The Pirates of Penzance

In a remarkable echo across more than a century of history, the Historic Elitch Theatre is proud to announce that Opera Colorado will perform Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance on
the Historic Elitch stage on Friday, May 16, 2026 — 135 years after the beloved operetta was first performed at this very theatre in 1891.
The performance is part of the theatre’s celebrated Elitch Encore Series — bringing live theatre back to Denver’s oldest stage — and arrives at a moment of extraordinary significance. 2026 marks the 135th anniversary of the Historic Elitch Theatre. That The Pirates of Penzance — one of the productions that helped launch this storied institution in its first year — is returning to the Elitch stage in this anniversary year, is a convergence of history that organizers call nothing short of magical.