Grand Opera House History - The Grand Today

The Grand Today: click here for photos

At its reopening in 1986, Grand Opera House was established as a rental hall and operated as a unit of the City of Oshkosh's Parks Department. The classification of The Grand as a rental hall prevented its management from promoting the theater or scheduling performances directly. The greatest problem for management was finding enough presenters who could afford to bring their performances to the opera house and successfully market their events.

In 1989 a proposal was offered by the Oshkosh Opera House Foundation to change the Grand Opera House from a rental hall to a combination presenting/rental hall, like most other theaters in the United States. Despite some opposition, the plan was accepted and the Oshkosh Opera House Foundation took over the management of The Grand, leasing the building from the City in November of 1989.

Under the management of the Oshkosh Opera House Foundation, The Grand has grown steadily. Each year since 1996, its performance series has been ranked within the top five in Wisconsin by the Wisconsin Arts Board. The current seating capacity of 668 re-creates the warm, intimate atmosphere of a European-style theater while showcasing some of the best national and international talent touring today. With more than 150 activities held at The Grand each year, including local theater productions and an extensive children's series, the theater's impact is felt not only in Oshkosh, but also in surrounding communities.

To those with an appreciation of the arts, history and culture, the value of the Grand Opera House is far beyond estimation.