CENTRAL CITY – The City welcomed the Central City Opera cast and crew on Tuesday evening, June 17, to a free community celebration as it marked a major milestone in the restoration of the historic Belvidere Theater: the opening of the Shoofly.

The spirited ribbon-cutting included libations, barbecue, and a CCO performance that brought the crowd laughter, elation, and awe.

Hosted in the Belvidere’s courtyard pocket park from 5 to 7 p.m., the event served as a launching picnic for CCO’s incoming season, and a symbolic leap forward for the long-awaited restoration of the 12,000-square-foot 1875 theater. 

The Shoofly, a name taken from the building’s mining past, is one of the first usable spaces in the multi-phase rehabilitation project. It features the new Central City Visitor’s Center.

Several opera singers performed for the sizeable crowd, accompanied by a keyboardist.

Opera performers Daniela Guzmán-Eguez and Natacha Condor captivated the crowd with excerpts from Gounod’s Faust, among others.

The crowd was thoroughly entertained during Marguerite’s aria, as Guzmán-Eguez broke the fourth wall, mingling with audience members to their clear delight. Guests applauded as the singers' expressive delivery turned the outdoor courtyard into an immersive operatic stage.

Guzmán-Eguez picked random audience members to interact with while singing in character, eliciting smiles, laughter, and adoration.

In one endearing moment, Guzmán-Eguez sat down at a table and directed her singing toward a senior opera fan, and the elderly woman melted with pleasure.

JKQ BBQ provided hearty plates of brisket, chicken, and pulled pork sandwiches, while guests sipped beer and wine and sampled caramel corn from Eureka Street Popcorn. Not even the light rain toward the end of the evening could dampen spirits.

Peter Droege, president of the Belvidere Foundation, led the ribbon-cutting ceremony alongside the City Council, the Belvidere board, Gilpin County Commissioners, and City staff. The scissors were real, though initially feared to be nonexistent, and the ribbon arrived just in time. 

“A few hours ago, I wasn’t sure this event would even happen,” said Mayor Jeremy Fey, joking about the wind that ultimately gave way to blue skies. 

“If you want to talk about miracles, when I got here eight years ago, I thought this building would fall down. But it’s still standing, and now it’s active and usable, thanks to the dedication and heart of everyone involved.”

Droege thanked the City Council and Gilpin County for their key roles in saving the building. 

Central City used state historic tax credits to fund much of the work, while Gilpin County provided ownership transfer and generous grants. 

Additional support came from the Department of Local Affairs, which issued a $1 million matching grant. Other contributors included foundations such as Boettcher, El Pomar, and Gates.

Palace Construction served as the project’s contractor. The company had previously partnered with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to address asbestos abatement in the historic building. 

“It’s now the cleanest building in Colorado,” Droege joked.

Guests were encouraged to explore the newly accessible space, peek into the Visitor’s Center, and learn more about how to contribute to the Belvidere’s next act. 

Informational fliers offered details on tax-deductible contributions through the Enterprise Zone program.

The Shoofly may only be one step in the rehabilitation of the building, but for Central City and its arts community, it’s a meaningful one. As music echoed against the stone walls and the aroma of barbecue lingered in the air, the gathering felt like a promise: that the Belvidere will once again shine as a cultural mecca, with flair to spare.

To learn more about the Belvidere project and to donate, visit https://www.visitcentralcity.com/belviderefoundation.