Fulton Opera House facts for kids
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Fulton Theatre
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The Fulton Opera House
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | 12-14 North Prince St. Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA |
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| Area | < 1-acre (4,000 m2) |
| Built | 1852 |
| Architect | Samuel Sloan, Edwin Forrest Durang |
| Architectural style | Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 69000156 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | August 11, 1969 |
| Designated NHL | January 29, 1964 |
The Fulton Opera House, also called the Fulton Theatre or just The Fulton, is a famous theater in downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Many people believe it is the oldest working theater in the entire United States. Because of its important history, it was named a National Historic Landmark in 1964.
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History of the Fulton Theatre
The building we see today was built in 1852. It stands on the old foundation of Lancaster's first jail, which was built way back in 1739.
Early Events at the Jail Site
In 1763, a sad event happened at the old jail. Twenty members of the Conestoga people were given protection there. This was after 14 other Conestoga people were killed by a group of settlers called the Paxton Boys. However, on December 27, 1763, the Paxton Boys broke into the jail. They attacked and killed all the remaining Conestoga people. No one was arrested for these terrible acts. This event later inspired some of the very first plays written in America.
The building also has a connection to the Underground Railroad. In 2008, the National Park Service recognized it as an important site. This is because in 1835, the sheriff secretly helped two women who were escaping slavery. He helped them get away from the jail, even though there was a law called the Fugitive Slave Act that said they should be returned. They escaped to Philadelphia, though they were later captured there.
From Hall to Opera House
The current building was finished in 1852. It was first called Fulton Hall. The hall was named after Robert Fulton, who was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Robert Fulton was famous for inventing the steamboat.
Fulton Hall was used as a town meeting place and a stage for traveling theater groups. Famous speakers like William Jennings Bryan and Thaddeus Stevens (who was against slavery) spoke there. Well-known actors, including Edwin Booth and John Wilkes Booth, also performed on its stage. During the American Civil War, Fulton Hall was even used as a place to store weapons and as a hospital.
In 1856, Fulton Hall was sold to a hotel owner and a showman. Later, in 1869, the showman, Blasius Yecker, decided to turn it into a grand Victorian opera house. He hired a special architect named Edwin Forrest Durang to design the changes. The new Fulton Opera House opened on October 2, 1873. The first show was Othello, and the money raised helped families of soldiers who died in the Civil War.
Restoring the Theatre
In 1930, a projection booth was added so the theater could show movies. Over time, live plays stopped completely. The theater mainly showed older movies and started to fall apart. In the 1950s, people began a campaign to save and restore the theater. A big reopening happened in 1952, celebrating 100 years since the building was first created. However, business was still slow.
In 1959, a play called Our Town was performed. This was the first live theater show at the Fulton Opera House in 30 years! In 1962, a group called the Fulton Opera House Foundation was started. They raised money to buy the building and make it a non-profit organization. Their goal was to restore the theater. The big renovation was finished in 1995. The Fulton reopened that October with a musical called Company by Stephen Sondheim.
The Fulton Theatre Building
The current building was designed by Samuel Sloan, a famous architect from Philadelphia. He also designed the Lancaster County Courthouse.
Unique Features of the Building
You can still see the original foundation stones from the old jail at the back entrance of the Fulton Theatre. There is also a plaque there that remembers the Conestoga Massacre. At the front of the building, there is a statue of Robert Fulton, the theater's namesake. This statue is a copy of the original wooden one, which is kept inside the lobby.
The theater was updated in the early 1870s by the architect Edwin Forrest Durang. By 1996, it had been renovated again. It now has a main stage with 560 seats, plus practice rooms and a smaller stage for recitals.
The Fulton Theatre is very special. It is one of only two theaters in the entire country that are recognized as National Historic Landmarks. The other one is the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia.
How the Fulton Theatre Operates
The Fulton is a founding member of the League of Historic American Theatres. It is run by the Fulton Theatre Company, which is a non-profit organization. This means it doesn't try to make money for owners.
Supporting the Arts
Since the Fulton is a non-profit, it relies on many things to keep going. It gets money from grants, company sponsorships, and donations from people. The Fulton is an Equity House. This means it works with unions for professional actors and stage managers. So, its actors and production team are paid fairly according to special agreements. The Fulton also employs members of other unions for directors and designers. It is also part of ASSITEJ, an international group for theater for children and young people.
Productions and Community Role
The Fulton Theatre puts on six mainstage shows each year. These have included popular shows like Disney's Newsies and In The Heights. They also perform mystery plays like Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap. Sometimes, they even put on brand new plays, like the well-known Lightning Rod in 2005.
The theater also has four family shows each year, perfect for younger audiences. These include the Fulton's own 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, Aladdin, and Jack and the Beanstalk, the Musical. There are also four studio series productions, which are often more serious dramas.
Most actors are chosen in New York City, but auditions are also held locally. Many actors who grew up in Lancaster County love coming back to perform at the Fulton. They often fall in love with the theater, which they call the "Grand Old Lady."
The Fulton Theatre Company is a full production facility. This means they have many full-time staff members. These include carpenters, electricians, artists who paint scenery, composers, and lighting and sound technicians. Most of the sets and costumes are made right there at the theater or in a nearby workshop. They even have a full-time designer for makeup, hair, and wigs.
The Fulton also has a costume shop. This shop lends professional costumes and props to schools, community theater groups, and other organizations in the area. Their website lets people learn about the theater's history, check audition times, and buy tickets. All their posters and programs are saved and kept by the Lancaster Historical Society.
Many famous actors have performed at the Fulton. In December 1930, Basil Rathbone appeared in a play called A Kiss of Importance. The movie "Witness," starring Harrison Ford and Kelly McGillis, premiered here in February 1985. Much of this movie shows the lifestyle of the Amish people.
See also
