Cincinnati Opera is seeking volunteers to serve as supernumeraries — non-singing background performers — in its 2026 Summer Festival productions at Cincinnati Music Hall. The company announced open casting calls in March 2026 for community members interested in appearing on stage during the summer season, which runs June 18 through August 2, 2026.

Supernumeraries perform roles equivalent to extras in film and television, appearing in crowd scenes and processions without singing or speaking lines. The 2026 Summer Festival includes four main-stage productions: the world premiere of the Afrofuturist opera “Lalovavi” by Kevin Day and Tifara Brown; Richard Strauss’s “Salome,” featuring soprano Kathryn Lewek; Georges Bizet’s “Carmen,” set in a 1950s Havana-inspired staging; and Ricky Ian Gordon’s chamber opera “Orpheus and Euridice” in the Wilks Studio. Two artist-curated Studio Sessions round out the season.

The company said supernumerary participation offers community members a chance to experience professional opera production from the inside. Interested applicants were directed to contact Cincinnati Opera directly for audition details and scheduling. Cincinnati Music Hall is located at 1241 Elm Street in Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine neighborhood.

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