spotlight archive

Woodland Opera House
March 2006

California State Historic Landmark #851, reopened in January of 1989 after a seven-year, $2,000,000+ restoration project. For the first time in nearly eight decades, the venerable brick building in the heart of California's fertile Sacramento Valley, began to offer live entertainment on a year-round basis.

The WOH Theatre Company is made up of actors and technicians from throughout the area-some commuting up to 70 miles to perform. WOH mounts 5 Mainstage productions from September to June, two youth theater camps in the summer, and the Young

Peoples Theatre program throughout the year, each production running from 2 to 4 weekends. Other programming includes the School Outreach Program and The Opera House Dance Academy. Selected special events, artists, and programs are booked in by the Opera House throughout the year and there are also numerous rental events by local organizations for the public's entertainment.

SOME HISTORY: Built in 1885, the original Opera House burned down in the 1892 fire that destroyed much of downtown Woodland. It was rebuilt on the same site, using some of the remaining foundations and bricks from the walls, reopening in 1896. WOH became the stopping place for such performers as Nance O'Neil, James A Herne and Harry Davenport. The great Polish actress Madame Helen Modjeska, John Philip Sousa and his band, comics Weber and Fields, and George M. Cohan's troupe. Over 300 touring companies had appeared on its stage by 1913, when, due to the encroachment of motion pictures in the valley and partly as a result of a lawsuit over an injury the Opera House was closed and remained boarded up until 1971. The Yolo County Historical Society purchased the building in 1971 to ensure that it did not fall to the wrecking ball and bulldozer. Declared a state historical park in 1976, the Historical Society gave the property to the State of California in 1980 and in 1981 the restoration began.
SOME ADDITIONAL FACTS: The stage contains a modern, computerized lighting system and is capable of handling most sound needs through a 12 channel sound board. Stage microphones are available although not often needed as the original acoustics of the building are excellent. The
building is owned by the State of California but management is by a professional staff hired by the Woodland Opera House Board of Trustees. Programming and rentals bring in about 75%, of budget with the remainder balanced with endowment income, donations, corporate underwriting, and foundation grants.