Origins of the Sorg

Hello, I’m Andy Seibert, one of the Sorg’s volunteer board members, and your guide for this tour of the Sorg Opera House. I’m going to point out some features of the theater, tell you a little of its history, and let you in on the ongoing restoration efforts. If you’re inside the theater right now, you’ll be able to see most of the features we discuss from your seat, but feel free to get up and walk around to get a better view of the different areas of the theater.

If you’ve already heard any music performed live at the Sorg, you’ve probably noticed it has great acoustics. That’s because it was designed by Samuel Hannaford, just a few years after he designed Cincinnati’s Music Hall. Hannaford was hired for the project by Paul J. Sorg, Middletown’s first multi-millionaire. He made his fortune with the P. J. Sorg Tobacco Company, and later the Sorg Paper Company, both located here in Middletown’s manufacturing heyday. Sorg also built the Sorg Mansion, which still stands on South Main Street, less than two blocks to the south of the Opera House, and is currently being privately renovated. But from the start, the Opera House was Paul J. Sorg’s gift to the Middletown community.