I do not come from a family of opera goers; whenever I perform or direct, I do so with the intention that no matter the story, character, or language, my little sister will laugh at my jokes. The absence of accessibility within the social elitism central to opera has been causing the lack of interest and substantial loss we see in audiences for the past several decades. If you want to bring back love for the show, we must bridge the gap in understanding and make opera relevant to new generations of performers and viewers alike. We no longer live in an age of preserving the “perfection” of opera in a way that’s safe and traditional; now is the time to evoke emotion, push limits, to update our references and jokes for new generations, and to elevate our audience from bodies in seats to active participants, creating the unforgettable experiences that shape us all.