Announcement Archive 2018-19

COLD WEATHER ADVISORY - posted December 27, 2019

This is more of a request, actually: if you have a black coat hanging unused in the closet (or otherwise in storage), please consider bringing it in to hang, as a loaner, in the usher closet off the north lobby. It will be gratefully worn. Thanks!

BALLET SEASON 2020 - first posted December 22, 2019

On December 26, invitations will be e-mailed about scheduling for San Francisco Ballet's 2020 Repertory Season. Scheduling for Easter Sunday, Goldman Environmental Awards, and Presidio Dance Theater will occur later.

The start-dates given in these messages are spread (the earliest being December 27) and reflect a volunteer's frequency, reliability, and versatility. If you can't find your message, please send e-mail to ; check your spam/junk mail folder first.

Scheduling depends on ushers fulfilling their commitments. Volunteers who cancel a Nutcracker or Shun Yun performance without adding another (even if they still usher for five) will have their Ballet season signups reviewed.

2019-20 HOLIDAY SCHEDULING - first posted October 10, 2019

Invitations to signup for SF Ballet's 75th Anniversary Nutcracker and Shen Yun will be sent on November 4. Scheduling start-dates will be staggered, the earliest being November 8. These dates are based on a volunteer's frequency (especially for long runs) of ushering, versatility, and reliability.

Because of dedicated participation by volunteer ushers at Nutcracker and Shen Yun performances last December and January, front-of-house volunteers, as well as staff, were able to effectively make everyone's job easier as well as assist more patrons, some of whom rarely come to the Opera House.

While the standard scheduling expectation continues to be 4 Nutcrackers and 1 Shen Yun, this year volunteers may once again choose a combination of any 5 performances (or more . . . ) that suits them.

2019 FALL OPERA SEASON - first posted June 26, 2019

Scheduling for the Merola Grand Finale (on Saturday, August 17) and the Fall Opera Season will open on July 5.

Messages with an usher's start date will be sent on July 3. Start dates reflect a volunteer's frequency (especially for long runs), reliability, and versatility.

Fall Opera won't be the same without you!

ETHNIC DANCE FESTIVAL - posted May 7, 2019

Please note that the Ethnic Dance Festival's projected use of the Opera House this July has been cancelled. It will not be open for scheduling in PRESTO.

SF BALLET ANNOUNCEMENT - posted April 1, 2019

This morning the San Francisco Ballet, in what it labels "A Prelude to a Season at the Opera House", revealed some preliminary plans for next season. 2020 Hindsight will include several revivals, including William Forsythe’s "The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude" (1998) and Helgi Tomasson’s "Prism" (2001).

The major new work will be a 4-hour ballet based on the writings of Stieg Larsson, and premiere exactly a year from today. "The Girl with the Dragon Tutu" will be choreographed by Gun Lund to the music of Erkki-Sven Tüür. The company may lure Maria Olegovna Kochetkova back to dance in this new ballet as a guest artist.

Due to the length of "The Girl with the Dragon Tutu", the Volunteer Usher Dress Code will be relaxed: the requirement to have a working pen or pencil will be waived for all evening performances, when anyone may also wear grey socks.

NAME CHANGE DOWNSTAIRS AT THE CAFE - posted March 31, 2019

"Cafe at the Opera" has changed her name to "Prelude at the Opera House", due to confusion with other local restaurants. Please take note of this when guests ask you for directions or dining options within the building.

SUMMER OPERA - first posted March 20, 2019

Scheduling for SF Opera's 2019 Summer Season opened on April 12. Messages with an usher's start date were sent on April 10. Start dates reflect a volunteer's frequency (especially for long runs), reliability, and versatility.

If you can't find your scheduling message, please send e-mail to <ushers@sfopera.com>; check your spam/junk mail folder first.

(This is the 5/27 update.)

BALLET SEASON 2019 - first posted December 25, 2018

On December 31, invitations were e-mailed about scheduling for San Francisco Ballet's 2019 Repertory Season. After a year's break, Sensorium, an evening of dance, art, and music, returns. Scheduling for Easter Sunday, Goldman Environmental Awards, and Presidio Dance Theater will occur later.

The start-dates given in these messages are spread, the earliest being January 4, and reflect a volunteer's frequency, reliability, and versatility. If you can't find your message, please send e-mail to <ushers@sfopera.com>; check your spam/junk mail folder first.

Scheduling depends on ushers fulfilling their commitments. Volunteers who cancel a Nutcracker or Shun Yun performance without adding another (even if they still usher for four) will have their Ballet season signups reviewed.

(This is the 12/31/18 update.)

DECEMBER SCHEDULING - first posted October 9, 2018

On October 29, invitations to signup for Nutcracker performances (and other events in December and early January) were sent. Scheduling start-dates will be staggered, the earliest being November 2. These dates are based on a volunteer's frequency (especially for long runs) of ushering, versatility, and reliability. Ushers who did not receive a message, after checking their spam folder, may ask for it by e-mailing <ushers@sfopera.com>.

Now that Shen Yun and Ethnic Dance Festival have taken residence at the Opera House, ushers are asked to join in welcoming the companies and their audiences by volunteering for at least one performance during each company's visit. While the standard will be 4 Nutcrackers and 1 Shen Yun performance, this year volunteers may choose any combination of 5 performances.

On their Nutcracker start-date, volunteers may also begin scheduling Cash & Cooder on Cash: The Music of Johnny Cash (December 5 and 6) and the Adler Fellows Concert (December 8), and Shen Yun (December 31 - January 6).

(updated 10/29)

PLACIDO DOMINGO CONCERT - first posted August 3, 2018

On August 1, a message with the following information was sent to ushers on the roster or the waiting list for the Placido Domingo concert.

The concert is sold out for this special event. Today ten more ushers were added to the roster to help in the lobbies. Listening/Viewing options when not in an on-duty chair watching an aisle will be:

- wall aisle stairs in the Balcony and Dress Circle

- back of standing room areas

- live stream on monitors.

Everyone is needed to monitor for safety at the end of the evening and for goodbyes. Ushers who cannot stay after the performance are asked to cancel their request or signup. The waiting list will be re-opened only if it looks like more volunteers will be needed than are waiting.

(This is the update of August 13.)

2018 FALL OPERA SEASON - posted June 28, 2018

Scheduling for the Merola Grand Finale (on Saturday, August 18) and the Fall Opera Season will open on July 6. Messages with an usher's start date will be sent on July 2. Start dates reflect a volunteer's frequency (especially for long runs), reliability, and versatility.

40th SAN FRANCISCO ETHNIC DANCE FESTIVAL - posted June 1, 2018

Celebrating its 40th anniversary, the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival returns to the Opera House this July. There are two weekends of performances, and scheduling is now open through PRESTO Group & Event Manager for July 14-15 and July 21-22.

This is the largest and most comprehensive world-dance and world-music event of its kind in the United States. Audiences will experience dances and music from Alaska, Bolivia, Cambodia, China, Congo, Cuba, India, Korea, Liberia, Mexico, Peru, the Philippines, Spain, Tahiti, the continental US, and Zimbabwe, presented by Bay Area artists sustaining the world’s artistic legacy.

Click HERE for more information, including about the free Festival opening at City Hall on Friday, July 6.

A FAQ FOR RING USHERING - posted May 4, 2018

Questions submitted by ushers have been collated and answered. Please go to this new page. E-mail with this information has been sent to all ushers already scheduled for Ring performances.

WHAT IS PERMITTED IN THE THEATER? - posted March 9, 2018

The San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center has a web page which outlines what is permitted and prohibited in their venues, and that includes the Opera House of course. Click HERE for those lists. Volunteer ushers are asked to review this information.

There may more than the usual amount of large bags and luggage during the upcoming Ring, especially on Sundays, the last day of all the cycles. So please note the prohibition on all items (bags, parcels, backpacks, and luggage) larger than 15 inches by 18 inches. These need to be left with the complimentary coat check service in the north and south lobbies on the Orchestra level. Patrons may be asked to open their large bags for inspection.

As part of all this, please remember to always say something to your head usher or any staff member nearby if you see any thing or activity that is suspicious or seems out-of-place. Thank you!

EVENTS IN APRIL - posted March 9, 2018

At the same time that they can begin scheduling for Wagner’s Ring, volunteers may also sign up for these extra events in April:

• • Reality SF’s Easter celebration: Sunday, April 1 - 8:45am report time

  • Goldman Environmental Prize Ceremony: Monday, April 23 - 3:30pm report time

  • Presidio Dance Theatre's Children's Day: Monday, April 30 - 9:00am and 10:30am report times

SCHEDULING FOR WAGNER'S RING - first posted March 2, 2018

Requests submitted before March 28 have been processed. Ushers are now welcome to volunteer for any open slots, with no restriction on the number of performances being selected or requested.

Invitations to schedule for the Ring were sent on March 12. Ushers who can’t find their messages (after checking any spam/junk-mail folders) should send e-mail to <ushers@sfopera.com>.

For more information (and a calendar of performances), click HERE.

(updated 3/12, 3/28, and 3/29)

MORE HELP NEEDED FOR THE SLEEPING BEAUTY - posted January 26, 2018

More volunteers are needed for this long run—11 performances plus 2 student matinées, with many new audience members.

On January 26, a reminder was sent to ushers not signed up for any shift: every usher is expected to volunteer during long runs when possible. And if volunteers who have already signed up for a performance could add another, that would be wonderful! Many thanks to everyone extending themselves right now.