A HISTORY OF THE The Foundation of a Community In the year 1888 a proposal was made to build WOODSTOCK a City Hall worthy of the town of Woodstock and its citizens. Mayor Merritt Joslyn cast the OPERA HOUSE deciding tie breaking vote and the decision was made to construct a City Building that would house several official elements of the community, including the City offices, police and fire departments, a public library and a central gathering place for the community, the Opera House. Smith Hoag, an Elgin area architect, was hired to draw-up plans and to complete construction for a fee of $26,000. Simon Brink, whose family had long been Built in 1889 and beautifully connected to the city, was hired to oversee restored, the Opera House offers construction in 1889 and on September 4, 1890 the grand opening of the Woodstock a variety of rental opportunities. Actress, Patti Rosa Enjoy a unique experience with Opera House was held with an inaugural charming atmosphere and performance of “Margery Daw” presented by the Patti Rosa Player’s historical elegance. The fully The Opera House quickly became McHenry County’s center for modern facilities and professional entertainment and hospitality. The City offices, library, police and fire staff will make public & private department occupied the first functions, special events, meetings floor of the building and the and parties a pleasurable Opera House was contained experience for participants and in the second and third floors. Through the next few decades, hosts. For information on renting “Towering over a Square full of Civil the Opera House hosted the Opera House call 815-338-4212. War monuments, a bandstand, and touring vaudeville, minstrel and a spring house . . . is a very rustic dramatic companies as well and rusticated thing: a real, old as a variety of other activities honest-to-horse hair Opera House.” including, concerts, weddings, - Orson Welles dances, wrestling matches and graduation commencements. Woodstock Fire Crew 1890’s Owned and operated by: City of Woodstock In 1926, a young A Historic Landmark reopened as the official Woodstock Opera man came to In 1960 the Junior Civic Arts Woodstock Opera House House plays host to Woodstock and League was founded as Community Center in over 500 events and was enrolled at a group of young people February, 1977. activities each year the local Todd dedicated to presenting and it continues to School for Boys, plays and investing time Looking to the Future serve the community his name was and effort into battling the Through the following as a gathering place Orson Welles increasing deterioration of decades, the Opera for programs of every and between the the auditorium and stage. House transitioned into shape and size, as it ages of 11 and The League gave rise to other the modern facility it is has done for more Orson Welles, Michael MacLiammoir & Louise Prussing supporting organizations over today. Professional staff 16 he learned Woodstock Mozart Festival concert than a century. much of his craft on the Opera House stage. the next decade such as the Woodstock was hired to operate the theatre and additional projects, including After a few years of traveling abroad in Fine Arts Association, founded in 1961. Whether you call it the “Opera House;” “Old City the 1999 restoration of the front portico Europe, Welles returned to the Opera House In 1972 the Opera House was declared a Hall;” the “Crown Jewel of McHenry County;” which had been absent from the building in 1934 and presented a summer of dramas “landmark” by the city and was quickly or in the words for almost 70 years, and replacement of and Shakespeare plays. Welles directed and followed in 1974 by the placement of of Orson the original firehouse barn doors in 2013, starred in these productions opposite noted the building on the National Register of Welles, “The further enhanced the beauty and historical actors Michael MacLiammoir and Louise Historic Places. The Woodstock Opera Grand Capitol accuracy of the building. Prussing whom he had brought with him from House Community of Midwestern A product of its own his travels in Europe. Center Inc. was Victorianism,” success, a new annex was established as a the Woodstock also added to the Opera The creation of “The Woodstock Players” in fundraising body Opera House House in 2003, on its 1947 drew graduates of the Goodman Theater and the building continues to adjacent lot, providing in Chicago for several seasons of summer received an extensive endure and disability access to the stock theatre. Through the early 50’s notable restoration in 1976 flourish as a stage, a freight elevator, actors such as Paul Newman, Tom Bosley, at a price of $500,000 leading center additional back stage Geraldine Page, Lois Nettleton, Betsy Palmer with Architect John of the arts areas, offices and the and Shelley Berman honed their skills on Vincent Anderson in northern very popular Stage the Opera House stage each evening while overseeing the Illinois. holding day jobs at local shops in Woodstock. efforts. The building Left Café. Today the National Register of Historic Places designation 1974