Location Boston, Massachusetts NRHP Reference # 79000370 Added to NRHP 19 March 1979 | Architect Multiple Year built 1870 | |
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Architectural style Late Gothic Revival, Italianate, Other | ||
The Boston Theater District is the center of Boston's theater scene. Many of its theaters are on Tremont Street and Boylston Street.
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Its shows range from Broadway shows to repertory-company productions. It is small compared to New York City's Theater District, and serves as a staging area for shows on their way to Broadway.
History
Plays were banned in Boston by the Puritans until 1792. Boston's first theater opened in 1793. In 1900, the Boston Theater District had 31 theaters, with 50,000 seats. In the 1940s, the city had over 50 theaters. Since the 1970s, developers have renovated old theaters.
Revitalization
Suffolk University bought the Modern Theater in 2008. It has since reopened and hosts a variety of performances. For their efforts, Suffolk won a Preservation Honor Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 2011.
Emerson College now utilizes the Paramount Theater as "a first-of-its-kind mixed-use residential, academic, and performance venue."
Washington Street Theatre District
Washington Street Theatre District is a historic district at 511–559 Washington Street in the Theater District.