The Edythe C. and Stanley L. Harrison Opera House, also known as the Harrison Opera House, is the official home of the

Virginia Opera Virginia Opera is an opera company based in the Commonwealth of Virginia which was first organized in 1974 by a group of Norfolk, Virginia community volunteers. In September 1974, Thomas A. Lipton was engaged to produce a fully professional pro ...

in the Neon District of Downtown Norfolk on the border of the Ghent Square neighborhood. Built as a public works auditorium, this theatre served as a venue for

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

USO The United Service Organizations Inc. (USO) is an American nonprofit-charitable corporation that provides live entertainment, such as comedians, actors and musicians, social facilities, and other programs to members of the United States Armed F ...

shows. The theater was known previously as Norfolk Center Theater. The venue was renovated by architecture firm, GUND Partnership, reopening in 1993 as a dedicated opera facility with a 1,632 seating capacity. The building originally contained both the USO/Center Theater along with the adjoining former Norfolk Municipal Auditorium, which now serves as storage and administrative space for the Virginia Opera. The opera house is named after Stanley and Edythe Harrison, a former member of the

Virginia House of Delegates The Virginia House of Delegates is one of the two houses of the Virginia General Assembly, the other being the Senate of Virginia. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbe ...

and founding president of the Virginia Opera.

References

External links

City of Norfolk's ''Seven Venues'' official site

Harrison Opera House: Virginia Opera's official site
Opera houses in Virginia Music venues in Virginia Buildings and structures in Norfolk, Virginia Culture of Norfolk, Virginia Tourist attractions in Norfolk, Virginia Theatres in Virginia Downtown Norfolk, Virginia 1943 establishments in Virginia Event venues established in 1943 Theatres completed in 1943 {{Opera-struct-stub