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The City Opera House is a showcase facility with historic ambiance that offers the regional community a venue for performance, celebration and educational events for people of all ages. Total attendance from 199 events equaled 20,000 during the 2005 re-opening season. The Restoration Project supports historic preservation and active use as a community-performing arts center in downtown Traverse City. It restores the facility's original (1892) radiance and purpose, as it responds to the region's reduction in flexible public facilities space suitable for cultural events. Its sensitive and considered restoration design allows the City Opera House to contribute to cultural and arts leadership, and stimulate regional economic development through the events, programs and gathering space that it offers. Thus, our City, the region and State of Michigan benefit from the social, cultural and economic growth, made possible by this unique asset. Fund Drive Information The non-profit COHHA seeks $3 million in capital to fund its Final Sequence restoration. An investment in the City Opera House offers you:
Project Description Designated for the National Register of Historic Places and Michigan's State Register of Historic Sites (1972), the City Opera House is one of 128 19th Century facilities built in Michigan. It remains the oldest of three that survive with historical integrity and scale (1200 at peak occupancy). As such, future use of the City-owned building is of prime importance to the development of a regional attraction for cultural heritage tourism. The mission of City Opera House Heritage Assn. (COHHA), a 501(c ) 3, is to secure the final $3 million that completes a $9 million master plan by Quinn Evans Architects. Restoration Completed. The Christman Company and its clients completed more than $5.6 million of phased restoration (2002-04), roughly two-thirds of the project. Today, the City Opera House offers the public a dramatically improved performance venue, a full complement of production equipment, and increase to 450 person capacity. Final Sequence: The final $3 million raised in the "Raising the Curtain" campaign funds the balance of restoration:
Fixed (balcony level) and moveable seats (orchestra level) will recognize donors in perpetuity for gifts of $750 and $500 respectively. The drive contributes $422,500 to the campaign. All seats have plush upholstery; they reflect period styling, materials and details. Moveable seating is stackable and comfortably spaced.  Decorative Arts in the Connie Binsfield AuditoriumThe original vaulted ceiling and dome has been rebuilt. Some $130,000 more is needed to install Victorian designs throughout (i.e., proscenium & stage valance, opera boxes, auditorium walls and balcony fascia. Simpler motifs adorn the Grand Entrance and public areas. Named gift recognition opportunities range from $1,000 to $25,000 for a dome listing, a cherub likeness, a Heritage Family panel above the stage, or painting an entire theater wall! Objectives: We seek to return a fully code-compliant, professional theater to the community that serves cultural, business and public interests. This plan offers:
Click to make a secure ONLINE DONATION to the Restoration Fund through GTRCF! Printable Pledge Form The form is in Adobe PDF format and requires Adobe Acrobat Reader® which is available on most computers and may be downloaded free of charge from the Adobe Web Site Other Ways to Donate City Opera House Heritage Association Endowment Fund [Link will open in new window] Stock Donations If you are interested in donating stock to the City Opera House Heritage Association please contact the COHHA office at 941-8082 extension 202 for more information. |
