Shubert Theatre (New Haven) facts for kids
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The Shubert
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The Shubert Theatre in 2024
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| Address | 247 College Street New Haven, Connecticut United States |
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| Coordinates | 41°18′23.5″N 72°55′44.6″W / 41.306528°N 72.929056°W |
| Owner |
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| Operator | CAPA |
| Capacity | 1,600 |
| Current use | Theatre and entertainment venue |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1914 |
| Closed | 1978 |
| Reopened | 1983 |
| Architect | Albert Swazey |
The Shubert Theatre is a famous 1,600-seat theater in New Haven, Connecticut. For many years, it was known as the "Birthplace of the Nation's Greatest Hits" because so many famous plays and musicals were performed here before they went to Broadway in New York City.
Today, the theater is run by a non-profit organization called the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA). This means any money it makes goes back into keeping the theater running for the community.
Contents
History of the Theatre
The Shubert Theatre first opened its doors in 1914. It was built by The Shubert Organization, a major theater company, and designed by an architect named Albert Swazey. For over 60 years, it was one of the most important theaters in the country for trying out new shows.
In the 1970s, the theater had financial problems and had to close in 1976. But the people of New Haven didn't want to lose this historic building. The city bought the theater and worked to restore its beautiful interior. A new, modern lobby was also built.
The Shubert Theatre triumphantly reopened in 1983 and has been a popular venue for plays, musicals, concerts, and other performances ever since.
A Famous Stage for New Shows
For much of its history, the Shubert was a "tryout" theater. This means that new shows would be performed here to see how audiences liked them. If a show was a big hit in New Haven, it would often move to a bigger stage on Broadway.
The theater has seen over 600 of these tryouts, including 300 world premieres. This made the Shubert a very exciting place to see a show, as you could be one of the first people to see a future classic.
What Does "Bombed in New Haven" Mean?
Not every show that tried out at the Shubert was a success. Some plays were not popular with the audience or critics and closed down before ever making it to Broadway.
This led to the popular phrase "it bombed in New Haven," which means something failed badly. The phrase became so well-known that the author Joseph Heller even named one of his plays We Bombed in New Haven.
Famous Stars on the Shubert Stage
Many of the biggest stars in Hollywood and on Broadway have performed at the Shubert. The list of famous actors includes:
- Classic Movie Stars: Marlon Brando, Humphrey Bogart, Katharine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, Jimmy Stewart, and Gene Kelly.
- Award-Winning Actors: Sidney Poitier, Gregory Peck, Henry Fonda, Julie Andrews, James Earl Jones, and Robert Redford.
- Famous Musicians: Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, and Liza Minnelli.
Famous Shows That Started Here
Some of the most beloved musicals in history had their first performances at the Shubert before becoming worldwide hits. Here are just a few of the classics that started in New Haven:
- Oklahoma! (1943) - It was called Away We Go! when it first opened here.
- Carousel (1945)
- Annie Get Your Gun (1946)
- A Streetcar Named Desire (1947)
- South Pacific (1949)
- The King and I (1951)
- The Pajama Game (1954)
- My Fair Lady (1956)
- The Sound of Music (1959)
- A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1962)
- Barefoot in the Park (1963)
- 1776 (1969)
