Hudson Opera House
Upper Hudson
Hudson Opera House
http://www.hudsonoperahouse.org/
327 Warren St.
Hudson, NY 12534
(518) 822-1438
Hours: The gallery hours are Monday-Friday 12:00pm to 5:00pm. During hours of operation, building tours, readings, and exhibitions are all given free of charge.
Note: Reservations are general seating and will only be held up until 5 minutes before any event. If your seat is not claimed by that time, the seats will be released to people on the waiting list.
Historical Description:
Built in 1855, Hudson Opera House was the first City Hall for Hudson, New York. In its early years it housed on its first floor the Franklin Library and the First National Bank of Hudson. This historic building held lectures by Susan B. Anthony on both slavery abolition and woman’s suffrage. Sanford Gifford and Frederic Church showed their paintings at the Hudson Opera House. The town hall got the “Opera House” surname after Paris built its Opera House, the Palais Garnier, and other towns around the United States started changing its town halls to Opera House. The building used to hold civic offices such as the Post Office and Police Station before city hall moved up the street in 1962. The second floor housed New York States’ oldest surviving theater, which was used for everything from lectures to theatrical and musical events. For thirty years it lay vacant until funds were raised and restoration of the building begin in 1996. Since then restoration has been on going with a total of 5 rooms restored and more are in the works.
The Site:
At the Opera House there are many programs and events to partake in. Performances such as Musicians and theater groups perform as well as poetry readings and teen theater projects. There are exhibitions of the local arts and workshops to promote the arts. Workshops include classes in drawing, painting, music, and dancing.
Directions:
Take the New York State Thruway, Exit 21 to Rte. 23. Cross the Rip Van Winkle Bridge. Take left on Rte. 9G. Follow 3 miles into the City of Hudson. Take right on Warren St. Hudson Opera House is on the right, 327 Warren Street.
