Rent the Briggs Opera House

The Briggs Opera House​

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The Briggs Opera House (BOH) welcomes community arts groups of every kind to present performances in the historic theater in downtown White River Junction, VT. As the resident theater company of BOH, Shaker Bridge Theatre (SBT) offer community groups the opportunity to rent BOH during the ~25 weeks available annually between Shaker Bridge Theatre’s regular productions.

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The Briggs Opera House offers a highly versatile and storied performance space centrally-located in historic downtown White River Junction, Vermont for community arts groups of every stripe.  Recent productions in the Briggs include shows and events by Junction Arts and Media (JAM), The Junction Dance Festival, Upper Valley 24-Hour Play Festival, We The People Theater, White River Indie Film Festival (WRIFF), Rio Blanco Social Club, Revolution Fashion Show, and more.  The Briggs has also hosted local graduations, workshops, candidate forums, music jams, and burlesque.

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A 240-seat, wheel-chair accessible theater, the Briggs is larger than most venues in the area but small enough to feel intimate. Founded in the 1890s as the Gates Opera House, when White River Junction was a booming railroad hub, it fell into disuse after World War II and became retail space in the 1950s. After the closing of the JJ Newberry department store, the opera house was reopened in 1985.

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"I don’t know if people out in our area have had the opportunity to experience the joys of White River Junction and its vibrant arts and dining scene. The Briggs Opera House, the home of the Shaker Bridge Theatre is a true delight. The theatre is cozy, but perfect for viewing, and the acoustics were perfect. You could hear every line of dialogue from the actors without straining, and the performances felt natural, as if they weren’t trying to emote louder to ensure the audience could hear them. No, it was an absolutely perfect setting to watch this play." 

- Mountain Times

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Step 1:  Fill out our project form (right)

We will respond via email within 3-5 days to clarify any questions.  SBT will then send you a user agreement. Your reservation is secured upon signing the user agreement with payment and security deposit.​

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Step 2: Technical Orientation to the Briggs

Prior to using BOH, the producer and technical operators must schedule an orientation with SBT to discuss configuration of the space, be approved for equipment operation, and plan media integrations (e.g. live streaming or recording). Note:  User agreements do not include technical staff.  Staff may be available for hire at an hourly rate, or SBT will try to help you find stage crew if possible.

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Step 3: Lights Up

After meeting with SBT, your staff will receive use of the facilities on your start date.

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Step 4: Strike & Clean Up

At the conclusion of your show/event, the Briggs Opera House must be cleaned and restored to the same condition in which you found it.  Please include time in your schedule for strike and cleaning.  Your deposit will be returned after an inspection.