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 say it's the oldest working theater in the whole United States! In 1964, it was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it's a very important historical place.
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A Look at the Fulton's History
The building you see today was built in 1852. It stands on the old foundation of Lancaster's jail, which was built way back in 1739.
The Old Jail and a Sad Event
In 1763, a group of Native Americans called the Conestoga people were living near Lancaster. After some of them were attacked, the remaining 20 Conestoga sought safety at the jail. They were placed there for protection.
However, on December 27, 1763, a group of settlers known as the Paxton Boys broke into the jail. They attacked and killed all the remaining Conestoga people. No one was ever arrested for this terrible act. This event even inspired some of the first plays written in America.
A Stop on the Underground Railroad
The Fulton building is also linked to the Underground Railroad. This was a secret network that helped enslaved people escape to freedom. In 2008, the National Park Service recognized the building for this connection.
In 1835, two enslaved women were held at the old jail. The sheriff secretly helped them escape. They tried to reach Philadelphia, but were later caught. This act of defiance against the Fugitive Slave Act shows the jail's role in the fight for freedom.
From Hall to Opera House
The current building, completed in 1852, was first called Fulton Hall. It was named after Robert Fulton, who invented the steamboat and was from Lancaster. Fulton Hall was used as a town meeting place. It also hosted traveling theater groups.
Famous speakers like William Jennings Bryan and Thaddeus Stevens spoke there. Well-known actors, including Edwin Booth and John Wilkes Booth, also performed. During the American Civil War, the hall even served as an armory and a hospital.
In 1856, the hall was sold to new owners. One of them, Blasius Yecker, decided to turn it into a grand Victorian opera house. He hired a special architect named Edwin Forrest Durang for the job. The new Fulton Opera House opened on October 2, 1873. The first show was Othello, and the money raised helped families of Civil War soldiers.
From Movies Back to Live Shows
In 1930, a projection booth was added. This allowed the theater to show movies. Over time, live stage shows stopped completely. The theater mainly showed older movies.
In the 1950s, people worried the theater might be torn down. A big effort began to save and restore it. In 1952, on its 100th birthday, the theater had a grand reopening. But business was still slow.
Things changed in 1959 with a play called Our Town. This was the first live theater show at the Fulton in 30 years! In 1962, a group called the Fulton Opera House Foundation was created. They raised money to buy the building and run it as a non-profit. This helped save the theater.
A major renovation was finished in 1995. The Fulton reopened that October with a musical called Company by Stephen Sondheim.
About the Building Itself
The Fulton Theatre was designed by a famous architect named Samuel Sloan. He also designed the Lancaster County Courthouse.
You can still see the original foundation stones from the old jail at the back entrance. There's also a plaque there that remembers the Conestoga Massacre. At the front of the building, there's a statue of Robert Fulton. 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 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 one of only three theaters in the United States recognized as a National Historic Landmark. The other two are the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia and the Goldenrod Showboat in St. Louis, Missouri.
How the Fulton Theatre Works
The Fulton Theatre is run by the Fulton Theatre Company. This is a non-profit group, which means they don't try to make money for owners. Instead, any money they earn goes back into running the theater. They get help from grants, company sponsors, and donations from people.
The Fulton is an Equity House. This means they work with a union for professional actors and stage managers. So, the actors and crew get paid according to special agreements. The theater also hires members of other unions for directors, choreographers, and scenic artists. The Fulton is also part of ASSITEJ, which is an international group for theater for children and young people.
What You Can See at the Fulton
The Fulton Theatre puts on six main shows each year. These have included popular musicals like Disney's Newsies and In The Heights. They also stage mystery plays like Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap. Sometimes, they even put on brand new plays!
They also have four shows for families, like 'Twas the Night Before Christmas and Aladdin. And they have four smaller "studio series" productions, which are often more serious plays.
Many actors who perform at the Fulton are from Lancaster County. They love coming back home to perform. But almost everyone who works there quickly falls in love with the "Grand Old Lady," which is what they sometimes call the theater.
Behind the Scenes
The Fulton Theatre Company is a full production facility. This means they do almost everything in-house! They employ full-time carpenters, electricians, artists who paint scenery, and technicians for lighting and sound. They even have a designer who creates makeup, hair, and wigs.
Most of the sets and costumes are made right there at the theater or in a nearby workshop. The Fulton also has a costume shop. It lends professional costumes and props to schools and other theater groups in the area.
The theater also has a marketing team. They manage the website where you can 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.
Famous Visitors
Many famous actors have appeared at the Fulton over the years. In 1930, Basil Rathbone performed in a play called A Kiss of Importance. The movie "Witness," starring Harrison Ford and Kelly McGillis, also premiered here in February 1985. Much of that movie showed the lifestyle of the Amish people.
See also
