On May 3, 2003, the newly restored 1885 Red Cloud Opera House was officially reopened and dedicated. The reopening five years ago was highlighted by an outdoor dedication, during which a number of dignitaries from throughout the state and the nation spoke and Marcy Thompson’s fifth grade class cut the ribbon. On stage that evening was James Ford’s production of The Bohemian Girl, which had also been produced in 1898 by the Anderson Company with Willa Cather herself in attendance.
The dedication was truly a gala event. There was much to celebrate that day. Twelve years of planning, fundraising, and plain hard work had gone into the project. Local individuals and people from throughout the country had contributed time, energy, and resources to make the restoration possible. At times, many had considered this to be the impossible dream, but it became a reality because the Cather Foundation Board of Governors, the Cather Foundation membership, and friends of the Foundation simply would not give up.
Today the Opera House is alive with activity. The Foundation offices, located on the ground floor, provide the “command center” for worldwide Cather-related activities. The gallery and auditorium are hosts to a wide spectrum of local, regional, and international talent. The facility plays host to a variety of business and professional groups. Weddings have been held there, politicians have spoken there, and, of course, the Spring Conference is centered in the facility. All of these activities and more reflect the same kinds of events that dominated the Red Cloud Opera House back in the late 1800s and early 20th century. Cather was at home in this facility then, and we like to think that she would be pleased with the events occurring there now. The restored Opera House has turned out to be exactly what those who made it possible expected.
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