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About Us
The Driver Vision
The Driver Opera House Restoration, Inc was created to restore, secure and preserve the long-term financial viability of the Driver Opera House Center for the Arts, to educate the community of Southwest Wisconsin and beyond as to its cultural and historical value, and to provide a functional community arts performance center.
We have worked to restore a building that is treasured in the community as a space for local theatrical groups to stage live performances as well as a venue for community events and activities such as dance lessons, music performances, storytelling, art exhibits, creative workshops and other public gatherings.
Imagine a place...where everyone, regardless of age, income status, or family background, feels comfortable. It is the community's family room. It's a place that connects the community's history with its present, where voices from the past speak to us. Elders love to be there to relive memories of touring groups and dances in their youth, mesmerized by the restoration of a beautiful space they knew so well. It's a place where eyes of the young dancers sparkle with excitement as they look out on their families in the audience during their first recital. It is an incubator of creative talent, a place where young people can gather to explore their inner spaces without fear of failure, a place to create where the sky's the limit. It is a space where our increasingly diverse community enjoys learning about and celebrating one another together.
History
For its first 75 year the Driver Opera House served as this cultural center of Darlington.
Built in 1883 by Josephus Driver, the patriarch of a prominent Darlington family, the flat floor Opera House is on the second floor of a two-story building constructed of Milwaukee cream city brick. The first floor was used then, as it is now, as downtown retail space. After hosting traveling theater groups for much of its early history, the Opera House held its last dance, sponsored by the American Legion, on St. Patrick's Day in 1951. Until 2019. Since then, the Opera House has been restored to its historic design with the addition of today's amenities.
To put this project into historical perspective, the Driver Opera House is 3 years older than the Statue of Liberty.
The restoration started when a diverse group of interested citizens representing interest from arts and history, the financial community, local entrepreneurs and individuals who simply care about the historical and cultural life of rural southwest Wisconsin came together to form the Driver Opera House Restoration, Inc.
The goal of The Driver Opera House Restoration Project was to restore the physical structure to its original beauty and value to the community. The first floor to be flood proofed to allow the safe use of the building for retail in the busy Darlington downtown, the second story to be returned to public space used for musical and theatrical performances, innovative programming for the arts as well as other community and private events.
The Restoration
The restoration was divided into several phases.
Phase One consisted of acquiring the building, flood proofing the structure and building out the tenant spaces on the first floor. The total cost of Phase One was approximately $1.8M, completed in 2019.
This phase included such unique construction work such as holding up the front of the building while the foundation was rebuilt and pouring a thirty-inch-thick floor to meet flood prevention requirements as well as flood proofing the entire first floor. This work was completed under the supervision of Daniels Construction Co. Without them there would be no Driver Opera House.
The City of Darlington applied for and received a grant for $542,000 from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to be used for the flood proofing of the structure. The Driver Opera House organization was responsible for raising the balance of the required funds.
Phase Two consisted of restoring the second-floor auditorium, stage and installing a professional quality sound and light system. The cost of Phase Two was $1.2M, completed in 2024.
Additional work continues to maintain the exterior and to extend the driver into the adjacent building to include a functional bar and catering kitchen.
The Driver Today
Today, the primary restoration has been completed. The first floor encompasses multiple tenants and retail shops while the second floor is a fully functional theatre/event destination center.
In addition to the tenants and the retail shops, the Driver Opera House maintains a small attached hotel called The Driver Hotel which can be accessed via Facebook.
The auditorium restoration included all finishes restored to the original look and feel with modern amenities including elevator, handicapped bathrooms, air conditioning, electrical lighting and a modern stage with professional level sound and lighting equipment.
The Driver is an economic generator in the community and the region as residents of Southwest Wisconsin find themselves drawn to the ever-increasing cultural activities unique in the area. Since its restoration, the Driver has been hosted to local talent showcases, traveling arts and humanities shows, theatrical and musical touring companies and many local community events. Located next to the ATV trails, the Driver provides family entertainment for the many guests visiting the area.
The Driver Opera House also provides a local venue for residents to rent for family reunions, class reunions, graduation parties, meetings and other social events.
The Driver is owned, managed and staffed by volunteers. This community involvement is what has made the restored Driver possible.
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Retail to Hotel
A key part of the financial viability of the Driver Opera House is its ongoing retail and hotel operations. The first floor provides space for multiple tenants, while the hotel provides additional income to help cover the operating costs.
Board of Directors
The Driver Opera House is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization located in Darlington, WI and is governed and managed by a Board of Directors.
The Dream Makers
The Driver would not have made it this far if it wasn't for the original Board of Directors who had the vision and the drive to see the Driver through its completion.
The founding board includes:
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Kerry Black
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Bruce Geissbuhler
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Leona Havens
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Laura Jenkins
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Stan Krahenbuhl
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Steve Malone
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Steve Winslow
The Current Board Of Directors
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Joe Keyes - President
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Leona Havens - Vice President
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Steve Winslow - Treasurer
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Zach McGranahan - Secretary to the Board
Additional Board Members:
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Candi Fitzsimons
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Jim Jacobson
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Jeff Kluesner
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Margaret Ruf
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Brandi Ruf Wepking
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Kayla Ruf
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Amber Welp
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Branden Zywicki
Community Theatres
Southwest Wisconsin has seen a resurgence of community Theatres. Darlington is one of the areas fully restored theaters, providing multiple entertainment options for residents and visitors. Among the other area theatres are:
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Mineral Point Opera House, Mineral Point, WI (15 miles)
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Monroe Theatre Guild, Monroe, WI (25 miles)
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Galena Center for the Arts, Galena, IL (30 miles)
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Two Crows Theatre Company, Spring Green, WI (45 miles)
News & Updates
Check out our YouTube video highlighting the past, present, and future of the Driver Opera House!