Dock Street Theatre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Dock Street Theatre
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Dock Street Theatre
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 Location in South Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Location | 135 Church Street Charleston, South Carolina |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | ca. 1809 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001684 |
| Added to NRHP | June 19, 1973 |
The Dock Street Theatre is a famous theater in downtown Charleston, South Carolina. It's located in the historic French Quarter neighborhood. This theater has a long and interesting history.
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A Look Back at the Dock Street Theatre
The building you see today was first a hotel in 1809. Later, in 1935, it became a theater. But even before that, this spot was home to America's very first building made just for plays! It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1973. This means it's a really important historical site.
The very first Dock Street Theatre opened on February 12, 1736. It showed a play called The Recruiting Officer by George Farquhar. This was the first building in America made only for theater shows. The first opera ever performed in America, called Flora, also happened here. The theater was built on the corner of Church Street and Dock Street. Dock Street is now known as Queen Street.
Rebuilding After the Great Fire
The first Dock Street Theatre was likely destroyed by the Great Fire of 1740. This fire burned many buildings in Charleston's French Quarter. In 1809, a new building was built on the same spot. It was called the Planter's Hotel.
In 1835, beautiful wrought iron balconies were added. Sandstone columns were also put on the Church Street side. Many famous people stayed or worked at the Planter's Hotel. One was Junius Brutus Booth, a well-known actor. He was the father of actors Edwin and John Wilkes Booth.
Robert Smalls, a brave African-American Civil War hero, also worked there. He was a waiter in the hotel's dining room before the war. He later stole a steamboat and sailed it past Fort Sumter. He then gave it to the Union Fleet. The famous Charleston drink, Planter's Punch, was first served at this hotel.
Major Changes in 1935
After the Civil War, the Planter's Hotel became old and run-down. It was almost torn down. But in 1935, during the Great Depression, things changed. Milton Pearlstine gave the property to the City of Charleston. Mayor Burnet Maybank and others wanted to save it.
The building became a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project. The WPA was a program that helped people find jobs during the Depression. Workers built the new theater inside the old hotel. The hotel's grand entrance became the theater's grand foyer. The hotel's dining room is now the box-office lobby.
Douglas Ellington was the main architect. Local architects Simons & Lapham helped supervise the work. Beautiful wooden details and fireplaces were saved from another old mansion. This mansion was torn down to build a gym for the College of Charleston.
The new theater was designed to look like London playhouses from the 1700s. Local carpenters used black cypress wood from the area. This $350,000 renovation finished in 1937. The Historic Dock Street Theatre reopened on November 26, 1937. Author DuBose Heyward, who wrote Porgy, was there. He became the theater's writer-in-residence.
Modern Upgrades in 2010
The Historic Dock Street Theatre reopened for the third time on March 18, 2010. This was after a three-year, $19 million renovation. The theater was updated for the 21st century. It got new lighting and sound systems. Modern heating and air conditioning were also added. New restrooms and seating made it more comfortable.
The building was made safer against earthquakes. It also became fully accessible for people with disabilities. Special sound-proofing was added. This keeps outside noises from disturbing performances.
Today, the City of Charleston owns and manages the theater. It hosts many cultural events, including Spoleto Festival USA. Charleston Stage is the theater's main professional company. They perform over 120 shows each season. More than 40,000 people come to watch their plays every year. Also, over 15,000 students from South Carolina enjoy special school performances here.
See also
- Charleston Theatre
