Frank Lloyd Wright's Hillside Theater reopens after $1.1M restoration

The Hillside Theater, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1903 as part of the Hillside Home School founded by his aunts, has reopened after a five-year, $1.1 million restoration. Located in Taliesin, Wisconsin—a tiny village within an 800-acre UNESCO World Heritage estate where Wright lived and worked for nearly half a century—the theater was originally a multipurpose space before becoming a dedicated venue in 1932 for the Taliesin Fellowship, Wright's apprenticeship program, and the public. The restoration, led by the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and Taliesin Preservation, addressed water infiltration that damaged the stage, installed new HVAC systems, improved accessibility, updated electrical and plumbing, repaired the roof and interior/exterior finishes, and restored two bodhisattva sculptures and a hand-sewn geometric curtain designed by Wright. Ryan Hewson, director of conservation at the FLW Foundation, called the project "a labor of love" that preserves historical essence while integrating modern practices. The theater has long been a cultural hub for the Driftless Area, and its reopening ensures continued community engagement. Full programming for 2024-2025 is still being planned, but the revitalized space is now accessible to visitors and scholars.