR; Kennedy Center members are notified by email of special discounts.
Directions and Parking: http://www.kennedy-center.org/pages/visitor/directions; parking is underneath the Kennedy Center. Entering and exiting parking is fairly straightforward and easy. The Kennedy Center itself is set off in an area besides the Potomac River and surrounded by busy streets and highways that can be confusing both to enter onto premises and to find your best route home, even though there is signage. It is best to plan ahead as it is not really a problem if you know what to expect. The Foggy Bottom Metro stop is about a half mile away and there is a Metro shuttle. Walking is pleasant if the weather is good, but there are several busy intersections to be crossed.