In 2009, the Vergennes Opera House will dedicate its programming season to celebrating the 400th anniversary of French explorer Samuel de Champlain’s arrival in the valley that now bears his name. The Opera House programs will explore how the arrival of Europeans to this region affected the Native people and landscape, leaving an indelible mark on the Champlain Valley’s cultural and natural history. From musical performances in a variety of genres to theatrical works addressing both the historical and contemporary culture of this region, the Celebrate Champlain Event Series will focus on the vast implications of this 400-year milestone.

Projects currently under consideration include a commissioned piece of classical music exploring the natural history, cultural heritage and geographic beauty of the region and a theatrical work exploring the history of the Tercentenary Celebrations. This play will address the character of L.O. Armstrong, the man responsible for producing the “Indian Pageant,” which was presented on a floating stage that travelled to lakeside communities in 1909.

Specific dates and performance details will be published as they become available.

The Opera House was built in 1897; by the early 1970’s the Opera House had fallen into a bad state of disrepair and was closed. It stayed in darkness for 24 years until a group of volunteers decided to raise money to save it. The group named themselves the Friends of the Vergennes Opera House and with a great deal of help from the community, successfully raised and invested more than $1.5 million in the building—a monumental effort for such a small community. The Opera House proudly reopened its doors in July, 1997, with a performance by the Vermont Symphony Orchestra. Today it serves the 2,500 residents of Vergennes and a population of over 20,000 people from the surrounding area. Once again a vibrant, cultural and community performing arts facility, the Vergennes Opera House presents a diverse range of high quality, accessible performances and educational programs for children and adults. It is indeed unique, and the concerted effort to restore the Opera House has served as a catalyst for the revitalization of the entire Vergennes community. The Friends of the Vergennes Opera House are proud to be one of a network of Vermont community organizations working diligently to revitalize and reenergize historic opera houses and similar facilities as centers of Vermont community life.