By Theo Andrews
The once nomadic Opera Grand Rapids has officially moved into its new, permanent home. From 4-7 p.m. today, the company will give informal tours to the community showcasing their newly constructed residence.
This was a long time coming. The opera company has wandered for the past 42 years from abandoned, and raccoon-infested, abodes like Frank’s Nursery to a vacated Hollywood Video, as well as empty warehouses where the heat didn’t work and temperatures were ghastly cold. Certainly this is not the kind of situation you’d imagine a professional Opera company operating in, but they did; for four decades.
“It went from shabby to shabbier,” said Production Manager Catherin Wiegandt. “With this new building, everything is going to get better.”
The Betty Van Andel Opera Center is a two-story tall, 14,000 square foot facility that includes: a permanent box office, costume shop, prop storage, offices, meeting rooms, a library, and most importantly, real rehearsal rooms.
“The building doesn’t necessarily act as a performance center, but a learning center,” says Wiegandt. “It is a chance to develop community outreach.”
Performances will still be held at DeVos Hall, but the new building—located at 1320 E. Fulton St.—will serve as a space dedicated to providing educational and public programming; the intended experience Opera Grand Rapids wants to deliver.
Formal dedications will be held on June 16.
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