Lincoln Theatre (New Haven, Connecticut) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Lincoln Theatre
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Location | 1 Lincoln St., New Haven, Connecticut |
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Area | less than one acre |
Built | 1924 |
Architect | Russell, Samuel G.; Gray, George H. |
Architectural style | Modern Movement, Modern Free-Style |
NRHP reference No. | 84001134 |
Added to NRHP | March 1, 1984 |
The Lincoln Theatre is a special old building in New Haven, Connecticut. It's also known as the Little Theatre on Lincoln Street. This historic place was built in 1924. It's very important because it's the only building left in Connecticut from a time called the Little Theatre Movement. This movement happened between 1911 and 1933. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. After a big renovation in the 2010s, the theater reopened. Today, it is known as the ACES Little Theatre.
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Discovering the Lincoln Theatre
The Lincoln Theatre is located on Lincoln Street in New Haven. This street is a short dead end road. It is about three blocks north of the famous New Haven Green. The theater building has several parts. It has an entrance and a main show area at the front. Behind that are spaces for the stage and dressing rooms. A newer section made of glass and stone was added to the side.
A Look at the Theater's Design
The main part of the theater has a roof shaped like a triangle. This covers the entry and the main auditorium. The back areas are where actors get ready. They also hold all the equipment for plays. The newer part of the building has a modern look. It blends well with the older structure.
The Theater's Journey Through Time
The Lincoln Theatre was built in 1924. It was the only theater made specifically for a "Little Theatre" group in Connecticut. There were about a dozen such groups in the state. This theater was very active until 1935. A professor from Yale University, Jack Randall Crawford, helped lead many creative projects here.
Changes Over the Years
In 1935, the Federal Theater Project took over the building. This project was part of the Works Progress Administration. It was a government program that helped support artists. This project ended in 1939. After that, the theater showed plays until 1945. Then, it became a movie theater. It showed movies from other countries and special art films. The theater closed its doors in 1982.
A New Chapter for the Theater
In 1986, a local education group bought the building. This group is called ACES Educational Center for the Arts. It is a public arts school. The theater was mostly used for their own events. Sometimes, it was open to the public. In 2012, the theater went through a big update. The special Art Deco style inside the building was carefully kept.