Salt Marsh Opera produced its first fully staged opera, Madama Butterfly, in 2001, followed in successive years by productions of Tosca, Così fan tutte, The Mikado, La bohème, La traviata, and The Barber of Seville. The 2008 production of Lucia di Lammermoor was performed at the Ivoryton Playhouse in Ivoryton, Connecticut in addition to the George Kent Performance Hall in Westerly, Rhode Island. In 2009 the new Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, in Old Saybrook, became our Connecticut venue with the production of Die Fledermaus.  In May 2010 Salt Marsh Opera celebrated its 10th Anniversary with a special gala concert in Westerly followed by the production of L'elisir d'amore in October and a festive concert at the Kate.

The Connecticut River Advisory Board was organized in 2007 to guide Salt Marsh Opera as it establishes a presence in the Connecticut River Valley. In 2008 Salt Marsh Opera became incorporated in Rhode Island and established a Westerly, Rhode Island address.  In addition, The Salt Marsh Opera Guild was formed in 2008 to support the opera and provide special opportunities for its members and the community. In 2010, an Old Saybrook address was created as well giving Salt Marsh Opera a home in two coastal states.