Howard Theatre facts for kids
Exterior of theatre after renovation (c. 2015)
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| Address | 620 T St. NW Washington, D.C. 20001-5117 |
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| Location | Shaw |
| Coordinates | 38°54′55″N 77°01′25″W / 38.9152388°N 77.0237138°W |
| Owner | Council of the District of Columbia |
| Operator | Blue Note Entertainment Group |
| Capacity | 700 (Reserved) 1,200 (General Admission) |
| Construction | |
| Opened | August 22, 1910 |
| Renovated | 1941, 1972, 2012 |
| Architect | J. Edward Storck |
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Building details
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| General information | |
| Opened | April 9, 2012 |
| Renovation cost | $30 million |
| Renovating team | |
| Renovating firm | Martinez & Johnson Architecture, Marshall Moya Design |
| Structural engineer | Lundy & Franke Engineering |
| Services engineer | Metropolitan Engineering |
| Civil engineer | Wiles Mensch Engineering |
| Main contractor | Whiting-Turner |
| Awards and prizes | DC Award for Excellence in Historic Resources (2012) |
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Howard Theatre
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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| Architectural style | Beaux-Arts |
| Part of | Greater U Street Historic District |
| NRHP reference No. | 74002162 |
| Added to NRHP | February 15, 1974 |
The Howard Theatre is a famous historic theater located in Washington, D.C.. It opened in 1910 and has been an important part of the community ever since. This special place was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. Today, it hosts many different events, like live music, comedy shows, weddings, and private parties.
In its early days, the theater was well-known for welcoming African-American audiences and performers. Many great Black musicians and artists from the early and mid-1900s performed there. The Howard Theatre was even called the "Theater of the People." It supported two theater groups: the Lafayette Players and the Howard University Players. In September 2010, big renovations began to make the theater shine again. It reopened on April 9, 2012, with famous acts like Wanda Sykes, Blue Öyster Cult, and Chaka Khan performing in the first month.
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The Howard Theatre's Beginnings
The Howard Theatre was built in 1910 by a company called the National Amusement Company. When it first opened, it could hold more than 1,200 people. The architect, J. Edward Storck, designed a beautiful interior with orchestra and balcony seats, plus eight special boxes near the stage.
The outside of the theater was also very grand. It mixed different styles like Beaux-Arts, Italian Renaissance, and Neoclassical. On top of the building, there was a large statue of Apollo playing his lyre, a type of harp.
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Andrew Thomas was the theater's manager in its first years. Later, in 1922, an actor and producer named Sherman Dudley took over. In 1926, Abe Lichtman, who owned many movie theaters for Black audiences, became the owner.
A Hub for Talent
During the Great Depression, the building was used as a church for a short time. But in 1931, the theater returned to its original purpose. Duke Ellington and his band performed there, helping to make "the Howard" famous as a top entertainment spot. Shep Allen, the new manager, also helped with this rebirth. In the 1930s, Allen started an amateur contest. This contest helped launch the careers of future stars like Billy Eckstine and Ella Fitzgerald.
In 1941, the Howard Theatre's original fancy front was changed to a more modern Streamline style. During World War II, Franklin Delano Roosevelt and his wife Eleanor attended special events at the theater. Performers like Danny Kaye, Abbott and Costello, and Cesar Romero entertained guests at these wartime balls. Also in the 1940s, Pearl Bailey made her first big performance at the Howard Theatre.
The Golden Age of Music
In the 1950s and 1960s, the Howard Theatre became a major venue for rock 'n' roll and rhythm and blues music. Many important artists from these music styles performed on its stage. Some of the famous names included Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington, Sammy Davis Jr., James Brown, Lena Horne, Lionel Hampton, The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Dionne Warwick, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, Marvin Gaye, and Mary Wells.
The riots in Washington, D.C. in 1968, which happened after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., caused a lot of damage to the theater. These riots, along with desegregation (which meant Black and white people could go to the same places), made it hard for the theater to attract audiences. Because of this, the theater closed in 1970.
Three years later, in 1973, the Howard Theatre Foundation was created to reopen the venue. This group successfully got the building recognized as a historic landmark in 1974. In April 1975, the New Howard Theatre Corporation held a special evening to celebrate the theater's reopening. Redd Foxx and Melba Moore were among the stars who performed. Later in the 1970s, go-go bands played there, and Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers also performed. The theater closed again in 1980. At that time, it was the oldest venue in the country that featured Black artists. The city government bought the theater for $100,000 under Mayor Marion Barry. In 2002, the DC Preservation League listed the Howard Theatre as one of the most endangered historic places in the District.
The Grand Reopening
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In 2006, the Howard Theatre was returned to private ownership. Ellis Development was chosen to renovate and restore the theater. The District government provided $20 million in public money for the renovation project.
Ellis Development, led by Chip Ellis and his son, Malik Ellis, formed a group called Howard Theatre Development Group LLC. This group received nearly $12 million from the District to redevelop and reopen the theater. To manage the theater, Ellis Development created a nonprofit organization called Howard Theatre Restoration Inc.
In September 2010, the groundbreaking ceremony for the big renovations took place. The goal was to restore the Howard Theatre to its original glory, with 600 seats. Martinez + Johnson Architecture and Marshall Moya Design were in charge of the restoration, architecture, and design. The theater officially reopened for Community Day on April 9, 2012. The grand opening event for the public was held on April 10.
Modern Performances
Since its reopening, the Howard Theatre has hosted a wide variety of famous performers. These include artists like Vic Mensa, Anthony Hamilton, Raheem DeVaughn, Chrisette Michele, Tamia, Dianne Reeves, Gregory Porter, Esperanza Spalding, Pete Yorn, José James, The Roots, Slick Rick, Chaka Khan, Sizzla, Aaron Neville, Kendrick Lamar, Sheila E, Keke Wyatt, and Todrick Hall. The theater continues to be a vibrant place for music and entertainment in Washington, D.C.
