The Sorg Opera Revitalization Group, who recently purchased the Sorg Opera House, shared their vision during a public tour last weekend of the vacant downtown icon.

“The Sorg Opera House is truly one of Middletown’s finest jewels, and it really belongs to the whole community,” SORG Executive Director Chuck Miller said. “We hope to draw diverse audiences and obtain broad support for every aspect of our business.”

Neglect, mother nature, vandals and a few animals have left the building a shadow of its former glory. In the former ballroom, walls are caving in and severe leaks pepper the roof.

“I did one of my first (mayoral) candidates forums here, just five years ago,” said Mayor Larry Mulligan. “It was not in this bad of shape.”

But Mulligan said the group and building have promise.

“This is going to be a great draw; there are big possibilities,” he said. “They’re going into it with their eyes wide open.”

SORG’s goals are to bring plays, concerts and other productions back to the opera house. The group has also state it would like to have businesses rent or lease space in the commercial side, and have some type of coffee or sandwich shop.

At least $400,000 will be needed to fix severe leaks in the roof and over the theater stage, according to Miller. The Sorg will reopen in phases, he said, though it will take years to completely renovate and revitalize the building.

Money to restore the Sorg will be dependant on fund-raising. Once the group establishes its 501c3, donations will be solicited and collected via the Middletown Community Foundation.

“This is our best hope to operate it the way we laid out,” said Ken Bowman, SORG vice president of operations and programming.

The Sorg had been owned by a Florida-based bank since its former owner, Road Apple Music, left the building in December 2011. In August, a group of seven regional investors, mostly from the Greater Cincinnati area, purchased the 121-year-old building.

For more information, visit www.sorgoperahouse.org.