By Alan Van Ormer
Tribune editor

When the ‘Grand’ Opera House opens in August, owner Joan Rasmusson hopes to have a list of high quality shows and other events that will draw people to the renovated opera house on Dell Rapids’ Main Street.
“The two types of shows that are most important to me are those honoring God and our country,” she said. “I am using the building as a platform to showcase talent around South Dakota.”
Rasmusson plans to have an Easter and Christmas event, as well as shows for Memorial Day and Veterans Day.
The first show is slated for June 20. ‘The Pied Piper of Hamelin’ will be shown at 2 p.m. that day. Tickets will be sold at the door for $5 per person and $15 per family.
“It is our first performance since construction began (approximately 18 months ago),” Rasmusson said. “I’m proud to offer something of this quality to Dell Rapids. People will be astounded at the incredibly high level opera with local talent from Sioux Falls. Many have performed around the country. They are never going to see the level of talent for a show for $5 that will be performed on June 20.”
Lisa Grevlos, an associated professor of Music at Augustana College is involved in ‘The Pied Piper of Hamelin.’
“It is such a treat to be able to perform opera in something that has been a part of South Dakota history and actually perform opera in an opera house,” Grevlos said.
The ‘Pied Piper of Hamelin’ is a twist on the traditional fairy tale. Rats have infested the town of Hamelin. The pied piper shows up looking for a job, which would use his artistic talents as piper suggesting he could be hired because he is looking for new clothes. The mayor and town clerk of Hamelin are villains using him, but not paying him. The pied piper leaves town and then returns to lead all the children out of Hamelin while he renegotiates his payment. The villains pay the pied piper and the children return.
Shane Skinner, who used to perform with the Old Opera House Players, is excited about the ‘Grand’ reopening. Skinner, along with other fellow members, are planning an audition on June 23-24 at the Jabberwock for ‘Arsenic and Old Lace.’ Auditions are slated for 7 p.m. each night.
The preliminary dates for ‘Arsenic and Old Lace’ are Aug. 21-23 and Aug. 28-30. There will be six shows; one on Friday and Saturday evening and another on Sunday afternoon each weekend. ‘Arsenic and Old Lace’ is a 1940s comedy about two old ladies who take in boarders and help ease their passing by poisoning them.
“With the ‘Grand’ opening it was perfect timing to get the players back together,” Skinner said. “The cool part is that Joan has the passion it takes to put on a wonderful show and provide quality facilities to put on the kind of show Dell Rapids would be proud of.”
All through high school and college, Skinner performed in Dell Rapids. The Old Opera House Players used to have one regular stage show, a show for youth and a musical. The hope is that the group will be able to still do those three shows, as well as at least two other shows each year.
Rasmusson said her goal is to showcase a variety of performances and events during the year. These include polka dances, fiddler groups, opera, comedies, interactive shows and plays where the audience participates.
“There is something extremely special about this building and this project,” she said. “It is astounding the number of doors that have opened and the opportunities put in front of me.”
The building has been renovated back to its elegant feeling, according to Rasmusson. “It is all beautiful and gorgeous architecture,” she said. “People don’t even realize that this is a professional theatre with a complete state of the art lighting and sound system.”
The seating capacity is 350 people. Seats can be removed for an upstairs dinner. On the first floor, there is a full bar and overflow seating in the dining room. The long range plan is to have someone lease and start a restaurant on the first floor.
The first floor is officially opened in August starting on weekends. Rasmusson is planning an open bar and different types of music, as well as dessert and coffee.