Springer Opera House, Opera house in Columbus, United States
Springer Opera House is an opera house built in the 1800s in downtown Columbus featuring two stages for performances and distinctive Victorian architectural details. The building contains a main stage as well as a separate smaller theater called the Dorothy McClure Theatre.
The Public Hall Association formed in June 1869 to build a theater for Columbus. Alsace-born grocer Francis Joseph Springer, its largest shareholder, erected the house on the site of his store; it opened on February 21, 1871, with a benefit concert for Trinity Episcopal Church. After a 1900 redesign by J. B. McElfatrick it became a movie house, closed in 1958, and was saved from demolition by the Columbus Little Theater, reopening in 1965.
This venue serves as a gathering place for the arts community in Columbus, reflecting how the city has grown as a center for performance and cultural expression over generations. People come together here to experience theater that shapes the cultural life of the region and draws artists from across the country.
The theater stands at 103 Tenth Street, across from the county courthouse in downtown Columbus. The building has three floors; the second and third were restored in a $12 million renovation in 1998. Programming runs year-round, so check the current schedule before traveling to a performance.
The theater offers specialized performances designed for very young children from birth to age 3 that encourage playful learning through interactive theater elements. This special program brings artistic experiences to the earliest stages of childhood.
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