The Sarasota Opera House (originally the Edwards Theatre ) is a historic theater building used as an opera house at 61 North Pineapple Avenue in Sarasota , Florida . The building was the vision of A.B. Edwards, the first mayor of Sarasota. It opened on April 10, 1926, with a three-story entrance containing eight shops on the ground floor, 12 offices on the second floor, and 12 furnished apartments on the third. The theatre's auditorium contained an orchestral pipe organ . The Sarasota Herald-Tribune hailed Edwards for "having admitted Sarasota into a fairyland of costly decoration, rich furnishings and never to be forgotten artistry."
15-786: The building was designed by Roy A. Benjamin in Mediterranean Revival Style Architecture and constructed by the GA Miller Construction Company . The theatre is the home of the Sarasota Opera Association, Inc., which owns the building. The Association is the parent body that runs the Sarasota Opera . It has 1,119 seats. In the 1920s, the building quickly became a popular entertainment venue with major performers such as Will Rogers (in 1927) and
30-760: A ceiling and a chandelier used in the film, Gone with the Wind . In 2008, the Sarasota Opera reopened with Verdi 's Rigoletto . Seating was expanded to approximately 1,200, however, after the 2009-2010 season, some seats along the far sides were removed and replaced with aisles leaving 1,119 seats. Roy A. Benjamin Roy A. Benjamin (1887–1963) was a prominent architect who lived in Jacksonville, Florida . Benjamin moved from Ocala to Jacksonville in 1902. He designed several theaters in Jacksonville and
45-845: The Sarasota Opera House . Roy A. Benjamin also designed a theater in downtown Lake Worth, FL . The theater was built in the 1940s. In 2010 the building was donated by the Montgomery family to serve as a home for the Palm Beach Cultural Council . Admission is free and open to the public. Sarasota Opera House The Sarasota Opera House (originally the Edwards Theatre ) is a historic theater building used as an opera house at 61 North Pineapple Avenue in Sarasota , Florida . The building
60-622: The Ziegfeld Follies (1928) appearing there. The world premiere of Cecil B. DeMille 's The Greatest Show on Earth (which had been filmed in Sarasota) was shown there in late 1951, attended by its stars Charlton Heston and Dorothy Lamour . Elvis Presley performed a concert there on February 21, 1956. Over the years, managements changed as did the name of the theatre: in December 1936 it became The Florida Theatre while, in
75-443: The Ziegfeld Follies (1928) appearing there. The world premiere of Cecil B. DeMille 's The Greatest Show on Earth (which had been filmed in Sarasota) was shown there in late 1951, attended by its stars Charlton Heston and Dorothy Lamour . Elvis Presley performed a concert there on February 21, 1956. Over the years, managements changed as did the name of the theatre: in December 1936 it became The Florida Theatre while, in
90-410: The 2008 season have led to a significantly-enhanced opera theatre. The $ 20 million renovation included gutting the auditorium, which resulted in a newly configured seating plan; expansion of the public areas and Opera Club on the second level; re-opening the 3-story atrium, which was covered with a newly-installed skylight. The atrium and skylight was original to the building in 1926, but was covered by
105-409: The 2008 season have led to a significantly-enhanced opera theatre. The $ 20 million renovation included gutting the auditorium, which resulted in a newly configured seating plan; expansion of the public areas and Opera Club on the second level; re-opening the 3-story atrium, which was covered with a newly-installed skylight. The atrium and skylight was original to the building in 1926, but was covered by
120-632: The Guild bought the old Edwards Theatre for $ 150,000. The structure required major renovations to restore the facility and to accommodate the demands of opera production, so the Association began work in 1982, resulting in the new Sarasota Opera House appearing on the National Register of Historic Places in March 1984. Further renovations between the end of the 2007 season and the opening of
135-401: The Guild bought the old Edwards Theatre for $ 150,000. The structure required major renovations to restore the facility and to accommodate the demands of opera production, so the Association began work in 1982, resulting in the new Sarasota Opera House appearing on the National Register of Historic Places in March 1984. Further renovations between the end of the 2007 season and the opening of
150-606: The firm as KBJ Architects . He also designed the PAL Theatre for owner Mr. Mitchell F. Brice in 1927 in downtown Vidalia, Georgia. The Pal Theatre in Vidalia was owned by Mr Brice and his heirs until 2004. It is currently owned by the City of Vidalia and is under renovation as of the summer of 2016. Benjamin designed his own home at 2332 Riverside Avenue. It was constructed in 1921, but has since been demolished. He also designed
165-543: The same year, a hurricane damaged the Robert-Morton pipe organ. Various attempts to modernize removed most of its original Art Deco features. It then became a full-time movie theater, but in 1973, it closed. By the early 1970s, the non-profit Asolo Opera Guild began to present small-scale operas in Sarasota from out-of-town in the 320-seat Asolo Theater. By 1974, the group had begun to produce its own operas. In 1979,
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#1732780154032180-424: The same year, a hurricane damaged the Robert-Morton pipe organ. Various attempts to modernize removed most of its original Art Deco features. It then became a full-time movie theater, but in 1973, it closed. By the early 1970s, the non-profit Asolo Opera Guild began to present small-scale operas in Sarasota from out-of-town in the 320-seat Asolo Theater. By 1974, the group had begun to produce its own operas. In 1979,
195-667: The surrounding southeast region. His work included Jacksonville's Imperial Theatre (demolished), Palace Theatre (Jacksonville) (demolished), Riverside Theatre , San Marco Theatre , and Arcade Theater (Jacksonville) . He assisted on the Florida Theatre (with R.E. Hall) and on Memorial Park (Jacksonville) (with the Olmsted Brothers). He worked with Mellen C. Greeley from 1919 to 1924. After World War II he retired and sold his practice to William D. Kemp, Franklin S. Bunch, and William K. Jackson, who have continued
210-449: Was designed by Roy A. Benjamin in Mediterranean Revival Style Architecture and constructed by the GA Miller Construction Company . The theatre is the home of the Sarasota Opera Association, Inc., which owns the building. The Association is the parent body that runs the Sarasota Opera . It has 1,119 seats. In the 1920s, the building quickly became a popular entertainment venue with major performers such as Will Rogers (in 1927) and
225-485: Was the vision of A.B. Edwards, the first mayor of Sarasota. It opened on April 10, 1926, with a three-story entrance containing eight shops on the ground floor, 12 offices on the second floor, and 12 furnished apartments on the third. The theatre's auditorium contained an orchestral pipe organ . The Sarasota Herald-Tribune hailed Edwards for "having admitted Sarasota into a fairyland of costly decoration, rich furnishings and never to be forgotten artistry." The building
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