Grand Opera House of the South has a grand first season

The recently restored Grand Opera House of the South in downtown Crowley is nearing the end of what its executive director calls an impressive first season. “It’s far exceeded our expectations,” says Kimberly Gielen Gattle. “But we never had any doubts.” The venue drew Chubby Checker, Irma Thomas, Marcia Ball, the Golden Dragon Acrobats and a production of Phantom of the Opera, among others. Half the season’s 10 shows were sell-outs, Gattle says. A $4.5 million renovation project brought back the building’s use as a performance hall, its original purpose from 1901 to 1939. Gattle’s parents bought the building in 1999 and donated it to the community. With $1.5 in state funds, a $2 million line of credit and the balance in private donations, the project restored the 372-seat theater on the second floor, reconstructed a grand staircase and created a third-floor ballroom. A first-floor reception hall will follow shortly and proceeds from events will support the nonprofit established to administer the building and its programming. The first season winds down this month, with a new line-up starting in September. To read more about the Grand Opera House of the South in 10/12 magazine, click here. To visit the Grand Opera House of the South’s web site, click here. — Maggie Heyn Richardson