Location: Trinidad, Colorado

Date/Time: June 23, 2024

The Opera House:
In 1882, Trinidad's inaugural opera house emerged amidst much celebration courtesy of the Jaffa brothers—Sam, Sol, and Henry. For twenty-four years, it resonated with the melodies of plays, brass bands, and the rhetoric of public speakers before its curtains closed in 1906. Responding to the town's pragmatic ethos, the auditorium morphed into an office block and an extension of the neighboring Wight Hotel.

Resilience characterized its trajectory as the edifice endured a 5.3-magnitude earthquake in 2011, sustaining significant damage. Despite expert voices advocating for its demise, the community united in a bid to salvage and restore their historic gem.

Thanks to $525,000 in State Historic Preservation Tax Credits, the venerable Opera House is slated for rejuvenation. Reconstruction efforts will fortify the quake-stricken masonry to contemporary standards while reinstating the façade and iconic storefronts to their 19th-century allure. Upon completion, the revitalized structure will offer twelve units of downtown housing, addressing a pressing need, alongside office and retail spaces.

We will also have access to an old hotel building downtown as well as some tunnels that run underneath the city.

The Workshop: I will be on hand to help you with any questions you may have - these buildings can be a challenge to photograph, and I’m happy to answer any you may have. I want you to leave with photos you’re proud of, so don’t be afraid to ask me anything -- I’ve been photographing abandoned theaters for almost 10 years (and abandoned buildings in general for almost 20), and I have picked up some tips and tricks along the way. Please bring your own lighting. I will have some handheld LED lights on hand that you can borrow, but not enough for everyone.

Safety: Watch where you step! Safety is the first priority. There are some spots in the theater where you will not be allowed to go, and we will be going over those at the beginning of the workshop. You will be asked to sign a waiver before entering the building acknowledging that you will be in a potentially unsafe environment and that you will not hold the owners or myself liable for any harm that may come to you or your equipment. The theater has peeling paint, so I recommend bringing a respirator/dust mask. If you have dust allergies please take that into consideration before attending.

What to bring:

- respirator/dust mask

- flashlights/flash

- boots

- a tripod

- a cell phone

A confirmation email will be sent to the email address you provide when signing up for the workshop. I’ll be sending a follow up email with more details a week before the workshop.

Workshop Terms and Conditions: You will need to sign a waiver to participate in this event. By signing up for this workshop you agree not to use information obtained before or during the workshop to illegally trespass or set up alternate workshops/events. Because of the extremely limited tour spots there are NO REFUNDS UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES if you have signed up for the tour, except in case of a workshop cancellation by After the Final Curtain. You’re welcome to transfer your spot in the workshop to someone else, but you need to send me an email letting me know that’s happening. If the workshop is canceled due to inclement weather or issues at the theater, a refund will be offered if you are unable to make the rescheduled workshop date. I cannot be held liable for travel, rental, or other costs incurred by the attendee in the event of workshop cancellation. All sales are final.