War Memorial Opera House Theater

Address: 401 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94102, USA

Website: https://www.sfwmpac.org/war-memorial-opera-house

Hours: Box office hours vary; typical visitor hours Tue-Sat 10:00-18:00 (check website for event times)

Admission: Tour costs vary; guided tours and backstage visits sometimes available through the War Memorial and the San Francisco Opera box office.

The War Memorial Opera House is the principal opera and ballet venue in San Francisco’s Civic Center, home to the San Francisco Opera and San Francisco Ballet. The theatre was completed in 1932 and was built as part of the War Memorial complex dedicated to veterans.

Architecturally it features a broad horseshoe auditorium and formal foyers designed for large-scale stage productions and public ceremonies. It hosts the regular seasons of the city’s opera and ballet companies as well as national and international touring performances.

The Opera House was constructed as part of the War Memorial and Performing Arts Center and opened in 1932 to provide a permanent home for performing arts in San Francisco. It has undergone periodic renovations to update stage systems and public facilities while retaining much of its original civic-plaza setting.

The building faces the Civic Center Plaza in central San Francisco, adjacent to the Veterans Building and near major city institutions such as the Asian Art Museum and City Hall.

• Seating: The main auditorium seats roughly 3,000 people, making it suitable for large opera and ballet productions.

Located on Van Ness Avenue near Civic Center in San Francisco. The War Memorial Opera House is a short walk from BART (Civic Center/UN Plaza station) and multiple MUNI lines that serve Van Ness and Market Street. Street parking is limited; public transit is recommended.

• Book backstage or guided tours in advance - the building's courtyard and stagehouse have architectural and theatrical surprises that most audiences never see.
• Check the opera and ballet calendars for performances and matinees; weekday evening performances are often less crowded at intermission.
• Arrive early to explore the Façade and the courtyard that are part of the broader War Memorial complex.