Student Dress Rehearsals at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis

Opera Theatre of Saint Louis is opening its doors to student groups for a series of dress rehearsals at the Loretto-Hilton Center this spring. The rehearsals run from Tuesday, May 18, through Thursday, June 10, with each production getting two dates. Every single one is accompanied by the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, so these aren't stripped-down versions—they're the full orchestral experience.

The schedule is spread out over nearly a month, with a different show every week. A Little Night Music takes the first slot on Tuesday, May 18, and Thursday, May 20. La traviata follows on Tuesday, May 25, and Thursday, May 27. Cinderella comes next on Tuesday, June 1, and Thursday, June 3. The series closes with Safe Haven, a world premiere by Tobias Picker and Aryeh Lev Stollman, on Tuesday, June 8, and Thursday, June 10. That last one is a new work, so it's a chance to see something before it's had a full run anywhere else.

OTSL has been around since 1976, and these rehearsals are part of what they do—bringing students into the theater to see the work in progress. The program is underwritten in part by the Saigh Foundation, with leadership from the Fred M. Saigh Endowment at Opera Theatre. If you're coming with a group, there's a bit of a pre-show tradition here: you can spread out in the gardens of the Loretto-Hilton Center for a picnic before the performance starts.

Tickets are free for student groups, but you have to register in advance. There's a limit of 30 people per school, and all the rehearsals run from 12 PM to 3 PM. The Loretto-Hilton Center is at 130 Edgar Road, on the Webster University campus in St. Louis.