The 1891 Fredonia Opera House Performing Arts Center

11/07/2025

In case you missed the front page of today’s OBSERVER …

Listening to a solo by contemporary folk and old-time artist Chris Coole, one is often fooled into thinking there are more musicians adding to the melodic frills and plunking tones. However, it is just a man and his banjo, as one can see and hear in the video for his heart-rending but bingeable song...

11/07/2025

TONIGHT! Friday, November 7 at 7:30PM - SHOWMAN & COOLE - LIVE at the Opera House, part of Folk in Fredonia, The Gilman Family Music Series.

11/06/2025

TONIGHT! Thursday, November 6 at 7PM! BARCELONA HARBOR 1800-1860: ITS SIGNIFICANCE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTY AND THE COUNTRY, part of Here & There: Chautauqua County History, Memories, and Travelers

For nearly 40 years in the 1800s, Barcelona was one of the busiest communities in the county! Former Chautauqua County Historian Michelle Henry will discuss the investors who built piers and large commercial warehouses at Barcelona, the Lake Erie storms that regularly threatened the shoreline and sailing vessels, and the passenger ships that brought both prominent visitors and newly arriving immigrants to our county.

Admission is FREE, although donations are gratefully accepted.

11/05/2025

Saturday, November 8 at 1PM - The Met: Live in HD brings the world's most popular opera of all time LIVE to the Opera House screen - Puccini's LA BOHÈME.

With its enchanting setting and spellbinding score, La Bohème is as timeless as it is heartbreaking. Franco Zeffirelli’s picture-perfect production brings 19th-century Paris to the Met stage as Giacomo Puccini’s young friends and lovers navigate the joy and struggle of bohemian life. Soprano Juliana Grigoryan is the feeble seamstress Mimì, opposite tenor Freddie De Tommaso as the ardent poet Rodolfo. Keri-Lynn Wilson conducts.

The Met: Live in HD takes you backstage between acts for interviews, live rehearsals of coming productions, and a look at the incredible set changes that happen when the curtain closes on the audience. Our concessions room will be open for both intermissions with light refreshments.

Tickets to the Met: Live in HD are $20 Adults, $18 Members, $10 Students. Part of Arts in the Afternoon, which is sponsored by Dr. James M. & Marcia Merrins, Live at the Met is underwritten with support from Daniel S. Kaufman and Timothy W. Beaver.

11/04/2025

TONIGHT! Tuesday, November 4 at 7:30PM! "The true MVP is Chiklis, who infuses the proceedings with such heart, good humor and forcefulness that you find yourself rooting for his real-life character from beginning to end." - Hollywood Reporter.

Reminder - Tuesday evening movies are shown open-captioned with captions on screen

11/01/2025

Friday, November 7 at 7:30PM brings the next Folk in Fredonia Music Series concert - SHOWMAN & COOLE!

Through 25 years and thousands of shows together in bands such as The Foggy Hogtown Boys, and The Lonesome Ace Stringband, John Showman and Chris Coole have developed a deep and instinctual musical bond. Their music lurks in a truly unique space that is somewhere on the outskirts of old-time, bluegrass, and folk. The songs of John Hartford, Hank Williams, Dock Boggs, and The Band share space with the fiddle tunes of Eck Robertson, and Ed Haley. The duo’s original songs and tunes take in all these vistas and paint something both personal and timely. Join us for a great evening of "super deluxe fiddle, banjo, and song!"

Tickets available at 716.679.1891 or online at fredopera.org. The Folk in Fredonia Music Series is sponsored by the Gilman Family.

11/01/2025

TONIGHT! Saturday, November 1 at 7:30PM! "The true MVP is Chiklis, who infuses the proceedings with such heart, good humor and forcefulness that you find yourself rooting for his real-life character from beginning to end." - Hollywood Reporter.

10/30/2025

Saturday, November 1 & Tuesday, November 4 at 7:30PM - THE SENIOR starring Michael Chiklis is the next movie at the Opera House.

At 59, Mike Flynt (Michael Chiklis) may be too old to be on a college football field, but not too old to feel the weight of unfinished business. After nearly four decades, he returns to his alma mater to take the hit that changed everything. Bruised, doubted, and nearly broken, he pushes for one more game, not for glory, but for the teammates he lost, the family he fractured, and the ending he still believes is possible.

“I’m a sucker for films that show us that we can all be better people. So… Thank you, Mike. I hope “The Senior” inspires people of all ages to dig deeper on the heart level.” – Hollywood Report Card

“The major reason to see “The Senior” is the emotionally convincing and tender performance of Michael Chiklis—the best performance of his career.” – NYC Movie Guru

Rated PG, 99 mins. The Opera House Cinema Series is sponsored by Lake Shore Savings Bank. Cinema Series tickets are sold at the door only. Tickets - Adults – $7, Members/Seniors – $6.50, Students – $5. A book of 10 movie passes can be purchased separately at the Box Office, online or at the door on movie night for $60.

10/30/2025

TONIGHT at 5:30PM!

10/28/2025

Wednesday, October 29 brings the next episode of NOTES FROM THE AISLE SEAT, our podcast on the arts & entertainment world of northern Chautauqua County.

This week, Tom talks to musician Chris Coole on his upcoming concert with John Shwoman, Jessica Hillman_McCord of the SUNY Fredonia Department of Theatre and Dance on The Lightning Thief, and Buffalo Opera Unlimited Artistic Director Emeritus Tim Kennedy on the next Met: Live in HD broadcast, La Boheme

You can hear this latest episode almost anywhere you get your podcasts and now every other Wednesday at 6PM on SUNY Fredonia's WCVF 88.9 FM and WDVL 89.5, every other Friday at 3PM on Jamestown's WRFA-LP 107.9 FM, and always at aisleseat.podbean.com.