Rochester Opera House, NH, An Elegant Venue

It’s summer time and that means road trips! This year I was able to travel up to the New England area and visit two theater locations. The first one is the Rochester Opera House, located in Rochester, New Hampshire.

I was fortunate to be riding with a friend who lives in Maine who very kindly offered to have me stay at her home in Eliot, Maine. She knows the back ways to get up to the theater and it was a good thing she did because the highways were packed with travelers coming up on vacation. Since she knows the area, she navigated while I drove. However, when we arrived in town, I began to doubt her very fine directions when she instructed me to pull in the driveway at the Rochester Municipal Hall. I asked her why we were going here. Would it not be better to drive by the venue first and then park? She said, this is the venue.

The Venue Entrance is Unique

As we went around to the very spacious parking area in the back, I stopped questioning her because I saw the Rochester Opera House sign on the back of the building. And the parking was free and available, everything a person from North Jersey likes to see!

So we got our great, free parking spot and walked to the entrance way. It felt unusual to be going into a municipal building for something other than paying taxes or getting a permit. But as we approached the entrance door, the flurry of activity inside signaled that we were in the right area.

We were greeted warmly by the staff and volunteers who were working the desk and also helping people find their way. You cannot beat that New England friendliness. For people like me, it counts for a lot! We climbed up some beautifully fixed staircases that led us to the entrance door of the theater. As we entered, we felt like we had taken a step back in time to when elegance in the theater was the norm. The woodwork and the richness of the colors gave a gracious air to the venue. Our seats were on the side and were different than the center seating next to us. Some repair work was evidently in progress. But the spacing between rows gave a nice, adequate amount of legroom very important for us taller ladies.

Looking up to the balcony, I noted that it was not in use for this show. I later found out that the balcony will be redone as a project is being planned for that purpose.

To the left of the stage, more in the seating area, there was a bar serving a variety of beverages. It was convenient but located far enough away from both the stage and the seating that it was not a problem.

The stage is a generous size with impressive lighting and sound equipment. There are stairs that come down from the stage to the audience which are well set for easy access and use.

That Distinct Mechanized Floor

George Gilman Adams designed the Rochester City Hall. It included an auditorium which featured a horseshoe shaped balcony, grand proscenium, Victorian details, intricate stenciling, beautiful murals, and near perfect acoustics.  Adams also included a patented unique movable floor design.  The floor could be raised to slope for amphitheater seating or be lowered to be flat for dances. Today, this is the only remaining theater in the world with a unique mechanism that raises the orchestra floor at an incline for amphitheater seating and levels the floor for dancing.

In September, 1908, the first dramatic production held in the auditorium was a play, “Miss Petticoats,” presented by a professional touring company. That was the start of a long history of shows and events to grace the venue. To read a very impressive write-up detailing the history of the Rochester Opera House go to their website.

Why We Went to Rochester Opera House

Our reason for going to the Rochester Opera House was to see a musical band called Foreigner’s Journey. One of our favorite singers, Constantine Maroulis, has recently become the front man for this group.

The band hails from Boston roots. It covers hit songs from the two groups in their name, Foreigner and Journey. In addition to Constantine Maroulis on vocals, there is Paul Kochanski (Keyboards and Vocals), Kevin Herrera (Guitar and Vocals), Joe Pettengill (Bass, Keys, and Vocals), and Art Mambuca (Drums).

Those “near perfect acoustics” carried the music to the audience for full enjoyment. In a word, it was a fantastic show. Foreigner’s Journey’s sound is big, rich, and filled with music that warms the soul. The audience responded by singing along and with many getting up and dancing. Hits like “Juke Box Hero,” “Cold as Ice,” “Oh Sherry,” and “Don’t Stop Believing” are but a few of what was included in the 2.5 hour show.

The show reminded me once again how wonderful live music can be. It was one very enjoyable evening at a most delightful venue with good friends and some new ones too.

For more information about Foreigner’s Journey, visit their website