San Francisco Opera to Sell Stage Costumes From $5 in Burlingame Sale

San Francisco Opera will sell authentic stage costumes priced from $5 to $525 at its Scene Shop in Burlingame from October 16 to 18, the company has announced.

The in-person Costume Sale will operate on timed-entry tickets and will give the public a chance to buy theatrical garments drawn from decades of San Francisco Opera productions staged at the War Memorial Opera House. Each piece carries its own history of artistry and performance, according to the company.

What will be on sale?

The inventory spans centuries of style:

• Victorian dresses and Edwardian ensembles
• Renaissance doublets
• Richly embroidered military uniforms
• Dramatic capes
• Whimsical fantasy creations

Items will come from the company's costume collection, including pieces from productions of "Luisa Miller," "Un Ballo in Maschera," "Idomeneo," "Fidelio" and "Don Giovanni." Prices will range from $5 to $525, with higher figures for premium items. A selection of stage props and other opera merchandise will also be available.

Who is the sale for?

The company says the sale targets costumers, collectors, performers, history enthusiasts and anyone looking to expand their wardrobe. Buyers will acquire work made by the skilled artisans and designers whose creations brought operatic characters to life on the company's stage.

The event offers a rare chance to own garments with documented stage histories rather than replicas. For San Francisco Opera, the sale clears decades of stock while sending pieces of its production history into private hands.