The Edythe C. and Stanley L. Harrison Opera House, also known as the Harrison Opera House, is the official home of the
Virginia Opera in the Neon District of
Downtown Norfolk on the border of the
Ghent Square neighborhood.
Built as a public works auditorium, this theatre served as a venue for
World War II USO
The United Service Organizations Inc. (USO) is an American nonprofit-charitable corporation that provides live entertainment, such as comedians, actors and musicians, social facilities, and other programs to members of the United States Armed F ...
shows. The theater was known previously as Norfolk Center Theater. The venue was renovated by architecture firm, GUND Partnership, reopening in 1993 as a dedicated opera facility with a 1,632 seating capacity. The building originally contained both the USO/Center Theater along with the adjoining former
Norfolk Municipal Auditorium, which now serves as storage and administrative space for the Virginia Opera.
The opera house is named after Stanley and
Edythe Harrison, a former member of the
Virginia House of Delegates
The Virginia House of Delegates is one of the two parts of the Virginia General Assembly, the other being the Senate of Virginia. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbe ...
and founding president of the Virginia Opera.
External links
City of Norfolk's ''Seven Venues'' official siteHarrison Opera House: Virginia Opera's official site
References
Opera houses in Virginia
Music venues in Virginia
Buildings and structures in Norfolk, Virginia
Culture of Norfolk, Virginia
Tourist attractions in Norfolk, Virginia
Theatres in Virginia
Downtown Norfolk, Virginia
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