Built in 1886 after fire destroyed its predecessor and opened on July 19, 1887, the Lexington Opera House at 401 West Short Street is a National Register-listed theatre designed by architect Oscar Cobb. The ornate venue originally seated 1,250 across two balconies with boxes on each side of the stage, featuring seats upholstered in Turkish Morocco and velvet, each equipped with its own hat rack. After decades of decline as a movie house, the venue was saved from demolition and purchased by the city in 1976 for a full restoration. The restored theatre now seats approximately 1,000 and is one of only 14 theatres in the country built before 1900 with fewer than 1,000 seats still operating as a live performance venue. Legendary performers including Al Jolson, W.C. Fields, the Marx Brothers, Harry Houdini, Will Rogers, and Mae West graced its stage in the early decades. Today the Lexington Opera House is owned and operated by the Lexington Center Corporation as part of Central Bank Center, which also manages Rupp Arena and the convention centre. The theatre hosts the Broadway Live touring series, ballet, opera, comedy, and family shows, welcoming 85,000 patrons annually. A modern L-Acoustics sound system was installed to complement the intimate 19th-century atmosphere. It remains one of the smallest theatres in the nation to host official touring Broadway productions. The building consists of a 3,360-square-foot auditorium and a 2,220-square-foot stage area, originally featuring two balconies with two boxes on each side. The unique 19th-century atmosphere creates a one-of-a-kind experience that modern venues cannot replicate. More recent performers to play the Opera House include Bryan Adams, Jodi Messina, Steve Martin, Brian Wilson, and Graham Nash. As part of the Lexington Center Corporation, the Opera House sits alongside the 23,000-seat Rupp Arena, the 130,000-square-foot Lexington Convention Centre, and Triangle Park.

Type: Theater / Concert Hall

Address: 401 West Short Street, Lexington, KY, United States

Website: https://www.lexingtonoperahouse.com

Capacity: 1000

Opening Date: 19/07/1887