Bastrop Opera House expanding to meet growing youth program, local demand
The opera house—which has never actually showcased opera—opened in 1889.
BASTROP, Texas (KXAN) — The Bastrop Opera House has over a century's worth of performances in its history. The historic opera house hopes to keep the theater alive for the next hundred years with an upcoming expansion.
The nonprofit-run theater is out of room for rehearsal spaces and youth programs, said executive director Lisa Holcomb. Holcomb said demand for youth programs has grown alongside Bastrop County's fast-rising population—to the point that the opera house has turned kids away and started a waitlist.
"Our youth academy is so important because it's not just about kids coming and learning theater," Holcomb said. "It's about them coming and learning self-confidence and life skills and making friends."
She has also juggled rehearsal spaces and sought out external community rooms for shows to practice.
The first phase will kick off in early 2025 to expand the historic opera house into a neighboring building with more practice rooms, a black box theater and office space.
Phase one will cost about $2.6 million and will connect the two buildings. This is funded through a capital campaign with city and community support. Holcomb said the phase should take about six months and hopes phase 2 can begin soon after.
"Our vision for this is for it to become the Bastrop Historic Theater District, and really a hub for the community," Holcomb said.
The opera house—which has never actually showcased opera—opened in 1889 and has two-penny opera, silent films, traveling shows, musicians, graduation ceremonies and even school proms in its 135-year history. It became a Texas Historic Landmark in 1984.
Holcomb said the 150-seat theater became a teen hangout in the 50s and 60s before a group restored the opera house in the 80s. She said "a new revival" of the opera house began about five to six years ago.
The theater is currently prepping for its next show: Bastrop's Rockin' Holiday Revue. It starts Dec. 6 and runs through Dec. 22.
People can donate to the nonprofit's capital campaign online.
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