He led volunteers in cleaning and repairing the building, installing the seats and painting the theater's interior. Under Miller's leadership the old opera house received a donation of 985 seats from Cincinnati's Music Hall removed a drop ceiling exposing a second balcony and got state funding for installation of air-conditioning and heating, and making electrical improvements, Riva says. "We want to thank Chuck for his seven years of dedicated service which involves many significant accomplishments including renovating and reopening Middletown's historic theater," says Chris Riva, a SORG board member and former WCPO-TV morning anchor. Thomas the Claudettes "girl singers" Nancy James, Lynne Scott and Pam Mallory with the RL Big Band Ann Hampton Callaway performing Linda Ronstadt songs Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials Dayton Jazz Orchestra Fenwick High School's production of "Beauty and the Beast" and the "Chicago Plays the Stones" blues performance by Ronnie Baker Brooks and Billy Branch. This short audio tour will give you a glimpse of this noble theaters rich past and potential for the future. I had the opportunity to visit and see inside the Sorg at a street festival for it. The historic Sorg Opera House is in the midst of a volunteer-driven rebirth after years of neglect. Since 2017, the SORG has hosted an eclectic mix of concerts by the Blue Wisp Big Band Cincinnati Transit Authority (Chicago tribute band) Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers (bluegrass) the Cincinnati Contemporary Jazz Orchestra John Kay from Steppenwolf the Bach Ensemble of St. 1 review of Sorg Opera House The Sorg is currently under renovation. They were successful, and ran the theater until 2010, when a water main break forced the opera house to close again. In 2012, the Sorg Opera Revitalization Group (SORG) formed to buy and reopen the building.The drop ceiling installed for use as a movie theater was removed to expose the second balcony. Soon after, the Friends of the Sorg group was formed to reopen it as a live performance venue. The Sorg remained a movie theater until it closed in the late 1970s.
The Sorg closed again for a remodel in the late 1940s and a false ceiling was added, separating the upper balcony from the the rest of the theater to improve the sound. It offers excellent sight-lines and accoustics. It reopened in September 1935 with films and stage shows. Opened on Septemwith the opera The Little Tycoon, the Sorg Opera House is one of the oldest surviving performing arts theatres in the state and country. In January 1935, a fire caused $10,000 worth of damage- which would have been $185,298 today- which caused The Sorg to close for several months. Its period fixtures, superior acoustics, and excellent sight lines attracted renowned artists from around the country. The Sorg was hailed as a regional jewel in downtown Middletown.
Photo Credit : George Crout Collection, Middletown Library Lens
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