The Grand Opera House celebrated its’ 125th year of continuous operation in August of 2015. The historic theater built in 1890 is on the National Register of Historic Buildings. From 1890-1928 the Grand presented live theatre in the form of opera, Shakespeare, vaudeville and other popular entertainments of the day. During this ear some of the greatest entertainers of the day appeared on the Grand Stage including Jack Benny, John Phillip Sousa and his band, Henry Fonda, Ethel Barrymore, George M. Cohen and Lillian Russel to name just a few. The Grand was converted into a movie theatre in 1928 and served the Dubuque area in this capacity until 1985. In 1986 the Barn Community Theater raised funds to purchase the now vacant theatre and live performance returned to the Grand. For the past 29 years the primary mission of the Grand Opera House has been to present quality community theatre using local actors and volunteers. In addition the Grand Opera House is now home to the Dubuque Academy of Ballet and hosts a wide variety of entertainment and educational events.
The Grand annually hosts over 22,000 patrons, 65% are from Dubuque and the surrounding area. The Grand is a member of the Dubuque Chamber of Commerce and the American Association of Community Theaters. The Grand Opera House is a cultural leader in Dubuque provides performance and educational opportunities for all ages and is a venue for the area’s population to experience theatre, dance, music and film.
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See and Do
- The Grand Opera House DUBUQUE (0.0 miles) - The Grand Opera House celebrated its’ 125th year of continuous operation in August of 2015. The hi...
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