Teatro de la Cruz facts for kids
The Teatro de la Cruz was a very important theater in Madrid, Spain. It was a main place for comedy plays for almost 200 years. Many famous Spanish plays were first shown on its stage.
Contents
History of the Theater
How the Theater Started
The Teatro de la Cruz was built in 1584. It was started by a group called the Hermandad de la Soledad. Soon, it became the most important theater for Spanish comedy plays of its time. People loved to go there to watch funny shows.
Big Changes and New Look
In 1743, the theater got a big makeover. An architect named Pedro de Ribera led the project. He made the theater much more modern. After the changes, it could hold 1500 people. This made it one of the biggest and best theaters in Madrid.
Why the Theater Was Demolished
In the 1800s, people started to think the theater looked old-fashioned. In 1849, a special rule from the government, called a Royal Order, said the theater was "a shame of art." They ordered it to be torn down.
The theater did not close right away. It opened again in 1850. But it closed for good between 1852 and 1857. Finally, in 1859, the Teatro de la Cruz was torn down.
Today, a small plaque shows where the theater used to be. You can find it in central Madrid, where Calle Espoz y Mina meets Calle de la Cruz.
Famous Plays at the Teatro de la Cruz
Many important plays had their first show at this theater. Some of these include:
- El barón (1803) by Leandro Fernandez de Moratin
- La mojigata (1804) by Leandro Fernandez de Moratin
- El sí de las niñas (1806) by Leandro Fernandez de Moratin
- Don Juan Tenorio (1844) by José Zorrilla
These plays are still famous in Spanish theater history.
