{"id":97695,"date":"2025-12-08T04:07:53","date_gmt":"2025-12-08T12:07:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/blog\/?p=97695"},"modified":"2026-01-14T13:38:04","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T21:38:04","slug":"zenni-celebrates-the-monkey-king-world-premiere","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ca.zennioptical.com\/blog\/zenni-celebrates-the-monkey-king-world-premiere\/","title":{"rendered":"Zenni Celebrates The Monkey King World Premiere"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Zenni is proud to partner with San Francisco Opera for the world premiere of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfopera.com\/press\/press-releases\/Monkey-King-2025\/\" aria-label=\"Visit The Monkey King Page\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><i>The Monkey King<\/i><\/a>\u2014a bold, joyful reimagining of a legendary story that\u2019s capturing the attention of the Bay Area and beyond.<\/p>\n<p>With a limited two-week run and nine performances, <i>The Monkey King<\/i> has quickly become one of the most talked-about premieres of the season, drawing more than 40,000 attendees and bringing new audiences into the opera house. For Zenni, this partnership is about more than one unforgettable night out\u2014it\u2019s about celebrating culture, creativity, and community in the city we call home.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-97701\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/9122-sfopera-251114.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"916\" height=\"500\"><\/p>\n<p><i>Image courtesy of Drew Altizer Photography and San Francisco Opera<\/i><\/p>\n<h2>A New Kind of Opera Moment<\/h2>\n<p>San Francisco Opera is widely recognized as one of the world\u2019s leading opera companies, known for innovative productions and collaborations that bridge music, art, and community. Their mission is rooted in artistic excellence and accessibility\u2014values that resonate deeply with Zenni\u2019s own belief that everyone deserves access to high-quality experiences, whether it\u2019s eyewear or world-class art.<\/p>\n<p><i>The Monkey King<\/i> embodies that spirit of innovation.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Composed by Huang Ruo with a libretto by David Henry Hwang, the opera is inspired by the classic Chinese novel <i>Journey to the West<\/i>.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">The production blends opera, dance, puppetry, and multilingual storytelling in both English and Mandarin.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Media outlets, including the <i>San Francisco Chronicle<\/i>, have highlighted <i>The Monkey King<\/i> as one of the most anticipated premieres of the season.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Huang Ruo describes the Monkey King as \u201cAsia\u2019s supreme superhero\u201d\u2014a figure that feels both timeless and incredibly current. The result is a production that feels fresh, visually spectacular, and emotionally rich, welcoming opera lovers and first-time attendees alike.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond the stage, San Francisco Opera has extended the experience through public programs like puppetry workshops and art exhibits, inviting families, students, and community members to connect with the story in new ways.<\/p>\n<h2>Why This Cultural Moment Matters for Zenni<\/h2>\n<p>At Zenni, we\u2019re always looking for meaningful ways to show up in the communities we serve\u2014especially here in the Bay Area. Partnering with San Francisco Opera on <i>The Monkey King<\/i> allows us to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Celebrate and support Asian and Asian American stories at a major cultural institution.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Align with a production that champions innovation and artistic experimentation, mirroring our own commitment to pushing what\u2019s possible in eyewear and vision technology.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Help make world-class art feel more inviting and accessible to diverse audiences.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This premiere is a cultural milestone for the Bay Area and for Asian American representation in the arts. Being part of its launch reflects our ongoing commitment to honoring the stories, heritage, and creativity of the communities we serve.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-97700\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/4720-sfopera-251114.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"916\" height=\"500\"><\/p>\n<p><i>Image courtesy of Drew Altizer Photography and San Francisco Opera<\/i><\/p>\n<h2>Zenni\u2019s Role: Where Innovation Meets Culture<\/h2>\n<p>As a proud sponsor of <i>The Monkey King<\/i> world premiere, Zenni\u2019s presence extended throughout the opening celebrations and beyond:<\/p>\n<p><b>Opening-Night Recognition<\/b><b><br>\n<\/b> Zenni was prominently recognized throughout the launch of <i>The Monkey King<\/i>, reinforcing our role as a committed supporter of the arts and of culturally significant storytelling.<\/p>\n<p><b>Friends of Zenni Dinner<\/b><b><br>\n<\/b> We hosted an intimate Friends of Zenni dinner, welcoming cultural and community leaders to celebrate the premiere together. It was an opportunity to connect with partners and advocates who share our passion for creativity, representation, and access\u2014from the stage to the screen and everywhere in between.<\/p>\n<p><b>Exclusive Gifting: EyeQLenz with Zenni ID Guard<\/b><b><br>\n<\/b>To mark the occasion, guests, VIPs, and Opera members received a special gift:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Zenni\u2019s <a href=\"\/eyeqlenz\" aria-label=\"Visit EyeQLenz with Zenni ID Guard Page\"><b>EyeQLenz with Zenni ID Guard<\/b><\/a>, designed to help protect wearers from blue light and support eye comfort in a digital-first world.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Custom packaging featuring original Monkey King artwork from San Francisco Opera, blending our vision technology with the visual identity of the production.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This collaboration brought together what both organizations do best: SF Opera\u2019s storytelling and artistic expression, and Zenni\u2019s innovation in eyewear and eye protection.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-97699\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/3734-sfopera-251114.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"916\" height=\"500\"><\/p>\n<p><i>Image courtesy of Drew Altizer Photography and San Francisco Opera<\/i><\/p>\n<h2>At the Intersection of Art, Innovation, and Community<\/h2>\n<p>Our partnership with San Francisco Opera on <i>The Monkey King<\/i> is more than a sponsorship\u2014it\u2019s a statement about the kind of company we strive to be.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Innovative:<\/b> Just as <i>The Monkey King<\/i> pushes boundaries in how opera can look, sound, and feel, Zenni is constantly exploring new ways to support vision health through technology-forward products like EyeQLenz.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Culturally engaged:<\/b> We are proud to stand alongside institutions that elevate diverse stories and creative voices, particularly those that resonate deeply with Asian and Asian American communities.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Community-focused:<\/b> By supporting high-impact cultural moments in the Bay Area, we aim to help make these experiences more visible, more inviting, and more accessible to broader audiences.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>We believe that when people can see clearly\u2014on stage, on screen, and in daily life\u2014they can more fully experience the art, stories, and traditions that shape who we are.<\/p>\n<h2>Looking Ahead<\/h2>\n<p>Zenni\u2019s collaboration with San Francisco Opera on <i>The Monkey King<\/i> is a powerful example of how vision, culture, and community can come together. As we continue to grow our presence in the arts and deepen our connections with local institutions, we\u2019re excited to keep supporting experiences that inspire, reflect, and represent the communities around us.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019re honored to have been part of this world premiere\u2014and we look forward to many more opportunities to help bring world-class art into focus for everyone.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"\/b\/all-glasses\" aria-label=\"Visit all glasses page\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-76510\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/231215_Blog_banner_shop_all.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1950\" height=\"250\"><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":null,"protected":false},"author":113,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,58],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-97695","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-glasses","category-zenni-news"],"acf":[],"contentshake_article_id":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ca.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97695","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ca.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ca.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ca.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/113"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ca.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=97695"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/ca.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97695\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97704,"href":"https:\/\/ca.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97695\/revisions\/97704"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ca.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=97695"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ca.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=97695"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ca.zennioptical.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=97695"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}