Historic Opera House - 130th Anniversary

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Love history? Love music? Here’s your chance to take part in a historic event on 11-11-11, which is not just a string of numbers. Come to Howell and celebrate!

At 7 p.m. on November 11th,, 2011, in honor of its 130th Anniversary, the Howell Opera House will host five nationally recognized acoustic performers on their stage. The three-story building was designed by the prolific Detroit architect Almon C. Varney, who also helped design lumber baron George W. Loomer’s house in Detroit. The Howell Opera House was built in 1881 for $11,000, with the first floor housing space for retail shops and the theater and balconies on the floors above.

With 800 seats, the Opera House served the community by offering plays from Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado to Shakespeare’s Hamlet, speeches by notables like William Jennings Bryan and Henry Ford, live shows with jugglers and other acts, dinner theater productions and parties. Local high school graduation ceremonies took place at the Opera House, which even became a temporary home for the Livingston County Circuit Court in 1889.

The theater closed in 1924. Livingston Arts Council (LAC) bought the building in 2000 and began renovations. The Opera House was given status in 2006 as a Michigan Registered Historic Site by the Michigan Historical Commission. LAC earned several awards for preservation and due to their efforts, the Opera House is now listed in the National Historic Register.

Proceeds from the Anniversary event will help further LAC’s preservation efforts. Following a duo warm-up set by duo Meg & Tony, singer/songwriters Ray Younkin, Aaron Kaufman, Trician Fox, Ken Gaines and Wayne Wilkerson will perform in a “round robin” style concert, sponsored by the Music Doing Good Café Series.

This Houston-based music non-profit organization also brought the Marilyn Monroe event at the Opera House this past June. Honorary guests and testimonials will also be featured, plus a video history, a raffle and a cash bar.

Call for reservations! Advance admission will be $20, and doors will open at 6:45 p.m. You can purchase tickets that night at the door for $25, but call ahead and save money! Phone in your reservation at 517-540-0065, or use the link below under Additional Information.

Please support the community of Howell and join in this unique celebration of the Opera House’s 130th Anniversary!

—Meg Mims