Orpheum Theatre (Minneapolis) facts for kids
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Hennepin Theater
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The Orpheum Theatre at night
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| Address | 910 Hennepin Avenue Minneapolis, Minnesota United States |
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| Owner | Hennepin Theatre Trust |
| Operator | Historic Theatre Group |
| Capacity | 2,579 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1921 |
| Reopened | 1993 |
| Website | |
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Hennepin Theatre
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| Built | 1921 |
| Architect | Kirchhoff & Rose |
| Architectural style | Beaux-Arts |
| NRHP reference No. | 95001548 |
| Added to NRHP | January 19, 1996 |
The Orpheum Theatre is a famous theater located in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. It's one of four old theaters on Hennepin Avenue that have been brought back to life. The others are the Pantages Theatre, the State Theatre, and the Shubert Theatre.
Contents
A Look at the Orpheum Theatre's History
The Orpheum Theatre first opened its doors on October 16, 1921. It was originally called the Hennepin Theater. The very first performers there were the famous Marx Brothers! More than 70,000 people came to see shows during its first week.
A Big Stage for Big Stars
When it opened, the Orpheum was known as the largest vaudeville house in the country. Vaudeville was a type of entertainment with many different acts, like comedy, music, and dance. Famous entertainers like Jack Benny, George Burns, and Fanny Brice performed here. Big bands, including those led by Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, and Count Basie, also played their music at the Orpheum.
Inside the Theater
The theater has two main parts. There's a long lobby that stretches back from the street. Then, there's the main auditorium where the shows happen. The lobby has six cool sculptures made of baked clay, called terra cotta bas reliefs. The auditorium is very fancy, with lots of decorations like garlands and medallions. The ceiling even has a huge dome covered with 30,000 shiny squares of aluminum leaf!
Seating for Everyone
Today, the Orpheum Theatre can seat about 2,600 people. About 1,500 guests can sit on the main floor. Another 1,100 can sit on the three levels of the balcony.
Famous Shows and Musicals
Many popular musicals have had their very first performances, or "premieres," at the Orpheum. These include Victor/Victoria, Disney's The Lion King, and The 101 Dalmatians Musical.
The Orpheum's Journey and Renovation
In 1988, the Orpheum was sold to the City of Minneapolis by musician Bob Dylan, who had owned it since 1979. The city decided to give the theater a big makeover.
Bringing the Theater Back to Life
The Orpheum was renovated and reopened in 1993. The city wanted to make Hennepin Avenue a fun place for entertainment again. The nearby State Theatre had already been fixed up. The Orpheum had a deeper stage, which was perfect for huge shows like Miss Saigon. This musical was set to open there in 1994.
Discoveries During Renovation
The renovation cost $10 million. During the first part of the work in 1993, the stage was made almost 20 feet longer. Workers carefully removed bricks from the back wall to do this. They also found some amazing hidden art! Behind old curtains and walls in the lobby, they discovered six beautiful sculptures called Pompeiian friezes. These were almost completely untouched.
After its big renovation, the Orpheum reopened in December 1993 with a concert by the band Heart. In January 1994, the Broadway show Miss Saigon officially opened there. In 2005, the city gave ownership of its theaters, including the Orpheum, to the Hennepin Theatre Trust.
Entertainment at the Orpheum
The Orpheum Theatre has hosted many different kinds of shows over the years.
Music Concerts
- Cheap Trick - November 23, 1983
- Phish - November 26, 1994 (known for a very long version of "David Bowie")
- Barenaked Ladies
- Luis Miguel - February 12, 2000
- Crowded House - September 9, 2007
- Diana Krall - March 15, 2002 and August 7, 2015
- Barry Manilow - February 28 - March 1, 2002
- John Prine - September 30, 2000
- Celtic Woman - Many shows between 2005 and 2017
- Brian Wilson - Several shows between 2004 and 2018
Comedy Shows
- Jeff Foxworthy taped his special Have Your Loved Ones Spayed or Neutered here in 2004.
- Larry the Cable Guy taped Morning Constitutions here in 2006.
- Both Jeff Foxworthy and Larry the Cable Guy recorded their Netflix special We've Been Thinking here in 2016.
TV Shows
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon recorded its Super Bowl postgame show here in 2018.
Popular Musicals
- Waitress
- Mamma Mia!
- The Lion King
- The Phantom of the Opera
