BRISTOL — The Bristol Opera House has been home to the Elkhart Civic Theatre group for the past 60 years. It was originally built back in 1897.

The community theater group is in the process of giving it a major renovation to improve the theatre-going experience.

For years actors, as well as audience members, have traveled to Bristol from around Northern Indiana and Southwest Michigan.

The opera house is up for a major renovation project to help improve the theatre going

experience. Right now, lobby space is limited.

“We are trying to open our lobby space so it flows better and is easier for our audiences when they come to see a show, so that they are not as bottle-necked as what happens often in our front lobby,” said John Shoup.

They also want to renovate the men’s restroom and make it ADA compliant.

“The men’s restroom is limited especially for people who might be in wheelchairs,” said Shoup.

Officials also want to put in new concession and box office space.

“There will be a new front entrance to the opera house,” said Shoup.

All the work is aimed at freeing up space and reducing congestion for theatre goer’s.

The total cost for the project is $110,000.

“The Elkhart County Foundation has given us a matching grant and so we are in the process of trying to raise money to meet that match,” said Shoup.

Right now, the theatre group has raised about half of the money it needs to qualify for the matching grant.

The bottom line he says with the project, is to give theater goer’s an experience they will remember, the best setting possible, one that they will enjoy.

“We want to make sure that the community feels welcome and at home when they get here,” said Shoup.

The last major renovation project at the Bristol Opera House took place in 1960.

Source: WSBT