Bastrop Opera House nears next act

Campaign to boost arts programs with $2.8M expansion

BASTROP — The Bastrop Opera House recently launched a $2.8 million capital campaign to expand its facilities and grow youth education programs with the restoration of a long-vacant historic building next door.

The fundraising effort, known as the Next Act Campaign, will fund the first phase of renovations to an adjacent historic structure, nearly doubling the Opera House’s footprint on Spring Street downtown. The 136-year-old theater is about halfway to its goal, according to Executive Director Lisa Holcomb.

“We are out of space,” Holcomb said. “We don’t like having to turn children away, but so often that’s what we have to do because we just don’t have room.”

Holcomb described the neighboring property as “an empty shell” vacant for about a decade. The building is roughly 40 years older than the opera house and has previously served as a general store, feed store and taekwondo studio.

The project would increase and consolidate rehearsal space, offices and restrooms under one roof, improving operations by eliminating the need to rehearse at multiple locations around the city, according to Holcomb.

“We can just bring it all home,” she said. “This will give them a place that they can also call their own.”

Phase one includes renovating the first floor to add a small black box theater, classroom space, offices and meeting areas. A second phase would include additional renovations and work on the upstairs portion of the building.

“For us, it’s really about making sure that the next generation has some place to perform for theater arts,” Holcomb said. “We would love to see this become the Bastrop Historic Theater Arts District.”

The campaign received early support from the city, which has pledged $1 million through annual payments of about $100,000. Local banks and businesses have also contributed, and the campaign opened to the public in early November.

“It’s very much a community effort,” Holcomb said. “They see the value in the arts and in the opera house and what we do for Main Street.”

Holcomb described the Bastrop Opera House as both an arts hub and downtown economic driver. About 60% of visitors travel from outside the city to come and view their performances, according to Holcomb.

“They come downtown — they eat — they stay in a hotel or bed and breakfast,” she said.

Beyond theater productions, the expansion would allow the opera house to host additional community events and performances not currently possible due to space constraints, according to the director.

Construction is expected to be completed by mid-April and fundraising efforts continue.

Donations can be made through a campaign page at bastropoperahouse.org/ nextact.