Capitol Theatre (Moncton) facts for kids
The Capitol Theatre
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| Location | 811 Main Street Moncton, New Brunswick E1C 1G1 |
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| Coordinates | 46°05′18″N 64°46′45″W / 46.08825°N 64.779068°W |
| Capacity | 800 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1922 |
| Rebuilt | 1993 |
| Website | |
| www.capitol.nb.ca | |
The Capitol Theatre (also known as Théâtre Capitol in French) is a famous building in downtown Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. It was built a long time ago, in the 1920s, and used to be a place for exciting live shows called vaudeville. Today, it has been beautifully restored and is a main spot for fun cultural events in the city.
Contents
A Look Back: History of the Capitol Theatre
The Capitol Theatre is designed in a special style called Italianate architecture. It has a large main hall, like an opera house, where many people can watch shows. There is also a smaller theatre called the Empress Theatre, located on the second floor. The Capitol Theatre even has an art gallery where you can see cool artworks.
How the Theatre Was Built
A talented architect named René-Arthur Fréchet designed the Capitol Theatre in 1920. The inside was decorated in a Romanesque style by a theatre designer named Emmanual Briffa. Sadly, the theatre burned down in 1926. But it was quickly rebuilt by Ambrose Wheeler. After that, it was used for showing movies and hosting live vaudeville acts.
Bringing the Theatre Back to Life
In 1991, the City of Moncton bought the building. They decided to bring it back to its original glory. The theatre was carefully restored in 1992. It officially reopened in 1993 as a place for many different kinds of performances.
A Special Historic Place
In 1996, the Capitol Theatre was named a Local Historic Place. This means it's a very important building because of its history and design. It's a great example of an Italianate opera house from the 1920s in Canada. The Capitol Theatre is the oldest theatre still standing in Moncton. It's also one of only three theatres in New Brunswick built before World War II. What's more, it's one of the few theatres from that time designed by a Canadian architect, René-Arthur Fréchet. It's also one of only eight theatres in Canada that has been truly restored to look just like it did in the 1920s.
What You Can See and Do There
The Capitol Theatre has several different areas for performances and art.
Performance Areas
- Capitol Theatre Main Hall: This is the biggest space, with 782 seats. It's perfect for large shows.
- Empress Theatre: This is a smaller, more flexible space. It's a black-box theatre style, which means it can be set up in many ways. It can hold up to 200 people.
- Capitol Theatre Art Gallery: A place to enjoy different art exhibits.
- Pearce Lounge Balcony Lobby: A comfortable area for guests.
- Main Lobby: The main entrance area where people gather.
Types of Shows and Events
The Capitol Theatre is home to the Symphony New Brunswick and the Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada. These groups perform there regularly. The theatre also hosts many other artists from Moncton, across Canada, and even from other countries. You can see all kinds of performing arts, like music, dance, and plays. The theatre also has special programs for the local community.
External Links
- Official Website: http://www.capitol.nb.ca/
- Parks On The Air CA-6238
