ABOVE: A view of the stage— and all of the scaffolding— from the Fairmont Opera House balcony.

FAIRMONT– The Fairmont Opera House (FOH) will provide guided tours to the community on Friday and Saturday, the 26th and 27th of this month. By attending said guided tours, guests will examine the haunting condition of the theater, from the scaffolding and the construction where audiences once sat for entertainment. This includes the lobby, balcony, the footlight lounge, the theater, stage and more.

The Opera House has been closed to the public since October 2023 and will remain closed at least through the end of 2024 as repairs are being made to its roof. Currently several large trusses are holding up the roof while plans for fundraising are being made in order to generate the large amount of money needed to make the repairs and reopen the facility.

The Fairmont Opera House is the oldest operating theater in Minnesota, having been built in 1901 and standing as one of the most significant pieces of history in the county. The historical building shares not only entertainment, but delivers education, cultural experiences and a home.

Blake Potthoff is the executive director of the Fairmont Opera House, a position he’s held since 2016.

“I’ve seen the facility for eight months. It’s still a bit surreal. For others, pictures don’t do justice. You need to feel the weight of it,” Potthoff said. “Also to understand what it’s like to be back in the facility and hope for the future.”

Potthoff mentioned how difficult it is, especially as director (and someone who has grown up in the community), and for the board and staff, to find such a remarkable piece of Fairmont in this state of construction. Potthoff added that although it’d be a tedious task, he was hopeful to have the Opera House return to its former glory.

“It’s hard to stand on stage, and think that such a short period of time ago, we were performing here on stage. This is really difficult and it weighs on everyone. This is a facility that so many people love, and they’re going to feel differently.”

Potthoff reminisced about the memories people have made at the Opera House, from summer theater, to other performing arts and events that made the building thrive.

The tours have been conducted to expand the message and call for help. The longer it takes for construction to finish, the more expensive it becomes. Potthoff noted how urgent the project is in order to open doors again.

“The tour is a way to expand a network of people, and we’ll hopefully find more people to commit to the project and donate. More names in the pool will make the project easier,” Potthoff said.

The Fairmont Opera House has spread inclusivity, participating with the community and aligning common interests. Potthoff hopes to provoke value of the building towards potential donors and those helping the cause. He asks, ‘What do you care about?’ whether it’s children, grandchildren, musicians, friends, family, learning or growing, the Opera House engages and revolves around the community and what the people want.

“We’re so much more than just a performing space. Our doors are open to everybody, and anybody at any time. The building is for the community, and exists because of the community. It’s a home, it’s a welcoming place for everybody, it’s a reflection of Fairmont, too,” Potthoff commented.

It is recommended by the staff of the Fairmont Opera House that guests sign-up for a tour date prior to the event. Due to the amount of construction, tour attendees are recommended to be aged 18 or older. Beyond the guided tours, the building is currently closed for construction, and cannot continue the agenda of entertainment in their theater until the duration of construction is concluded and all repairs are made. Members of the Fairmont community are strongly encouraged to donate to preserve the Opera House, its mission and keep doors open.