Restoration Plans for the Opera House...

The goals of the planning process were as follows:

In order to accommodate all of the programmed requirements, it was determined that a 3-story addition would be added to the rear of the existing historic structure replacing the ground level rear areas of the current storefronts. The addition will enable heating, air conditioning, and ventillation ducts to be brought into the historic building from the new addition which will result in far less interruption to the integrity of the existing structure. The drawings that follow show how these goals will be achieved.

Visible from Washington Street will be the Ticket Foyer and Lobby area with coat storage. A curved stairway will rise to the second floor landing. The lobby opens into a Banquet Hall which will accommodate 88 people seated at tables or up to 250 for a standing reception. The facility connects with restrooms and an elevator lobby providing access to second floor meeting space, dressing rooms, and the third-floor auditorium lobby. Two sets of fire stairs also provide access to the floors above and the basement below. Covered parking is available off of the alley providing handicapped access to the elevator lobby as well as an unloading zone for caterers, stage props, etc.

Highlights of the second floor include museum space for displaying artifacts from the opera house. The museum will also tell the story of businesses that operated in the opera house block as well interpretive panels depicting the history of Delphi with emphasis on the Delphi Courthouse Square National Register Historic District. The collection of materials donated to the Delphi Preservation Society by local historian Charles Gerard will be housed in a temperature and humidity controlled Archives room. The center's staff will have office space on this floor. The warming kitchen has dumbwaiter access to the floors above and below. Dressing rooms, with their own set of stairs leading to the third floor stage area, provide space for performers to prepare makeup and to dress. A large multi-purpose room can provide overflow dressing space for large casts. The same size as the Opera House stage, it can also be used as a rehearsal hall. When not in use for theater productions, the room can be rented for other purposes and used for community meetings.

The Opera House takes the stage on the third floor with its historic balcony and auditorium space accessible via elevator through the wide lobby area or the historic stairs rising from the second floor landing. Larger men's and women's restrooms on this level will accommodate theater goers during intermissions. Performers' comforts are provided for in the Green Room which connects to the second floor dressing rooms via stairs. A stage right area provides set and prop storage for current productions.

In the theater itself, a recessed light bay in the ceiling will handle most lighting requirements managed from a light and sound booth on the rear balcony. During theater productions, up to 200 seats will be available for patrons. The flat floor of the theater space will enable flexible usage including dinner theater performances, ballroom dancing, weddings and receptions, community meetings, and other events..

Opera House Restoration Cost Estimates

Construction costs for the renovation of the historic three-story building and the three-story addition to the rear are expected to be in the range of $4 million dollars.

For more information, or to make a donation, visit: www.delphioperahouse.org