A Living Landmark Since 1896
When you step into the Woodland Opera House, you're walking the same floors that welcomed John Philip Sousa, George M. Cohan's troupe, and legendary boxers "Gentleman Jim" Corbett and John L. Sullivan. Built in 1885, destroyed in the 1892 fire that leveled downtown Woodland, and rebuilt on its original foundations in 1896, this Victorian-era theatre hosted over 300 touring companies before falling silent in 1913.
For nearly six decades, the Opera House stood boarded up—until the Yolo County Historical Society rescued it from demolition in 1971. After a painstaking seven-year restoration, California State Historic Landmark #851 reopened in 1989, and live theatre has filled its seats ever since.
Thriving Against the Odds
Here's what makes our story remarkable: while theatres across California and the nation have gone dark in the aftermath of the pandemic, the Woodland Opera House continues to shine. Last season, we achieved our highest ticket revenue in history. Audiences rated our productions 9 out of 10. Two-thirds of patrons say our artistic quality keeps improving.
Though the State of California owns our historic building, we receive no ongoing government support. Our survival depends entirely on ticket sales, tuition, and generous donors like you. Every season, this community proves that live theatre matters.
Two Stages of Our Story
World-Class Productions: We mount five to seven mainstage productions annually, performed entirely by volunteer actors and crew—some traveling 70 miles to be part of our company. Recent hits like Legally Blonde, Amélie, and Hadestown: Teen Edition exceeded revenue goals by 20-45%, proving that exceptional community theatre rivals anything in the region.
Transforming Young Lives: Our education programs serve nearly 400 students annually through dance, theatre, and musical theatre training. Our Junior Theatre Festival troupe earns national recognition. ShowBiz Kidz brings 100 young performers to our stage each summer. For many children, we're where they discover their voice, their confidence, their community.
A Curtain Call for Downtown
Theatre isn't just culture—it's commerce. Our audiences spend an estimated $300,000 annually at downtown Woodland restaurants and shops before and after performances. We employ 45 staff members and 44 contractors, engage 500 volunteers, and donate hundreds of tickets yearly to organizations like VetTix, Yolo Food Bank, and local schools.
Why Your Gift Matters
Operating a 130-year-old landmark requires constant care. Every donated dollar directly supports the artists, educators, and programs that make this historic stage come alive. Your Big Day of Giving contribution helps us:
The Woodland Opera House has survived fire, decades of silence, a pandemic, and an arts funding crisis. We're still here because people like you believe that live theatre—performed by your neighbors, in a building your great-grandparents might have visited—matters.
Join us in writing the next chapter.
The Woodland Opera House has enjoyed continued success in its mission to preserve and operate this historical, community treasure for the benefit of the area and to nurture performing arts. Our Theatre for Families and Education Program is dedicated to providing young people, their families, and the community with a quality performing arts experience that encourages young performers to develop confidence, creativity, and cooperation.
Current Needs include:
$25,000 A new truck to transport production materials from our shop/rehearsal facility.
$20,000 for upgrades to our educational facility to create more collaborative and flexible learning spaces including ADA access, sprung floors, HVAC, and other updated fixtures.
$15,000 Building repairs for our rehearsal facility.
$10,000 for our scholarship/artist access funds.
$5,000 for our low cost/free educational outreach opportunities.
Permanent Endowment Fund Gifts: Gifts of cash, stock, memorials, and bequests to our Endowment Fund provide funds for maintenance and preservation of our historic facility.
The Mission Of Woodland Opera House, Inc.
To Preserve And Operate The Historic Woodland Opera House, A California State Treasure, For The Benefit Of The Region And To Nurture Performing Arts.
The Woodland Opera House does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, expression of gender, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provisions of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, volunteers, contractors, vendors, and patrons.
Organization name
Woodland Opera House Inc
1989
Mission Category
Arts, Culture & Humanities
Operating Budget
$1,000,001-$5 million
Organization Need
Funding: Program, Funding: Unrestricted, Volunteers
Demographics Served
General population
Local Counties Served
Yolo, Sacramento
Equity Statement
Equity Statement
Address
340 Second StreetSacramento, CA, US
Yolo, CA, US
Solano, CA, US
Sacramento, CA, US
West Sacramento, CA, US