SORG hosted an open house Sunday, one day after more than 200 people toured the opera house during a downtown craft beer event, she said.
These types of events are important to show supporters of the opera house the progress being made during extensive renovations, Brodsky said. She estimated the cost of renovating the theater at more than $2.5 million, and the entire 52,000-square-foot complex, including the attached commercial building, at $8 million.
The group recently received a donation of used seats from the Cincinnati Music Hall, and those seats in the first balcony are selling well, Brodsky said. She said the seats are $200 and allow patrons a two-year right-of-refusal, special promotions and reduced ticket prices.
Eventually, she said, the seats will be installed on the main floor. Brodsky estimated that once all the seats are available, including the wooden benches, and the projection booth is torn down, capacity may reach 1,500.
It may still be some time before those seats are filled at 63 S. Main St., she said.
SORG’s Ken Bowman said the group can’t have a seated audience until temporary code work is approved. He said volunteers need to install new fire escape doors, rebuild the sprinkler system, repair the emergency lights and HVAC for the theater and restore the bathrooms.
He estimated that cost at $200,000 to get into compliance.
Brodsky said through gifts, grants and donations, SORG has generated $540,000, about 25 percent of what is needed.
Once the necessary repairs are complete, the Sorg will be allowed to host benefit concerts, and Brodsky expects that exposure to pump life into the fundraising efforts.
Another SORG member, Chuck Miller, said every time he steps into the Sorg, he and other volunteers try to fix something.
“It’s frustrating trying to do this and balancing your life,” he said. “That’s a lot to ask from volunteers.”
Next up, he said, was repainting the main floor and installing the seats.
Maria Lee, of Mason, works in the Butler County Engineer’s Office and heard about Sunday’s open house. She was intrigued.
“It’s really neat,” she said while her 16-year-old son took photos with his phone. “I can’t wait to see it when it’s finished.”
It was Lee’s first time in the Sorg.
For Brodsky, volunteering at the Sorg never gets tiring.
“Every time I come here I see an audience,” she said while standing on stage. “We have so much vision. Creating such a vibrant Middletown. When people leave here they will be excited to see what else Middletown has to offer. We truly believe this will be an economic driver and something that the whole city will be proud of.”
She said the Sorg is the only theater with this “character” between Cincinnati and Dayton.
“People come to places like this just for the experience,” she said.
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