Dear Friend,

We’ve been through a lot together.  In one way or another, I have been working the program for 20 years.  Sure, I took a break in the middle to raise three feral boys, learn a few new trades, and work on my songwriting and music — but somewhere in the early 2000s, the Opera House took hold of my heart and simply wouldn’t let go.  I also know I am not alone, many have come through those doors before and after me.

I’ve been working on the big picture with SOHFA most recently. I’ve seen how things have changed, and how we’ve had to not just maintain, but adjust. The music business shifts all the time and these days we have to compete with huge corporations that are doing their best to wipe out independent venues. Things are way more expensive.  There are needed projects that not only maintain and preserve the building, but also enhance the space to make the experience better.  I’m always asking myself; where are the people that are seeking out great live music getting their information, how do we reach bigger and more diverse audiences, how can we serve the local business community, how can we accommodate our patrons better, and more than anything - how can we support our supporters, because they are what ultimately makes the Opera House so special. 

Money doesn’t fall out of the sky to maintain our wonderful space, but paint chips do. Oh yeah, the ceiling is peeling. Fantastic. (We’ll tell you more about that soon) Anyway, as you can imagine, there’s a lot of upkeep that goes into a 125-year-old Opera House. Nevertheless, every day we do our best to make people feel safe, welcomed, and know that when they walk in the door, they belong. That when they give, it matters. Their presence matters. Their ideas matter. Their experience matters.
From the musicians coming in after a long drive, to the staff who put their hearts into every single show—whether it’s 50 people in attendance or 450. From every tour, phone call, and email, to the loyal volunteers who greet strangers like old friends—it’s the people who make this place feel like home.

On February 22, 2026 - it will be 125 years since the first performance took place on the Opera House stage.  In building the Opera House, the City of Stoughton created a space where the community could gather to share ideas and experiences.  Sure, maybe they wanted to show off a little to the surrounding towns, but really Stoughton was saying: It is time. Time to gather. Time to create. Time to be a community.
For many years following opening night it was THE place to be. And then, as time passed, things fell into disrepair—economics shifted, culture shifted, and pigeons moved into the balcony (yes, seriously). Extensive water damage threatened to close the Opera House in the 1980s, but the community rallied and took it upon themselves to say once again, it is time.
18 years had passed, but in 2001 the theater reopened, ready for another 100 years!

Since then we’ve kept at it with better coordination, greater support, and so much learning and adjusting along the way. Which brings me to today.  It is time once again.  Time to keep the Opera House going and growing for the year to come – and, who knows, for another 125 years!
If you give now, whether you’re new to us or if you’ve been here all along, you will join a long line of folks who’ve offered support when it mattered most. Thank you for being part of the Opera House story.

We couldn’t do it without you.

Christina Dollhausen
Stoughton Opera House Lover
SOHFA Development Coordinator