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Meet at the MAC to carpool: 1:30 pm

Meet at The Southern Theatre: 2:00 pm

This summer, we are hitting the road to visit historic opera houses in Ohio. Built in the 19th and early 20th century, opera houses were found in many rural communities around America. Many are located on the second story of buildings, such as town municipal buildings. They often served as the center for the community, hosting traveling vaudeville shows & lectures, movies, and community events like graduation ceremonies & talent shows, and many other varied events.

We are also excited to welcome back Michael Hurwitz, Technical Theatre Restoration Consultant. Michael spoke to the Lifelong Learning Institute at the MAC about Ohio’s historic opera houses and his role in their restoration, inspiring us to ask him if he would lead us on tours of 4 of these historic gems.

The Southern Theatre

The oldest surviving theatre in central Ohio and one of the oldest in the state, the Southern Theatre opened in 1896 as part of a performance space and hotel complex on the corner of High and Main Streets. The Southern was designed for the presentation of theatrical touring productions and later also accommodated silent films, vaudeville, first- and second-run motion pictures, dance, country music reviews, and community events. The theatre was closed in 1979, and after a 14-month renovation, on September 26, 1998, the 925-seat, jewel box Southern Theatre was reopened, providing a beautiful, accessible, and lively link to our community’s past and its bright future.

21 E Main St

Columbus, OH 43215

https://www.capa.com/southern-theatre

About Michael Hurwitz

Michael Hurwitz graduated from the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts in 1967. He holds a BA from the Ohio Dominican University and an MA from California State University with a Professional Degree from the British American Drama Academy and Julliard with studies at Balliol College, at the University of Oxford, England. Michael was an Adjunct Professor at Urbana University. His books include D.W. Griffith's 1915 Film, The Birth of a Nation: The Film That Transformed America; There's Gold in Your Attic: A Collector’s Memoirs; Backstage with Booth: Behind the Scenes of the Lincoln Assassination; Ohio's Historic Opera Houses; and Long Journey Home: A Soldier's Story. His plays include Theatre on the Second Floor and Long Journey Home. His documentary films include The Great Southern Theatre: Revival of a Legend. Michael and his wife Jacquie have been married since 1975 and have a daughter, Sarah. Michael is a Vietnam Era Army veteran with distinguished service at Headquarters Company for the United States Army. He has consulted on ten successful opera house/theatre restorations.

http://www.historicoperahouses.org/id3.html

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