THIS SESSION OF MAC ON THE ROAD HAS BEEN CANCELED
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Meet at the MAC to carpool: 12:30 pm
Meet at Stuart’s Opera House: 2:00 pm
This summer, we are hitting the road to visit historic opera houses in Ohio. Built in the 19th and early 20th century, opera houses were found in many rural communities around America. Many are located on the second story of buildings, such as town municipal buildings. They often served as the center for the community, hosting traveling vaudeville shows & lectures, movies, and community events like graduation ceremonies & talent shows, and many other varied events.
We are also excited to welcome back Michael Hurwitz, Technical Theatre Restoration Consultant. Michael spoke to the Lifelong Learning Institute at the MAC about Ohio’s historic opera houses and his role in their restoration, inspiring us to ask him if he would lead us on tours of 4 of these historic gems.
Stuart's Opera House
Stuart’s Opera House is the cornerstone of the Nelsonville Historic Art District. It is a lovingly restored theatre that first welcomed audiences in 1879 through 1924 when it was home to classic vaudeville and melodrama shows. Stuart’s closed and sat empty from 1924 through 1976. In 1977 a group formed a non-profit and started bringing the theatre back to life when a devastating fire nearly destroyed the building in 1980. Seventeen years later, in 1997, the opera house re-opened its doors and is once again home to local, regional, national, and internationally acclaimed performances. Stuart’s Opera House now hosts over 75 events each year and is Southeastern Ohio’s favorite place to experience live performance.
52 Public Square
Nelsonville, OH 45764
About Michael Hurwitz
Michael Hurwitz graduated from the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts in 1967. He holds a BA from the Ohio Dominican University and an MA from California State University with a Professional Degree from the British American Drama Academy and Julliard with studies at Balliol College, at the University of Oxford, England. Michael was an Adjunct Professor at Urbana University. His books include D.W. Griffith's 1915 Film, The Birth of a Nation: The Film That Transformed America; There's Gold in Your Attic: A Collector’s Memoirs; Backstage with Booth: Behind the Scenes of the Lincoln Assassination; Ohio's Historic Opera Houses; and Long Journey Home: A Soldier's Story. His plays include Theatre on the Second Floor and Long Journey Home. His documentary films include The Great Southern Theatre: Revival of a Legend. Michael and his wife Jacquie have been married since 1975 and have a daughter, Sarah. Michael is a Vietnam Era Army veteran with distinguished service at Headquarters Company for the United States Army. He has consulted on ten successful opera house/theatre restorations.
http://www.historicoperahouses.org/id3.html
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