It was great to see the community back in the Opera House during the Oamaru Operatic Society's production of Oklahoma!, Opera House director Richard McWha said.
The society staged the musical as part of a shakedown period for the restored and refurbished Opera House.
While it will not open until February, it was an opportunity to evaluate the venue and its systems ahead of the opening.
There had been "no major nasty surprises" and there had been very positive feedback from the public, he said.
He was close to being able to release details about the community festival being planned to celebrate the reopening of the building after its $9.7 million redevelopment.
A replica window using original glass has been reinstated high on the front of the building, replacing a coat-of-arms which was installed well after the building was built.
