Woodstock Opera House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Woodstock Opera House
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | 121 Van Buren St., Woodstock, Illinois |
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| Area | 0.1 acres (0.040 ha) |
| Built | 1889 |
| Architect | Hoag, Smith |
| NRHP reference No. | 74002184 |
| Added to NRHP | July 17, 1974 |
The Woodstock Opera House is a historic building in Woodstock, Illinois. It's a special place for live shows and events. Built in 1889, it was first used for many things. It held city offices, the police, and the fire department. Today, it's owned by the City of Woodstock and is only used for performances.
In 2013, the stage was named after Orson Welles. He was a famous director and actor who grew up in Woodstock. He even performed here when he was young.
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A Look Back at the Opera House
The Opera House was built in 1889. It was designed to hold the city library, council room, and court. It also had space for the fire department. The second floor was a big auditorium for performances. The very first show was Margery Daw on September 4, 1890. It was performed by the Patti Rosa Company.
This Opera House quickly became the main place for fun in McHenry County. It hosted many traveling shows. These included vaudeville acts, minstrel shows, and plays.
Famous Actors and Shows
In the early 1900s, traveling shows became less common. The Opera House then became home to one of the first summer stock theatre groups in the Chicago area. This was the Todd Theatre Festival in 1934. It was a six-week festival organized by Orson Welles. He had graduated from the Todd School for Boys. Three plays were performed: Trilby, Hamlet, and Tsar Paul. Orson Welles himself performed in these plays. Other famous actors like Hilton Edwards and Micheál MacLiammóir from Dublin also joined.
In 2013, the stage was officially named the Orson Welles Stage. This honored his early work at the Opera House. The building also celebrated the 80th anniversary of the Todd Theatre Festival.
After 1947, a group called the Woodstock Players started performing here. They gave acting experience to students from the Goodman School. Many actors who later became famous performed with them. These included Paul Newman, Tom Bosley, Betsy Palmer, Geraldine Page, Shelley Berman, and Lois Nettleton.
In 1968, the Town Square Players group was formed. They became a non-profit group in 1973. Then, in 1974, the Woodstock Musical Theatre Company started. They also made the Opera House their home. In 2019, these two groups joined together. They are now called Theatre 121. They still perform regular shows at the Opera House every year.
The Opera House's Design and Upgrades
The Opera House was built in 1889. It was designed by architect Smith Hoag from Elgin. The building cost about $25,000 to build. Most of the materials came from nearby areas. These included limestone, brick, and sandstone.
The building's style mixes many different looks. It has parts of late Victorian-era design. You can also see elements from early American, Gothic, and even Moorish styles. The inside of the Opera House looks like the old showboats. These were grand floating theaters from that time.
Over the years, the building started to show its age. In 1960, a group called the Junior Civic Arts League worked to fix the stage and auditorium. The Woodstock Fine Arts Association was created in 1961. Their goal was to restore the Opera House.
In 1972, the city called the Opera House a "landmark." A new group, the Woodstock Opera House Community Center, Inc., started raising money for repairs. The Opera House closed for two years for this work. It reopened in February 1977. It was then called the Woodstock Opera House Community Center. More restoration work happened over the next 20 years. The building was considered fully restored in 1999. That's when the front entrance, called the Portico, was added.
The City of Woodstock and local people still own and take care of the building. It has old-fashioned furniture and beautiful stained-glass windows. You can also see tin ceilings, original wooden details, and hand-painted designs.
In 2003, a new section was added next to the Opera House. This annex made it easier for people with disabilities to reach the stage. It also added a freight elevator, more backstage areas, and offices. The Stage Left Café is also in this new part.
The Orson Welles Stage was officially named on February 10, 2013. This honored the place where Welles first directed a professional play in America.
What Happens at the Opera House Today?
The Woodstock Opera House hosts many different events every year. You can see concerts, plays, and dance shows. It also has art exhibits, educational programs, and lectures. Meetings and parties are held here too. It is located on the historic square in downtown Woodstock. It is one of the oldest theaters in the country that is still open and running.
The Opera House is a modern theater, but it still keeps its historic charm. It has up-to-date sound and lighting systems. It also has modern heating and air-conditioning. The City of Woodstock owns and runs the building.
Featured in Movies
The Opera House was shown in the movie Groundhog Day. Most of the movie was filmed in Woodstock. In the film, the Opera House was used as the Pennsylvanian Hotel.
See also
- Woodstock Mozart Festival
