Opera Philadelphia Revives Gershwin's 'Let 'Em Eat Cake' After 93 Years

Opera Philadelphia will stage the first full American production of George and Ira Gershwin's 'Let 'Em Eat Cake' since its 1933 Broadway debut, as part of its 2026-2027 season. The comic musical, a sequel to 'Of Thee I Sing,' depicts a fictional U.S. president who stages a fascist coup after losing re-election. The original production flopped, closing after 90 performances, and has not been fully staged in America since. General director Anthony Roth Costanzo programmed the January 2027 run to coincide with midterm elections, calling it a 'cathartic, hilarious, terrifying reflection' on current politics. The season also includes the premiere of Courtney Bryan's opera 'Suddenly Last Summer' based on Tennessee Williams, the world premiere of 'Sitcom' by Luke Styles and Alan McKendrick, a new production of Verdi's 'Aida,' and Mozart's 'Mitridate, re di Ponto' featuring countertenor Costanzo and tenor Lawrence Brownlee. Opera Philadelphia continues its 'Pick Your Price' ticket scheme starting at $11.