OPERA San Antonio Brings Cinderella to Tobin Center October 15 and 17, With Special Fairytale Experience for Families
For San Antonio families looking for something different to experience together this October, a familiar fairytale is getting a theatrical makeover at one of the city's most recognizable performing arts venues. OPERA San Antonio will bring Cinderella to the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts on October 15 and 17, 2026, offering two evenings of music, comedy and storytelling, along with a special interactive experience designed to introduce younger audiences to opera.
The production opens OPERA San Antonio's 2026-2027 season, bringing internationally recognized performers to the H-E-B Performance Hall for a retelling of Cinderella that might surprise those who grew up with the Disney version.
There is no fairy godmother, no pumpkin carriage and no glass slipper in this Cinderella. Instead, the story follows a young woman whose kindness, intelligence and determination help her change her own future.
With tickets starting at $24 and special activities available for children, the performances offer San Antonio residents an opportunity to experience a centuries-old art form in a setting close to home.
A Different Cinderella Comes to San Antonio
Originally titled La Cenerentola, Italian composer Gioachino Rossini’s Cinderella tells a familiar story with a few important changes.
Angelina, the young woman known as Cinderella, lives under the authority of her demanding stepfather, Don Magnifico, and his two daughters. When Prince Ramiro begins searching for a bride, disguises, mistaken identities and unexpected encounters lead to a series of comedic situations that eventually reveal the importance of character over social standing.
Unlike many modern adaptations, Rossini's version places greater emphasis on personal choices, forgiveness and inner strength than on supernatural intervention.
The opera premiered in Rome in 1817, with a libretto by Italian writer Jacopo Ferretti. More than two centuries later, it remains a celebrated example of opera buffa, the Italian tradition of comic opera known for lively storytelling, elaborate musical ensembles and demanding vocal performances.
Rossini, who also composed the famous The Barber of Seville, became one of the most influential opera composers of the 19th century. His music is especially recognized for its energetic rhythms, increasingly elaborate musical passages and remarkable vocal agility.
For San Antonio audiences, the upcoming production offers an opportunity to hear that musical tradition performed live while following a story that generations of families already know.
Internationally Acclaimed Performers Take the Tobin Center Stage
The San Antonio performances feature a production originating from Lyric Opera of Kansas City, with a visual style inspired by filmmaker Wes Anderson. Audiences can expect colorful costumes, carefully arranged scenery and playful theatrical details that complement Rossini's music.
Mezzo-soprano Daniela Mack stars as Angelina, joined by tenor Victor Robertson as Prince Ramiro and Grammy Award-winning baritone Will Liverman as Dandini, the prince's valet.
Bass-baritone Patrick Carfizzi portrays Don Magnifico, while Katherine Henly and Lauryn Nelson play Cinderella's stepsisters, Clorinda and Tisbe. Stefan Egerstrom appears as Alidoro, a philosopher who helps guide the story's events.
OPERA San Antonio Music Director Francesco Milioto will conduct The Orchestra San Antonio, with stage direction by Michael Shell. The creative team also includes set designer Steven Kemp, costume designer Amanda Seymour and lighting designer Driscoll Otto.
“Cinderella is pure operatic joy. Rossini gives us extraordinary music, brilliant comedy, and a heroine whose kindness and intelligence ultimately determine her future,” said E. Loren Meeker, executive director of OPERA San Antonio, in the company's production announcement.
The opera will be performed in Italian, with English translations projected above the stage so audience members can follow the story without knowing the language.
The performance runs approximately three hours, including one intermission.
Cinderella's Fairytale Enchanted Adventure Offers Special Experience for Children
One of the most family-focused additions to the production takes place before the Saturday, October 17 performance.
Cinderella's Fairytale Enchanted Adventure begins at 5:30 p.m. on October 17, offering children ages 12 and younger an interactive introduction to the world of opera.
The special experience includes fairytale-themed activities, opportunities to explore musical instruments, photo opportunities, keepsakes and a glimpse backstage. Young participants will also enjoy a ceremonial entrance into the Tobin McCombs Grand Lobby.
The adventure is designed to help children connect with the story and discover some of the people, instruments and creative work involved in bringing a professional opera production to life.
The add-on costs $15 per child, with accompanying adults admitted to the activity at no additional charge when purchasing a child's admission. Families must also purchase tickets to the October 17 opera performance.
To participate, families can select the add-on interactive experience during online checkout when purchasing at least one child's performance ticket.
The one-night-only program is supported by Generation NEXT, an initiative helping introduce younger audiences to the performing arts.
Tobin Center's History Reflects San Antonio's Commitment to the Arts
The setting for Cinderella has its own story rooted in San Antonio history.
Located along the San Antonio River Walk in downtown San Antonio, the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts opened in September 2014 following the transformation of the city's historic Municipal Auditorium, originally constructed in 1926.
The redevelopment preserved the original auditorium's recognizable exterior while creating a modern performing arts complex with improved acoustics, updated technology and spaces designed for everything from opera and ballet to concerts and community events.
The project was made possible through a combination of public funding and private philanthropy, including $100 million in construction bonds approved by Bexar County voters in 2008.
Today, the Tobin Center serves as a home for several of San Antonio's major performing arts organizations, including OPERA San Antonio, Ballet San Antonio, The Orchestra San Antonio, Youth Orchestras of San Antonio and the Children's Chorus of San Antonio.
Its H-E-B Performance Hall accommodates approximately 1,738 guests in its reserved-seating configuration, providing an intimate setting for large-scale productions.
For residents, the venue represents more than a destination for entertainment. It is also a place where local students, aspiring musicians and established artists can participate in the city's continuing performing arts traditions.
New to Opera? Free Pre-Show Lectures Help Audiences Follow the Story
For anyone who has been curious about attending an opera but has never purchased a ticket, OPERA San Antonio is offering an additional way to become familiar with the performance.
Free educational lectures will begin one hour before each show, at approximately 6:30 p.m., in the Tobin Center's Feik Rotunda.
Open to all ticket holders, the lectures introduce the production's background, music and storytelling, helping audiences understand what they are about to see.
OPERA San Antonio has also introduced Before the Curtain, a Spotify playlist combining musical selections and background information about the production.
These resources reflect the organization's broader mission of making opera accessible to people of different ages and backgrounds, including those attending their first live performance.
Cinderella at the Tobin Center: Dates, Tickets and What to Know
Both performances take place at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, located at 100 Auditorium Circle, San Antonio, TX 78205.
- Thursday, October 15, 2026: Cinderella at 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, October 17, 2026: Cinderella at 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, October 17, 2026: Cinderella's Fairytale Enchanted Adventure at 5:30 p.m., available as an additional ticketed experience.
General admission tickets start at $24, with pricing varying by seating selection and availability. The family adventure costs an additional $15 per child.
Guests interested in dining before the performance can also explore TASTE, the Tobin Center's dining experience, which opens two hours before showtime. Reservations are encouraged.
Tickets, seating information and details about the children's experience are available through the Tobin Center's official Cinderella event page.
Bringing a Timeless Story to a New Generation
As San Antonio continues to grow, opportunities to experience live theater, music and cultural programming remain an important part of community life.
For some audience members, Cinderella will be an opportunity to revisit a favorite opera. For others, particularly children attending with their families, it could be their first experience hearing professional opera singers accompanied by a live orchestra.
And while Rossini's Cinderella may look different from the fairytale many remember, its central message about kindness, resilience and recognizing a person's true character remains familiar.
Residents interested in additional San Antonio family activities, upcoming performances and community events can stay connected with My Neighborhood News for continued coverage of local arts and entertainment.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
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