Ever wondered where opera singers get dressed? Where the orchestra unpacks? What the lighting desk looks like? All these secrets and more are revealed in the new free public tours of the Marion Oliver McCaw Hall at the Seattle Center, beginning Aug. 17. McCaw Hall, built in 1928, renovated in 1962 for the World’s Fair and finally completed in 2003, is one of the premier arts venues in the country, hosting the Seattle Opera and Pacific Northwest Ballet in the 2,900-seat Brotman auditorium and Seattle International Film Festival events downstairs in the smaller Nesholm hall, plus numerous other events that add up to 400,000 people coming through each year.

The tours will be held monthly, led by McCaw Hall staff, and take the curious through backstage and production areas, as well as visiting the auditoriums and lobbies, seeing the art collection and going over the Hall’s history.

McCaw Hall tours are scheduled for noon-1 p.m. Aug. 17, Sept. 21, Oct. 19, Nov. 16 and into the New Year. You need to sign-up by noon on the previous Friday, as the tour is limited to 25 people (first come, first served.) To register, call 206-733-9725. For information, visit www.seattlecenter.com