Willa Cather Foundation


	C A T H E R F O U N D A T I O N Enter the 1880's in Historic Red Cloud, Nebraska... Willa Cather's Window to the World

Red Cloud Opera House

Built in 1885, the Red Cloud Opera House figured prominently in the life of author Willa Cather, who grew up in Red Cloud.

In Cather's day, performers signed the backstage wall - a tradition that continues today. Cather delivered her high school graduation address from the Opera House stage in 1890.

The newly renovated Opera House Auditorium transports visitors back in time to set the mood, scene, and tone of the 1880s, when Cather and her friends eagerly anticipated the arrival of traveling productions such as The Bohemian Girl and The Mikado. As Cather herself put it "Only real people speaking the lines can give us that feeling of living along with them, of participating in their existence."

A full schedule of performances once again animates the Opera House Auditorium, and a new generation of visitors to the Opera House can appreciate "real people speaking the lines".

The Opera House auditorium, gallery, meeting room and kitchenette may be reserved for performances, meetings, weddings, receptions, and other private functions. The fee schedule is available here. Reservations must be made with the Cather Foundation.

Contributions to the Opera House Endowment Fund will be used to support educational and cultural programming by the Cather Foundation.


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