Welcome to the Sumter Opera House!
Contents
Opera House
Facebook
Sumter's House Series
Big Screen Fridays Showtimes
Sumter's House of Classic Movies (Information and Showtimes)
History of the Sumter Opera House
Contact Information (Tours, etc.)
Ticket Sales
Location and Maps
Floor Guide
Mailing List
Rental
The Sumter Opera House is located on North Main Street in the heart of downtown Sumter. The historic Opera House is downtown's center focal point and crown jewel. As a center for the performing arts, the Opera House has several successful monthly programs and special performances throughout the year, ranging from film, dance, theater, concerts, and beyond. The historic Sumter Opera House invites you to be entertained through its diverse and affordable cultural performances.
Sumter's House Series
The Opera House features several monthly performances each Friday night as part of its Sumter's House series. The newest addition to these series is Big Screen Fridays at the House. Big Screen Fridays features the latest DVD releases back on the big screen again. Please call the Swan Lake Visitors Center at 803-436-2640 for this Friday's movie. Big Screen Fridays are most Friday nights throughout the year. Showtimes are 7 PM and 10 PM and admission is always $2.50. Concessions are available.
Bring a valid military ID or your receipt from a downtown restaurant for $1 off each ticket you purchase (discount does not apply to Sumter's House of Classic Movies).
Coming Soon to Big Screen Fridays at the House:
Friday, February 26: Twilight
Friday, March 5: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Special Sunday Matinee: Sunday, March 7: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2 PM)
Friday, March 19: Sunshine Cleaning
Friday, March 26: Battle for Terra
Special Saturday Matinee: Saturday, March 27: Battle for Terra (4 PM)
In addition to recent releases the Sumter Opera House shows classic films the second Friday of each month as part of the Sumter's House of Classic Movies series. The Sumter Opera House is truly the best place to enjoy classic movies, presented the way they were meant to be seen in a gorgeous Art Deco moviehouse. Its cultural history as Sumter’s first movie theater brings fond memories of the "good old days" and creates new ones for young and old alike. Each feature film is provided by the Sumter County Library and is preceded with traditional cartoons to give movie goers the feeling of stepping back in time. The show starts at 7:30 PM and admission is $2.50. All proceeds benefit the Sumter County Library's children's programs.
Coming Soon to Sumter's House of Classic Movies:
Friday, February 12: An Affair to Remember
The Sumter Opera House is always expanding its offerings, so please check back often for more exciting programs and updates! For more information on the Sumter's House series schedule, please check our online Calendar of Events.
History of the Sumter Opera House
The Opera House is not only a state-of-the-art performing arts facility. It is a beautiful historic site with a rich and intriguing past.
The Opera House in its present form was built from 1893-1895, following the destruction of the first Opera House in December 1892 by fire. In 1936 the Opera House was renovated into a movie theater. The renovations created 300 jobs for Depression-era workers and cost $120,000. The very first film shown at the Opera House was Earthworm Tractors. Tickets to the first movie were 35 cents for adults and 10 cents for children.
During its tenure as a movie theater the Opera House underwent several changes. In 1973 it was officially listed on the National Register of Historical Places. Sadly, much of the wonderful Art Deco gold-leaf, which has since been restored by French restoration artists, was painted black or covered with black cloth. In 1982 the Opera House closed its door after 46 years of operation as a movie theater.
Fortunately, the City of Sumter, in need of additional office space and hoping to attract more visitors to the downtown area, purchased the building in 1984 and began a loving and faihful restoration of the Opera House. The City's renovation of the facilities represents one of the first steps in a growing movement toward downtown revitalization and historic preservation that continues in Sumter today. Renovations were completed in 1987, just in time for the City of Sumter to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Council-Manager form of government, an innovation of the Progressive movement that was first adopted in Sumter in 1912.
The Opera House still houses City Hall and many of the City's departments and offices, including City Council's chambers. The first floor auditorium is a popular and gorgeous facility that hosts local, regonal, and even national talent on a regular basis. Recent performers include classical pianist Thomas Pandolfi and comedians James Gregory and Chad Riden. Many grade schools and colleges hold their graduation ceremonies in the Opera House each year.
For more information about the history of the Opera House, please consult this History of the Sumter Opera House (PDF).*
To arrange tours, to learn more about the Opera House, or to inquire about upcoming events or rentals, please contact Tyler Cook, Cultural Coordinator for the City of Sumter, at the following:
Tyler Cook
Cultural Coordinator
City of Sumter
21 North Main Street
PO Box 1449
Sumter, SC 29151
803-436-2616
Ticket Sales
Please call the Swan Lake Visitor Center for ticket information at 803-436-2640 or 1-888-688-4748.
Location and Maps
The Sumter Opera House is located on North Main Street. Liberty Street (US 76/763) crosses the center of downtown North Main Street. Traveling from Hwy. 76/378 bypass you will need to exit at the Main Street exit and travel south to Downtown Sumter.
Below are a series of maps to the Opera House from popular Sumter landmarks.
Directional Map (PDF)*
Map from Patriot Hall (PDF)*
Map from Swan Lake (PDF)*
Map from Shaw AFB (PDF)*
Floor Guide
In addition to serving as a modern performing arts center in a historic downtown landmark, the Sumter Opera House is also the home of City Hall. The Main Street entrance provides access to all four floors of the Opera House.
1st Floor: Opera House Auditorium, 1st Floor Conference Room; rear entrance (access via Harvin Street): Water Department
2nd Floor: Communications Director, Downtown Development, Events Coordinator, Cultural Coordinator, IT Department
3rd Floor: Human Resources
4th Floor: Administrative Offices, Mayor's Office, City Manager's Office, Council Chambers
For general inquiries (inquiries that do not specifially concern the Opera House auditorium or upcoming events) and to access the Opera House directory, please contact the following:
Sumter Opera House
21 N. Main Street
P.O. Box 1449
Sumter, SC 29151
803-436-2500
Mailing List
E-mail us at sumteroperahouse@sumter-sc.com telling us you would like to be added to our email distribution list. This distribution list will keep you up to date on the current events in the Sumter Opera House.
Rental
The historic Sumter Opera House is available for rent. This world-class performing arts venue will enhance your production and provide your audience with a magnificent experience they will remember for a lifetime. Please call The Swan Lake Visitors Center at 803-436-2640 or toll free at 1-888-688-4748 for availability and scheduling, or check out all of our rental facilities here. You can download a copy of the Opera House rental application here.
*To view a PDF, you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer.
Click here to download Adobe Acrobat Reader.
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