The Sheridan Opera House is pushing to complete Phase II of its ambitious renovation project and it needs a hand from the community.

A copper shed roof over the fire escape, a new roof for the building and better drainage in the front of the building were added to the project, said Special Events Director Ronnie Palamar, for a total of $125,000 in additional costs.

"These all revolve around safety issues," said Palamar.

Adding those safety improvements and closing the door on Phase II has proved to be a challenge, but one that the Opera House staff has addressed with good humor and style.

The Opera House had hoped to be finished with Phase II last November, but the scope of work changed as the project progressed. In light of delays caused by waiting for drawings and working through the Telluride approvals process, the Opera House postponed some items for this summer. In addition the Opera House decided to scrap plans for a fly tower.

"It wasn't going to give us enough improvement in the fly space to warrant the cost," Palamar explained.

When summer rolled around, the contractors were busy restoring the Nugget Theater and so work on the Opera House was postponed.

The wait was worth it, said Palamar.

The new roof is "state of the art" and will last many, many years. The copper roof over the fire escape is beautiful. And the rake, a rise in the theater floor that elevated some back row seats, was removed because it was deemed non-historical.

"When we came in to do the fire escape we found out we were going to lose these seats," said Palamar, another good reason to remove the rake. With the rake, fire regulations would have required the Opera House remove two rows of seats to create a wide enough fire exit – making a small house even smaller.

Even without the rake the view of the stage from the back of the auditorium is not blocked (theater staff took care to stagger the seats) and the arrangement is more versatile. All the seats in the house can be taken out for a dance party.

Working with the town to address snow and ice build up in the front of the building, the Opera House also re-vamped the heating system under the sidewalk in the front.

Finally the Opera House is installing a sprinkler system in the first floor gallery and adding a stairwell to the basement.

Top of the list for Phase III improvements (the grant to the state historical society is due in October, Palamar pointed out and the Opera House staff is busy finishing that one), is finishing out the basement space. That space will be flexible and can serve as a rehearsal space or other needs. In addition the historical contractors are going to undertake an extensive stenciling project, stenciling the walls of the theater in the historical patterns.

"It is important to let the public know that it would have been much easier to shut down, complete the job and move on," said Palamar. "But as a nonprofit we could not have done that and everybody would have been upset with us."

Instead, the Opera House shuffled its schedule and that of the workers. At one point the roofers, who were brought in from Denver, were asked to stop work so the Telluride Chamber Music could hold its performances.

This Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Sheridan Opera House, local musicians Dave Lamb and David Homer will play the guitar and stand up bass, respectively. Following their performance there will be an open mike for anyone interested in performing on the Opera House stage, musicians, actors and anyone with a hankering for the limelight. Performers get a two-for-one ticket to the evening show.

Audience members are asked to contribute $15. All donations will be directly applied to the Sheridan Arts Foundation Renovation Fund. The Sheridan Arts Foundation manages the Opera House. Tickets can be purchased on line at www.tellurideticket.com or at the Sheridan Opera House at 728-6363 or in person at the Opera House through Friday, 10 a.m.-5p.m.