Sumter Opera House to close for $15M renovation after June 13 event

SUMTER COUNTY, S.C. — A pillar of Sumter’s cultural and civic life for more than a century, the historic Sumter Opera House is set to close next month for extensive renovations.

Built in 1895, the opera house has served many roles. It started as a movie theater in the early 1800s and later became home to City Hall, council chambers, and a 550-seat performance venue. Now, it is preparing to enter a new chapter.

“It’s been standing a lot of time, and it’s meant a lot of things to a lot of different people,” said Seth Reimer, cultural manager at the Opera House.

The building underwent its last major renovation in 1986. Reimer credits former Mayor Joe McElveen and other community members for preserving the structure through an initiative that started in 1984.

“So it started in 1984 and that really saved the building. Former Mayor Joe McElveen was intrigued as well as a couple of other community members and council members were part of saving Sumter Opera House and purchasing a bond that brought it [to] what it is today,” Reimer said.

The opera house has weathered not just decades, but literal storms.

“There was a hurricane called Hurricane Hugo, many of the state of South Carolina remember that, and we had to make some adjustments to save the building,” Reimer said. “I’ve always loved it; it’s a beautiful, historic building.”

For Sumter residents like Torrie Chapman, the Opera House represents resilience and opportunity. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she said it was one of the few venues still offering space for performances.

“Whenever COVID happened, they were the only theatre that would allow us to have our concerts; limited number of seats and peoplebut they were the only ones to open the doors for us to continue to dance, so they were really special in that way,” Chapman said.

Renovations will focus on the interior and could last up to two years. Planned upgrades include new seating, modifications to the balcony, a second-floor reception space, and elevators overlooking downtown Main Street.

“We’ll have new chairs, a lot of the interior will be changed, we’ll make some adjustments to the balcony, the shape and form of the balcony, also a balcony reception space—so a lobby, elevators to the second floor and it will overlook downtown main,” Reimer said.

The $15 million project will also renovate the downstairs dressing rooms, expand the lobby and office space, and add a new loading dock.

“We’re eager to welcome the community into all the new spaces we have at the opera house,” Reimer said.

Before the doors close for construction, the community will have one last chance to celebrate. A grand closing bash, featuring live performances and a New Orleans-style festival in downtown Sumter, is scheduled for Friday, June 13.