“This moment, the raising of this beam, is not just about construction, it’s about continuation. It’s about honoring the same spirit of leadership and vision that saved the Sumter Opera House decades ago, and today we are doing our part to carry that promise forward.”

Words spoken by City of Sumter Cultural Manager Seth Reimer about the significance of the Sumter Opera House’s “Topping Out” ceremony held on Monday, March 23.

A “topping out” ceremony is a traditional celebration marking the placement of the final beam at the highest point of a building, symbolizing the completion of its structural phase.

With the exposed beams and whirling dust as the backdrop, local and state officials as well as community members ventured out to celebrate the joyous occasion that is the Opera House’s next act.

Mayor David Merchant was joined by Mayor Pro Temp the Rev. James Blassingame, city councilwoman Lynn Kennedy, city councilmen Colin Davis, Gifford Shaw, Anthony Gibson and the Rev. Calvin Hastie as well as county councilwoman Tasha Gardner-Green, Sen. Jeff Zell-R, Speaker of the House Murrell Smith, Rep. David Weeks and Hood Construction Vice President Charles Stewart for the raising of the ceremonial beam.

This ceremony, as Reimer described, marked the progress on the construction project, showcasing how the city, county and state officials are honoring the past, investing in the future and “continuing the story that belongs to all of us.”

“The Sumter Opera House is an indispensable cultural asset, not solely because of the building itself, but because of the magic that happens inside of it,” Reimer said.

At this stage in the renovations, more is being built than what is being demoed.

Reimer and Kara Grover, theater services coordinator for the Opera House took The Item on a tour of the venue during its construction in February and said the renovations are about expanding what the building can do to better fit the needs of entertainment interests of the people.

Next door, 19 N. Main St., will serve as the venue’s new front of house, bringing improved traffic flow, more bathrooms, a dedicated box office and more room to mix and mingle before dancing and singing the night away. Inside the actual auditorium, sight lines will also be improved with the removal of columns and reconfiguring of box seats, while seating will be updated for comfort and accessibility.

The ornate plasterwork will remain, a signature feature of its interior many recognize easily. That includes referencing the work of Navino Nattaloni, the artist who painted the opera house in the 1930s. The renovation team is studying his iconic style and palette to bring back the colors and visual choices that reflect the period, from earth tones to sun rays and floral rays that still appear in the proscenium today.

If the experience for guests is taken up a notch, the same goes for backstage. Behind the scenes, there are easily accessible dressing rooms, more convenient means for getting to and from stage than walking outside through an alley, a proper green room and gathering spaces for artists, backstage storage, designated lounge areas for the opera house’s loyal volunteers and crew and a new loading dock.

Reimer told the crowd that there was a time where the Opera House’s future was uncertain. That its structure could have disappeared, been replaced or abandoned all together.It is because of past and present mayors, city council members and community leaders that it still stands today. That their willingness to choose preservation over convenience will allow future generations endless possibilities to explore the arts.

“I was reminded of a matinee performance with a group of fourth-graders and after the show, a student who had been sitting in the balcony boxes upstairs came to me and he said something I won’t forget. He told me he felt rich. It’s not because of the money and it wasn’t because of anything that he owned. It was because he got to sit inside and experience something special,” Reimer shared. “That’s what this place does. It creates moments where people feel elevated, connected, and seen, and that’s exactly why this beam matters.”

“One day soon, another child will walk in and sit and sit in a seat that didn’t exist before, experience something they’ve never seen before and feel the same sense of possibility.”