Boston Theater District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Washington Street Theatre District
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 Location in Boston
Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Boston, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1870 |
| Architectural style | Late Gothic Revival, Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 79000370 |
| Added to NRHP | March 19, 1979 |
Welcome to the Boston Theater District! This exciting area is the heart of Boston's live performances. You'll find many amazing theaters here. They are mostly located on streets like Washington Street, Tremont Street, Boylston Street, and Huntington Avenue.
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A Look Back at Boston's Theaters
Did you know that plays were actually banned in Boston for a long time? The early settlers, called Puritans, didn't allow them until 1792. But things changed quickly! Boston's very first theater opened its doors in 1793.
By the year 1900, the Boston Theater District was booming. It had 31 theaters with space for 50,000 people to watch shows! The number of theaters grew even more. In the 1940s, Boston had over 50 theaters. That's a lot of places to catch a show!
Since the 1970s, many old theaters have been carefully fixed up. This helps keep their history alive. It also makes sure new generations can enjoy them.
Bringing Old Theaters Back to Life
Many historic theaters in Boston have been given a new life. This helps them continue to be important places for arts and learning.
For example, Suffolk University bought the Modern Theater in 2008. They worked hard to bring it back to its former glory. Now, it's open again and hosts many different kinds of performances. Because of their great work, Suffolk University won a special award in 2011. It was called a Preservation Honor Award. This award came from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Another college, Emerson College, also helped save a historic theater. They now use the Paramount Theater. It's a special place where students can live, study, and perform. It's a great example of how old buildings can be used in new and exciting ways.
The Washington Street Theatre District
A special part of Boston's theater scene is the Washington Street Theatre District. This area was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. This means it's a very important historical place.
This district includes seven buildings on the west side of Washington Street. One famous building is the Boston Opera House. It was built where the city's second theater used to stand. The entrance hall of the Opera House is very special. It's the only remaining work in Boston by a famous theater designer named Thomas W. Lamb.
Other important theaters in this district are the Paramount Theatre, built in 1932, and the Modern Theatre. For over 200 years, these theaters have shown all kinds of entertainment. This includes funny shows, singing and dancing acts called vaudeville, and movies.
Famous Theaters in Boston
Boston is home to many wonderful theaters. Here are some of them:
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- Shubert Theatre
- Wang Theater
- Boston Opera House
- Charles Playhouse
- Cutler Majestic Theatre
- Colonial Theatre
- The Lyric Stage Company of Boston
- Modern Theatre
- Orpheum Theatre
- Paramount Theatre
- Wilbur Theatre
- Huntington Theatre Company
See also
- List of former theatres in Boston
- Boston Theater Critics Association
- Boston Theater Marathon
- Theater District, Manhattan
Images for kids
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A view of the historic Washington Street Theatre District.
