Sterling Opera House

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Exterior of the Sterling Opera House in Derby, Connecticut.
Source:  Wikimedia Commons

Sterling Opera House

1 Elizabeth Street

Derby, CT

  

The Treasure:  A classic 19th century American opera house, the Sterling Opera House stands out for its stunning mix of architectural styles and excellent acoustics.

Accessibility:  The exterior is visible from Elizabeth Street; the interior is currently closed for renovation.

Background:  Opera houses in the United States rarely hosted actual operas. They were cultural and civic gathering places for their communities as well as major landmarks that a town could take pride in. When a celebrity came to town to speak or a traveling theatrical troupe arrived to perform, the opera house would serve as their platform. In Connecticut, few opera houses could boast of a more star-studded history than the Sterling Opera House in Derby.

Built in 1889, the Sterling Opera House remained in operation as a theater for 56 years then continued to be used for other purposes for an additional 20 years. H.E. Ficken designed the opera house, creatively employing a mix of architectural influences. Italian Victorian and Baroque imagery comprised the exterior while Germanic influences pervaded the interior, notably using composer Richard Wagner’s triangular seating arrangement that allows an unobstructed view of the stage for all guests. The Sterling Opera House’s design is truly a cultural melting pot of architecture.

Unrestored balcony in the Sterling Opera House.
Photo courtesy of the City of Derby.

The Sterling Opera House was designed for hosting live theater—with ten dressing rooms, a trapdoor on the stage floor, and an impressive pit for the orchestra—but like most American opera houses, it attracted all sorts of entertainment. Major names to grace the stage include famed composer and conductor John Philip Sousa; master magician Harry Houdini; theatrical legends Lionel, John and Ethel Barrymore; comedian Red Skelton; and even aviatrix Amelia Earhart who came in 1936 to address the local Women’s Club. And of course there were the performances of touring chestnuts such as Uncle Tom’s Cabin, once performed at the Sterling Opera House with heavyweight boxing champion John L. Sullivan as the villainous Simon Legree.

Notes from the Editor:  Derby is 100% committed to bringing the Sterling Opera House back. Serious renovations are taking place. Everything—from the cupola on the roof to the performance equipment inside—is being updated, replaced, or repaired as needed to make the building operational and a centerpiece for the city again. City leaders have embraced the rich history of the building and see the restored opera house as a key ingredient in shaping Derby’s future.

Artistic rendering by MOS, LLC of interior design proposal for the restored
Sterling Opera House.  Image courtesy of the City of Derby.

Artistic rendering by MOS, LLC of interior design proposal for the restored
Sterling Opera House.  Image courtesy of the City of Derby.

Artistic rendering by MOS, LLC of interior design proposal for the restored
Sterling Opera House.  Image courtesy of the City of Derby.

Other Recommended Sites:  While visiting Derby, why not stop by the Osborne Homestead Museum, located next to Osbornedale State Park? Built in the 1800s and remodeled in the 1920s, the impressive estate of Frances Osborne Kellog contains significant collections of antiques, art, and furnishings.

Save America's Treasure signage displayed on the facade of the
Sterling Opera House during the exterior restoration.
  Photo courtesy of the City of Derby.

Guest author for this entry:  Terry Price

Tour America's History Itinerary

Tuesday’s destination:  First Congregational Church of Litchfield

© 2012 Lee and Terry Price