Bohème Out of the Box Returns for Performances in San Francisco, Emeryville, Oakland, Woodside and Concord this April
Free mobile stage performances of Puccini’s La Bohème (abridged version) takes opera out of the opera house and into Bay Area communities
Scenes from Bohème Out of the Box. (Photos top, left & right: Kristen Loken; center: Reneff-Olson Productions)
First Act family workshops before all Bohème Out of the Box shows
Boheme out of the box 2026.pdf Photos
San Francisco, CA (February 26, 2026) — San Francisco Opera takes opera out of the opera house and into Bay Area communities for the fourth season of Bohème Out of the Box. The very first opera to be presented by San Francisco Opera 103 years ago, La Bohème—Giacomo Puccini’s beloved opera of love and loss among a group of bohemian artists—will be performed in an intimate one-hour version on a converted shipping-container stage with piano accompaniment.
The free afternoon performances will take place in outdoor locations in San Francisco (Crane Cove Park, April 11 & 12), Emeryville (Christie Park, April 18), Oakland (Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts, April 19), Woodside (Filoli Historic House & Garden, April 22), and Concord (Todos Santos Plaza, April 25 & 26). Families with young children are invited to participate in free First Act workshops prior to all performances.
The Bohème Out of the Box cast features current and former San Francisco Opera Adler Fellows Alexa Frankian (Mimì), Edward Graves (Rodolfo), Sofia Gotch (Musetta), Gabriel Natal-Báez (Marcello), James McCarthy (Colline), Olivier Zerouali (Schaunard) and Eugene Brancoveanu (Benoit/Alcindoro), with Adler Fellow pianists Ji Youn Lee and Brian Cho. The creative and technical team includes Jose Maria Condemi (Stage Director), Cassandra Carpenter (Costume Consultant) and Ryan O’Steen (Set Coordinator). The opera is sung in Italian; live English translations will be available online and accessible in real-time on personal mobile devices. English and Spanish translations for the sung text and opera synopsis are also available at sfopera.com/box.
Launched in 2023 as part of San Francisco Opera’s Centennial Season, Bohème Out of the Box has taken La Bohème’s powerful emotions and soaring music to South San Francisco, Los Gatos, Dublin, Burlingame, Alameda, Albany, Union City, Sausalito, San Ramon, Los Altos Hills and Hayward, and to Silicon Valley for staff performances at tech and corporate campuses.
San Francisco Opera’s 2025–26 Season continues this summer at the War Memorial Opera House with Gioachino Rossini’s immortal comedy The Barber of Seville (May 28–June 21) featuring two brilliant casts; Richard Strauss’ Elektra (June 7–27), a staggering work requiring one of the largest pit orchestras in the repertoire and powerful singing artists; the popular half-opera, half-party The Barber of Seville Encounter (June 17); and the annual Pride Concert (June 26) celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community. For more information, visit sfopera.com.
FREE FIRST ACT FAMILY WORKSHOPS
Families with young children are invited to participate in free First Act family workshops 30 minutes prior to all performances of Bohème Out of the Box. 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.
BOHÈME OUT OF THE BOX — APRIL 2026
sfopera.com/box
BOHÈME OUT OF THE BOX runs approximately 60 minutes with no intermission and features piano accompaniment. Performed by San Francisco Opera Adler Fellows and guest artists in Italian. Live English translations will be available via personal mobile devices. English and Spanish translations for the sung text and opera synopsis are also available at sfopera.com/box.
FIRST ACT WORKSHOPS: Families with young children are invited to participate in free First Act workshops 30 minutes before showtime at all Bohème Out of the Box performances.
REGISTRATION: Bohème Out of the Box is a free event. Registration at sfopera.com/box is encouraged for all venues but is not required, except for Filoli Historic House & Garden in Woodside, where advance registration is required (please see below for more information).
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.
In the event of inclement weather, these outdoor performances may be cancelled or delayed. Register at sfopera.com/box to receive updates or follow @sfopera on Instagram and Facebook. Casting and schedule subject to change. For more information, visit sfopera.com/box.
Please plan for the weather and bring layers or sun hats and sun protection, accordingly.
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SAN FRANCISCO
Saturday, April 11 at 2 p.m.
Sunday, April 12 at 2 p.m.
First Act family workshops at 1:30 p.m.
Crane Cove Park
18th Street and Illinois Street
San Francisco, CA 94107
(The venue is next to the Dogpatch YMCA located at 701 Illinois Street)
Set against the stunning shoreline of San Francisco Bay, Bohème Out of the Box performances will be held on the lawn at Crane Cove Park, a central spot for recreation in San Francisco’s vibrant Dogpatch Business District where guests can explore an assortment of eateries, local art galleries and converted warehouse spaces. The park offers a beach, kayak rentals and a recently opened playground for a family day of opera and outdoor fun. Presented in partnership with The Port of San Francisco.
Crane Cove Park is easily reachable by public transportation, a few short blocks from the T stop at Mariposa Street, as well as Muni lines 15 and 55. Paid parking lots border the venue at Pier 70, and street parking is available throughout the neighborhood. Guests are encouraged to pack a picnic or purchase food and drink from one of the many restaurants located nearby.
Seating will be on a grassy lawn in full sun. Audiences are encouraged to bring their own blankets and lawn chairs for seating.
EMERYVILLE
Saturday, April 18 at 2 p.m.
First Act family workshop at 1:30 p.m.
Christie Park
6200 Christie Avenue
Emeryville, CA 94608
Spend an afternoon enjoying Bohème Out of the Box at Christie Park in the heart of Emeryville. This beloved park is situated next to the bustling Public Market food hall and features an ocean-themed playground, offering an ideal setting to immerse yourself and the whole family in the playful yet poignant story of La Bohème. Enjoy the multitude of dining options at Public Market before wandering over to the park for a magical afternoon of opera. Presented in partnership with The City of Emeryville and Public Market Emeryville.
Christie Park is a short walk from the Emeryville Amtrak station and next to the Christie Avenue AC Transit Line 7. The Emery Go-Round Shellmound/Powell route stops at the Public Market. The Public Market offers ample free 2-hour parking adjacent to the venue (see map here).
Seating will be on a grassy lawn in full sun. Audiences are encouraged to bring their own blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy the performance.
OAKLAND
Sunday, April 19 at 2 p.m.
First Act family workshop at 1:30 p.m.
Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts
10 10th Street
Oakland, CA 94607
Bohème Out of the Box goes to the historic Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts. Founded over 100 years ago, this iconic venue has made an immeasurable impact on East Bay arts and culture. The picturesque location rests on the southern tip of Lake Merritt and effortlessly brings together urban green space and culture. Visitors are encouraged to take a relaxing walk around the lake, head across the street to the Oakland Museum of California or walk a few short blocks to Oakland’s Chinatown and Downtown districts before or after experiencing the magic of La Bohème. Presented in partnership with Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts.
Conveniently located near Lake Merritt BART and AC Transit lines (29, 33, 40, 62, 88, 96, and the 840), the venue is also near several paid parking lots, as well as street parking. Please see the venue’s transportation webpage here.
The performance will be held in the parking lot with provided folding chairs (available on a first-come, first-served basis). Audiences are also encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs.
WOODSIDE
Wednesday, April 22 at 2 p.m. — advance registration (free) is required for this venue
First Act family workshop at 1:30 p.m.
Filoli Historic House & Garden, Meadow
86 Cañada Road
Woodside, CA 94062
Spend an afternoon amid the breathtaking scenery of Filoli Historic House & Garden. This unique venue presents Bohème Out of the Box in Filoli’s Meadow surrounded by idyllic English Renaissance-style gardens and sweeping mountain vistas. The Meadow will open at 1 p.m. Outside food and beverages are not permitted on the Meadow, but guests are welcome to use Filoli's picnic area located outside the ticketing gate prior to entering. Presented in partnership with Filoli Historic House & Garden.
Filoli is only accessible by car. Parking can be limited, so carpool or rideshare is recommended. Admission to the Meadow is free for the Bohème Out of the Box performance, but capacity is limited so advance reservations are required; registration is available at sfopera.com/box. (Tickets to access the Filoli House, Gardens and Trails are available for purchase on the Filoli website here.)
Seating will be in a meadow in full sun and guests should bring picnic blankets or their own lawn chairs. The venue includes various types of uneven terrain including dirt paths, a grass field and areas with bark. Please note, service animals are welcome at Filoli, but emotional support animals and pets are not permitted.
CONCORD
Saturday, April 25 at 2 p.m.
Sunday, April 26 at 2 p.m.
First Act family workshops at 1:30 p.m.
Todos Santos Plaza
2175 Willow Pass Road
Concord, CA 94520
Surrounded by an array of charming eateries and thriving businesses, this vibrant community square in the heart of Concord offers a natural gathering place for weekend fun. Featuring ample space for outdoor play, as well as a newly renovated children’s playground, families and opera lovers alike can spend an afternoon engrossed in the storytelling of La Bohème. Presented in partnership with the City of Concord and Visit Concord.
The plaza is a short walk from the Concord BART station and close to several County Connection bus stops (10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 20, 28, 311, 320). There are also several free parking lots surrounding the plaza and street parking.
Seating will be on a grassy lawn with partial shade. Guests should bring picnic blankets or their own lawn chairs.
*For the complete press release, open the PDF version above.