Stoughton Opera House

Stoughton Opera House is a theater in Stoughton, Wisconsin. It is on the second floor of the Stoughton City Hall.

Stoughton Opera House
City Auditorium, Stoughton Little Theater
Exterior of the Stoughton Opera House
Address381 E. Main Street
Stoughton, Wisconsin
 United States
OwnerCity of Stoughton
Capacity475[1]
Current useTheater
Construction
OpenedFebruary 22, 1901
Closed1950's
ReopenedFebruary 22, 2001
ArchitectF. H. Kemp
Website
www.stoughtonoperahouse.com

History

The Stoughton Opera House was originally known as the City Auditorium. It opened on February 22, 1901 with Ullie Akerstrom's comic play, The Doctor's Warm Reception. During the next 50 years, the Opera House was used for plays, political rallies, temperance speeches, boxing and wrestling matches, high school graduations, and class plays. From 1910 to the late 1920s, it also served as a movie theater. In the 1950s the theater was closed and fell into ruin. In the late 1980s a decision was made to save the building, restore its ornate Victorian interior, and rebuild the clock tower. The venue is now used for weddings, business and government meetings, rallies, and other functions. The building is in the Stoughton Main Street Commercial Historic District.

Repertoire

In its early days, the theater's repertoire primarily featured plays, vaudeville reviews by traveling companies, and concerts. Since its reopening, its repertoire has consisted of plays by local companies, classical music concerts, and concerts by well-known touring musicians and bands.

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References
  1. Jay Rath. "The Stoughton Opera House is rich with history and acoustically sublime". Isthmus, March 15, 2012.
  • Doyle, Brian Leahy. Encore! The Renaissance of Wisconsin Opera Houses. Madison: Wisconsin Historical Society, 2009, pp. 93–114. ISBN 0-87020-430-0

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