Howells Opera House is a historic opera house located in Oakley, Idaho, on Blaine Street. The opera house is registered with the Idaho State Historical Society. The Opera house was built by the first prosecuting attorney for Cassia County, Judge B.P. (Benjamin Price) Howells. The building construction began in 1904 and was completed in 1907 for the cost of $22,000 ($757,000 adjusted for inflation today). The opera House is currently owned and operated by the Oakley Valley Arts Council. It has been known by several names, including the Oakley Playhouse (c. 1907), Cassia County Playhouse (c. 1929), and most notably as the Howells Opera House.
Description The opera house has a square gable false front with a central door flanked by segmental-arched openings. The building was constructed using a local variety of quartzite referred to as Oakley stone. The performance floor features seating for around 300 people.
Performance history The Oakley Valley Arts Council has kept a record of performances from 1974 to the present. Past performances include such operas as The Diary of Anne Frank, The Mikado, and The Pirates of Penzance. +History (ѧ denotes an opera performance)YearMarchJulyNovember1974Fiddler on the Roof19751976Title of Liberty19771978Oklahoma!197919801981Hello, Dolly!1982Annie Get Your Gun1983Oliver!1984The Sound of Music1985My Fair Lady1986Paint Your Wagon1987Annie1988Seven Brides for Seven Brothers1989The Music Man1990South PacificCritic's Choice1991Oklahoma!Arsenic and Old Lace1992Kiss Me, Kate1993Guys and DollsThe Golden FleecingSteel Magnolias1994The Unsinkable Molly BrownThe Wizard of OzThe Foreigner1995The King and IJoseph and the Amazing Technicolor DreamcoatBlithe Spirit1996Calamity JaneThe Pirates of Penzance ѧNunsense1997CamelotBye Bye BirdieThe Odd Couple1998The Mikado ѧCinderellaForever Plaid1999Fiddler on the RoofSeven Brides for Seven BrothersCharley's Aunt2000The Sound of MusicInto the WoodsNunsense II2001Once Upon a MattressDamn YankeesNuncrackers2002You're a Good Man, Charlie BrownJoseph and the Amazing Technicolor DreamcoatA Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum2003The FantasticksAnnie Get Your GunYou Can't Take It with You2004AnnieThe ArkThe Diary of Anne Frank ѧ2005Guys and DollsCrazy for YouThe Secret Garden2006West Side StoryTom Sawyer Harvey2007Hello, Dolly!Oklahoma!Little Shop of Horrors2008Frog and ToadSeussucal the MusicalPlaid Tidings2009Oliver!Paint Your Wagon2010The Pirates of Penzance ѧBye Bye BirdieThe Nerd2011Singin' in the RainFootlooseJacob Marley's Christmas Carol2012Dear EdwinaThe Wizard of OzWhite Christmas2013Arsenic and Old LaceSeven Brides for Seven BrothersClue2014The 39 StepsOnce Upon a MattressScrooge!2015Meshuggah-nuns!Who Shot Pablito Chanchito?It's a Wonderful Life ѧ2016Something's Afoot!Calamity JaneCurtains2017Tom Sawyer Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor DreamcoatThe Man Who Came to Dinner2018Walking HappyAnnieThe Christmas Schooner 2019Greater TunaChitty Chitty Bang BangForever Plaid2020A Christmas StoryThe Scarlet PimpernelLet's Murder Marsha2021A Christmas StoryThe Scarlett Pimpernel Let's Murder Marsha
Oakley Valley Arts Council During the 1970s, when the opera house had fallen into a state of disrepair and demolition of the house was being discussed, the performing arts community within Oakley formed the Oakley Valley Arts Council and purchased the house. Today the Oakley Valley Arts Council continues to put on seasonal performances here.
Ghostlore The opera house is the subject of several ghostlore stories. One story suggests that there is a female apparition with black hair who can be seen watching the performances from behind the stage. Another story relates that an older gentleman's ghost can be seen stalking the grounds of the house, with some variations suggesting that this particular ghost is that of original owner, Benjamin Howells.
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