Happening Now at Center Stage . . .

For nearly two decades, local musician, artist, and playwright Bob Lovelace has filled the Skowhegan Opera House with music, laughter, and unforgettable stories. Now he returns for Lights Up Productions’ first Historical Tour of 2026 — and he’s got MORE stories to tell!

Beyond recording several CDs, Bob has written, directed, and produced three original plays/musicals, hosted numerous talent shows, and performed in concerts on the SOH stage. Most recently, Bob played Ebenezer Scrooge in LUP’s 2024 “A Christmas Carol – A Staged Reading.”

Come see and hear about Bob’s collection of memories and magical stories that have helped to shape our stage! Then, take a tour of the space and hear about Lights Up Productions’ plans.

📅 Wednesday, January 28 • 5–6 PM
✨ FREE and Open to All

(Any donations collected during historical tours go directly to LUP’s Capital Improvements Fund.)

History of the Skowhegan Opera House

Bordering the mighty Kennebec River, the Skowhegan Opera House is an 840-seat hidden gem on the second floor of Skowhegan’s Municipal Building. Built in 1907, it is on the National Register of Historic Places and has a rich history of an abundance of uses. In recent years, it has been underutilized and has become a space very much in need of stage equipment updates and renovations. Although funds have been raised by the town and by Friends of Skowhegan Opera House, the amount is minimal in comparison to what the updates and renovations will cost. That is where Lights Up Productions comes in!

We have been hard at work since becoming a Maine Nonprofit Organization on November 14, 2023. Since some interpret the meaning of the name Skowhegan to be “place to watch” on the banks of the Kennebec River, it became our mission to be accessible to all in our community and bring engaging arts and entertainment experiences to the historic Skowhegan Opera House. This “place to watch” will become a destination that residents are proud of and visitors will fall in love with.

Lights Up Productions has honored the use of our stage by scheduling much-cherished bi-annual dance recitals by our community dance schools. We have booked Maine comedian, Bob Marley. We have held community outreach events and have attended several Selectmen’s meetings to increase public awareness of our vision for the future and to gather input from a variety of people.

Future Plans

We will offer free quarterly Historical Tours, a full season of events in 2025, and sponsorship opportunities to support our updates and renovations. In addition to this, Lights Up Productions will begin to implement the construction of new public bathrooms on the lobby level, a new glass-enclosed stairway/fire escape overlooking the River Park, new backstage dressing rooms and bathrooms, and two new elevators – one for our patrons and one for backstage access.

Our big wish for 2025 is to have enough funding to hire an Executive Director who will help us develop our Master Plan.

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Our Community Theater Group is a talented group of individuals who are busy bringing the community productions such as The Compleat Works of William Shakespear, The SpitFire Grill – A Musical, and a holiday production (TBA). In addition, a 2nd installment of Skowhegan Ghost Tours will be coming this October, starting and ending at the Skowhegan Municipal Building, for around and about the Flat Iron District designed to be historical tour that will tell stories related to Skowhegan’s past with a spooky twist.

Since our start on November 14, 2023, Lights Up Productions has been dedicated to holding community outreach events with our friends and affiliates, which will continue moving forward.

During the annual SKOW-Whoville event, we will be on a float in the ever-growing Holiday Stroll Parade held the 1st Friday of December!

Sketch of Future Renovations in blue

Future Klieg Lights to signal Upcoming Events

About Lights Up Productions

Lights Up Productions’ mission is to revitalize the historic Skowhegan Opera House with strategic renovations and updates, with a focus on bringing arts and entertainment experiences to our community.

Lights Up Productions is a domestic nonprofit corporation in the state of Maine with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. Your gift to LUP in any dollar amount may be deducted on your tax return!

Through fundraising and producing full opera house seasons of concerts, children and student events, and live theater, we will bring engaging arts and entertainment experiences to the historic Skowhegan Opera House. This “place to watch” will become a destination that residents are proud of and visitors will fall in love with. While building our seasons and our relationship with the community, as their loyal tenant, we will raise funds for the Skowhegan Opera House in collaboration with the Town of Skowhegan.