MyNorth News Service

(Press Release provided by City Opera House)

TRAVERSE CITY: City Opera House and Todd McMillen welcome the community to tour the new Bryan Crough Dressing Rooms on Tuesday, May 5 from 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM at City Opera House, 106 E. Front Street, downtown Traverse City. City Opera House extends deep appreciation to the community for their support.

One might be surprised to learn there were no modern dressing rooms backstage, simply a small L-shaped green room with a sink. The new Bryan Crough Dressing Rooms consist of two large dressing rooms. The original project planned for 10 stations and City Opera House was able to maximize the space to accommodate 13 stations. The first dressing room offers seven (7) stations and the second dressing room hosts six (6). Plus, each dressing room includes a shower, water closet, and double sinks. The Bryan Crough Dressing Rooms are another positive step toward the renovation and transformation of this community gem, opened in 1892.

The Bryan Crough Dressing Rooms offer renters and presenters a much better experience backstage which translates directly to patrons and community users. City Opera House can now accommodate larger student and community groups. Frequent users of the space such as the Traverse City Film Festival, Writer’s Series of Traverse City, Swing Shift with the Stars, schools and community groups, will also greatly benefit.

In addition, City Opera House will now be able to present Actors Equity Association (U.S. labor union that represents more than 50,000 Actors and Stage Managers) performances and touring companies which contractually require separate male and female dressing rooms. The Bryan Crough Dressing Rooms will allow City Opera House to bring higher quality artists and touring shows to Traverse City. The first Actors Equity show is ERNIE by Mitch Albom which kicks off the Auto-Owners Insurance Performing Arts Series August 12- 16, 2015.

There are many people to thank for their generosity and support! The Bryan Crough Dressing Rooms are made possible in part by: Consumers Energy Foundation, Herrington Fitch Family Foundation, Marty & Olivia Lagina, Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, National Endowment for the Arts, The Oleson Foundation, Rotary Charities of Traverse City, Todd McMillen and many community donors. Thank you!

Bryan Crough moved to Traverse City in 1980 and, after a stint with the US Census Bureau, began a career in the arts as Executive Director of the Arts Council and the Old Town Playhouse. In 1985 Bryan was elected to the Traverse City Commission and after 3 years was appointed Mayor. In 1990 Bryan accepted the position of Executive Director of the newly merged Downtown Development Authority and Downtown Traverse City Association and is credited with helping lead the revitalization of downtown Traverse City.

City Opera House Heritage Association is proud to partner with Michigan State University’s renowned Wharton Center for Performing Arts. City Opera House is a nonprofit destination attraction for quality arts and cultural entertainment, educational programming, and public and private events in the heart of the region, downtown Traverse City. www.cityoperahouse.org.