The Grand Opera House

The Grand Opera House, located at 818 North Market Street in Wilmington, Delaware, is a historic and cultural landmark with a storied past that spans over 140 years. The Grand Opera House, affectionately known as "The Grand Lady of Market Street," was originally constructed in 1871 to serve as the home for the Grand Lodge of the Masons. The building, designed by Delaware architect Thomas Dixon in the Second Empire style, is noted for its distinctive cast iron façade featuring Masonic imagery. Throughout its history, The Grand has hosted a plethora of notable performers and events, including theatrical legend Ethel Barrymore, showman Buffalo Bill Cody, composer John Philip Sousa, and the Jubilee Singers of Fisk University. Its inaugural season boasted over seventy performances, ranging from serious dramas and minstrel shows to lectures and exhibitions, with ticket prices starting at one dollar for reserved seating. In 1909, The Grand briefly became a vaudeville house before transitioning into a movie theater. However, it struggled to compete with the newer and more opulent Aldine Theater next door, eventually being relegated to showing second-run horror films and Westerns. The Grand closed its doors in 1967 after falling into disrepair. The turning point for The Grand came when local citizens, recognizing its historical and cultural significance, rallied to save and restore the theater. On December 22, 1971, exactly one hundred years after its original opening, The Grand was celebrated once again as plans for its restoration were unveiled. The theater was meticulously renovated and rededicated on February 1, 1973, resuming its tradition of presenting world-class performing arts. The Grand's successful revival is often described as a "Cinderella story" and stands as one of Wilmington's most successful preservation efforts. The adjacent Aldine Theater, which had also experienced decline, was mostly demolished in 1992. The Grand expanded by acquiring the lots and in 2000 opened a companion theater, the baby grand, which features a 300-seat proscenium theater, offices, rehearsal rooms, and teaching spaces. Today, The Grand Opera House is a vibrant center for the arts, presenting over 80 shows each season, encompassing a wide range of genres including rock, comedy, classical music, dance, jazz, and family entertainment. It serves as the residence for the Delaware Symphony, Opera Delaware, and First State Ballet Theatre. Along with its resident companies and rentals, The Grand hosts more than 300 events annually, attracting over 120,000 visitors to downtown Wilmington. ==The Playhouse on Rodney Square== In 2015, The Grand took over operations of The Playhouse on Rodney Square, formerly known as the DuPont Theatre. This sister theater, with its own rich history, was the dream of DuPont executives who envisioned a venue capable of hosting New York shows and serving as a community space for events and meetings. The Playhouse, designed by Charles A. Rich and constructed in 1913, is celebrated as the oldest continuously operating theater in the United States. It has presented a century of Broadway entertainment and has seen performances by stars such as Fred Astaire, Helen Hayes, and Orson Welles. The Playhouse has undergone several renovations and management changes over the years, including a name change to the DuPont Theatre before reverting to The Playhouse on Rodney Square under The Grand's management. It continues to host the Broadway in Wilmington series and other entertainment events, maintaining its status as a premier venue for the performing arts. ==Support and Recognition== The Grand Opera House and The Playhouse on Rodney Square are supported by various means, including grants from the Delaware Division of the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. The Grand is a founding member of the Delaware Arts Alliance, a statewide arts advocacy organization. The venues are also supported by the community through donations, volunteer efforts, and a dedicated Board of Directors and Grand Trustees. ==Contact Information== For further information or to support The Grand Opera House and The Playhouse on Rodney Square, interested parties can contact the Grand Box Office at 302.652.5577 or the Playhouse Box Office at 302.888.0200 or 800.37.GRAND. The administrative offices are located at 818 North Market Street, Wilmington, DE 19801.