Opera House Ribbon Cutting

The Opera House is wrapped with a large gold ribbon. With a few snips from donors representing the 1500 supporters of the project, audiences were welcomed into the theater.

Virginia Toulmin

Betsy Bagby

Victoria and Harry Leopold

Bill and Casiana Schmidt

Alisa and Ernie Kretzmer

Maestro Victor DeRenzi and Susan Danis address the crowd. Jerry Waterman and Virginia Toulmin look on.

Audiences entering the Opera House for the first time.

Naming the Theater

LMS Signs puts up lettering in the Marie L. Hoffberg Lobby.

Starting from a template, LMS Signs sorts and mounts the letters for the William E. Schmidt Opera Theatre on the wall.

Patrons Tour the Theater

Donors to the Building on the Vision campaign to renovate the Opera House take a tour to see how work is progressing.

Bud Borax, Scott Collins, Ron Davis and a friend, Roz Sedlesky, a Friend of Sandra Davis, and Mrs. Davis.

Carol and Larry English, Susan Danis, Casiana Schmidt, Laurie Smith and Dr. Shaikund, Bill Schmidt, and Scott Merritt of the Nation City Private Client Group.

Orchestra Pit and Theater

An early view of the William E. Schmidt Opera Theater and the Alisa and Ernest Kretzmer Orchestra pit from the stage of the Opera House.

Casiana and Bill Schmidt

Donors Casiana and Bill Schmidt on a tour of the Opera House with Executive Director Susan Danis (center). The renovated auditorium will be named the William E. Schmidt Opera Theater in their honor.