Farmers love opera!
Tax deductible
Farmers love Opera!
In Friend, Nebraska, we exhibit every stereotype of small town living: you really can call a wrong number and still talk for a half an hour. It is possible that you will be hugged by the bank teller or the postman. The most violent things that ever happen there are drive-by shoutings and random midwestern bear hugs without warning.
The people of Friend share many passions such as pointing at the sky and making weather predictions and discussing passionately the price per bushel of corn. In addition, WE LOVE OPERA. Friend is home to the historic Warren Opera House which was built in the late 1800’s. It faithfully served Friend for thirty-four years, providing a stage for everything from plays to a circus. In the 1920’s, the Warren Opera House stopped being used and it sat dormant for many decades. In January 2005, a group of energetic citizens formed the Friend Historical Society as a 501 (c) 3 charitable organization whose primary goal is to restore our beautiful opera house to its former glory. Over the years, the committee has tirelessly raised money and volunteered thousands of hours to restore our gem hidden amid the corn fields. Because of their work, in May 2016 the Opera House hosted its first opera in almost 100 years. Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro was performed to a standing-room-only crowd and the delight of all. Our goal is for the complete restoration of our opera house and to have many more operas in the future.
To see pictures of construction completed thus far, click here.
To see scenes from our first opera, The Marriage of Figaro, click here.
For the complete story of the Warren Opera House, click here
In Friend, Nebraska, we exhibit every stereotype of small town living: you really can call a wrong number and still talk for a half an hour. It is possible that you will be hugged by the bank teller or the postman. The most violent things that ever happen there are drive-by shoutings and random midwestern bear hugs without warning.
The people of Friend share many passions such as pointing at the sky and making weather predictions and discussing passionately the price per bushel of corn. In addition, WE LOVE OPERA. Friend is home to the historic Warren Opera House which was built in the late 1800’s. It faithfully served Friend for thirty-four years, providing a stage for everything from plays to a circus. In the 1920’s, the Warren Opera House stopped being used and it sat dormant for many decades. In January 2005, a group of energetic citizens formed the Friend Historical Society as a 501 (c) 3 charitable organization whose primary goal is to restore our beautiful opera house to its former glory. Over the years, the committee has tirelessly raised money and volunteered thousands of hours to restore our gem hidden amid the corn fields. Because of their work, in May 2016 the Opera House hosted its first opera in almost 100 years. Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro was performed to a standing-room-only crowd and the delight of all. Our goal is for the complete restoration of our opera house and to have many more operas in the future.
To see pictures of construction completed thus far, click here.
To see scenes from our first opera, The Marriage of Figaro, click here.
For the complete story of the Warren Opera House, click here
Organizer
Rachel Taylor
Organizer
Friend, NE
Friend Historical Society
Registered nonprofit
Donations are typically 100% tax deductible in the US.
