STONINGTON OPERA HOUSE

Stonington Opera House is a historic 250-seat theater located at the corner of Main and School Streets in the center of Stonington, on Deer Isle. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is operated by Opera House Arts, a nonprofit arts organization. The venue hosts theater, film screenings, music, and community events.

Programming includes professional theater productions, film screenings, open mic nights, trivia nights, and community events. Opera House Arts offers 50% off tickets for anyone 17 and under and free admission for Hancock County students in grades K-12. The intimate space provides a close connection between performers and audience.

The theater was built in 1912 on the site of the earlier Russ Music Hall, which was destroyed by fire in 1910. The original hall had 1,000 seats, but the rebuilt structure was significantly smaller. The building served diverse purposes over the decades including town meetings, basketball games, and film screenings starting around 1918. After a period of decline, it was reopened by Opera House Arts in 2000.