Decorative accents on the lower marquee were designed with the original exterior façade as inspiration. The design incorporated the local area and state flowers as well as architectural accents of the opera house.

The sign took four months to build and a week to install. Larsen made multiple site visits and collaborated with Opera House Performing Arts and Marketing departments to ensure the customized design retained the ornate aesthetic of the historic venue, originally constructed in 1886.

The Wagner Electric Sign Company, based in Elyria, Ohio, specializes in refurbishing and replacing marquee signage for historical theaters. Congratulations to designer Eric Larson and The Wagner Sign Company for creating a highly functional and stunning design that illuminates and embellishes the crown jewel of downtown Lexington.” “For the first time in 44 years, since the 1970’s, an ornate and highly visible marquee now serves to welcome Opera House patrons and identify what live entertainment is playing and when. “We are thrilled to have a First Place prize designation for the new marquee adorning the community treasure that is the Lexington Opera House,” said Central Bank Center President and CEO. The international design competition, now in its fifth decade, included signs across 10 categories.

The new Lexington Opera House marquee was awarded a top prize in the 2020 Signs of the Times Signshop Competition, it was announced in September by sign industry news organization, Signs of the Times.ĭesigned by Eric Larson of Wagner Electric Sign Company, the Opera House marquee won first place in the category of Best Original Design and Fabrication, Illuminated, Large Shop of 2020.

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