Up for auction: Old Opera House combines live and virtual formats for annual auction

The Old Opera House began live productions last weekend, and has a live and virtual combined auction planned for Oct. 24. Toni Milbourne
CHARLES TOWN — Each year, the Old Opera House hosts an annual autumn auction to help raise funds to cover its year-round operations. The auction is continuing to be held this fall, with a few COVID-19 Pandemic cognizant tweaks.
The auction will be a combination of both live and virtual auction components. The live portion will be held at the Old Opera House, where guests mingle with the theater staff, members of the Board of Directors and some additional special guests. The live auction will also be live-streamed, for those who wish to social distance, but also participate in the event.
Bidding on the live auction items will begin and be broadcast, beginning at 8 p.m. on Oct. 24. Those wishing to bid from home will use a simple chat function that will be part of the log-in information sent out to participants, once their registration is complete.
Tickets to attend the live portion of the event at the Old Opera House are only $50, while tickets to receive the log-in information and participate in the live auction from home are only $10.
In addition to the live portion, a silent auction will also be held.

A basket donated by Taylor's Farm includes a Cider Press Deli and Grill gift card, apple butter, pumpkin bread and assorted fruit preserves is just one item being offered in the online auction to benefit the Old Opera House. Courtesy photo
Bidding on the silent auction items will be done by chance or raffle style. The items are available to view on the Old Opera House Facebook page. Participants may purchase tickets or chances on the Old Opera House webpage. Interested potential buyers can buy one or several tickets, to increase the chance of winning an item.
Drawings for the silent auction items will be held on the evening of the live auction, starting at 7 p.m. The silent auction winners’ names will be announced at the live event. Those who have purchased tickets do not need to be present, during the live auction, to win.
Multiple baskets and other items are available to peruse on the theater’s Facebook page. Many have been donated by local businesses and other supporters of the Old Opera House.
The Old Opera House has decided to move ahead with a revised 2020 season. Its first show of the season, “Marriage is Murder,” concludes this weekend. “Christmas Belles” will be featured on Dec. 3-6 and 10-13, followed by “Steel Magnolias” Feb. 5-7 and 12-14. On tap on March 12-14 and 19-21 is “Moon Over Buffalo,” with “Into the Woods” closing out the season Apr. 23-25 and April 29-May 2.
Tickets for the season are currently available, and Steven Brewer, managing director, said that should the live audiences be limited in number, the first seats would go to season ticketholders.
More information is available on the Old Opera House Facebook page or website.
- The Old Opera House began live productions last weekend, and has a live and virtual combined auction planned for Oct. 24. Toni Milbourne
- A basket donated by Taylor’s Farm includes a Cider Press Deli and Grill gift card, apple butter, pumpkin bread and assorted fruit preserves is just one item being offered in the online auction to benefit the Old Opera House. Courtesy photo