Charles Playhouse facts for kids
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| Address | Boston, Massachusetts United States |
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| Owner | John Gore Organization |
| Capacity | 500 (main stage) 200 (second stage) |
| Production | Blue Man Group and stand-up comedy |
| Opened | 1957 |
| Website | |
| http://www.charlesplayhouse.com/ | |
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Charles Playhouse
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1839 |
| Architect | Asher Benjamin |
| NRHP reference No. | 80000676 |
| Added to NRHP | June 16, 1980 |
The Charles Playhouse is a famous theater located at 74 Warrenton Street in Boston, Massachusetts. It is part of Boston's exciting Theater District. This special place has two main stages. The biggest stage can hold about 500 people and is home to the amazing Blue Man Group show. The second stage is smaller, seating around 200 people, and is now a fun comedy club called Lil Chuck.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
The Charles Playhouse first opened its doors in 1957. It was originally located on Charles Street. In 1958, the theater moved to its current home on Warrenton Street. The building itself is very old and has a rich history. It was built way back in 1839.
The Building's Many Lives
- 1839: The building started as the Fifth Universalist Church. It was designed by a famous architect named Asher Benjamin.
- 1864: It became the second home for Congregation Ohabei Shalom, which was Boston's very first synagogue.
- Later: The building changed again and became a secret club called The Lido Venice. This was during a time when certain drinks were not allowed.
- Jazz Age: It then transformed into a popular ballroom and cafe called The Southland. Many famous jazz artists played here, like Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and Cab Calloway.
Early Days of the Playhouse
In 1958, the Charles Playhouse put on a new version of a play called The Iceman Cometh. The theater's first artistic director, Michael Murray, led the company until 1968. Frank Sugrue was the managing director and one of the founders. Many actors who later became big stars performed here. These included Al Pacino, Olympia Dukakis, Jill Clayburgh, Jane Alexander, Ned Beatty, and John Cazale.
The theater was known for showing new plays by important writers like Brecht and Beckett. They also performed classic plays by Shakespeare and Ibsen. The Charles Playhouse was seen as one of the first important regional theaters in America. It helped start a movement where theaters outside of New York City became very popular.
Changes in Ownership
In 1995, Frank Sugrue sold the Charles Playhouse to Jon B. Platt. Platt also ran another theater in Boston. A few years later, in 1998, Platt sold his Boston theaters to a company called SFX Entertainment. This company is now known as Live Nation. In 2008, Live Nation sold most of its theater businesses, including the Charles Playhouse. It was bought by Key Brand Entertainment, which is now called the John Gore Organization.
What's Happening Now?
For 40 years, the second stage at the Charles Playhouse was home to a very popular show called Shear Madness. This play was one of the longest-running shows in American theater history! However, it closed in March 2020 because of the COVID-19 epidemic.
In October 2024, the second stage reopened with a new name: Lil Chuck. It is now a dedicated comedy club. Interestingly, this stage was Boston's very first comedy venue when it opened as the Comedy Connection in 1978. Today, the main stage continues to host the exciting and unique performances of the Blue Man Group.
See also
