Boston Opera House

The Boston Opera House has gone through various incarnations since its construction in 1928, shifting from an opera and vaudeville venue to a movie theater before facing demolition. It was saved from that fate, and today it's a popular venue for ballet and other types of shows.

History of the Boston Opera House

The Boston Opera House dates back to 1928, when it originally opened as the B. F. Keith Memorial Theatre, named by Edward Albee to honor Benjamin Franklin Keith, who was his collaborator and good friend. Keith originated the refined vaudeville show style popular with audiences up through the 1930s.

Albee commissioned architect Thomas White Lamb, who was well-known for his theater designs, to create a “spare no expense” building that would act as an entertainment venue while simultaneously honoring Keith's memory.  He created a building with excellent acoustics and sight lines that was originally used for vaudeville shows and movies. As vaudeville's popularity died out and the Great Depression hit, the focus shifted almost entirely to motion pictures.

Sack Theatres bought and refurbished the venue in 1965, changing its name to the Savoy Theatre and adding a second movie screen in 1973. The venerable building continued its movie theater run until 1978, when it was purchased by the Opera Company of Boston.

By 1979, the Boston Opera House gained its current name and entered a new era of hosting renowned operas. It did not bring in enough money to maintain the venue, and the deteriorating building finally closed in 1991. It continued to crumble as it sat abandoned, and by 1995, it made its way onto the National Trust for Historic Preservation's list of the 11 Most Endangered Buildings.

The building was finally saved from a sad fate by Clear Channel, which worked with Boston Mayor Thomas Menino to start a salvage project that began in 2002. The theater was renovated to accommodate large Broadway-style productions[Boston Theater] and meet modern standards while still preserving its grandeur and restoring the interior to its original glory.

The theater reopened in 2004 and was taken over a few years later by a local group. It continues to present entertainment like opera, ballets, and Broadway-style shows in a setting of turn-of-the-century ambiance and modern convenience.

Shows

Presentations at the Boston Opera House vary. Boston Ballet uses the venue frequently, and it also hosts many touring Broadway productions.  You may find celebrity presentations, dance shows, and other forms of live entertainment at the theater. You can find the schedule and ticket information online on the theater's website if you're planning to be in the city and want to take in a show. The theater still maintains the excellent sight lines and acoustics with which it was originally designed by Lamb.

Tours

You can tour the Boston Opera House without seeing a show, subject to availability. Guided walking tours cover the all of the venue's architectural highlights and even take you backstage when possible. Some access may be limited, depending on the event currently playing at the theater. The Boston Opera House website has more information on scheduling your visit. There is a charge for the tours.

Private Events

The Boston Opera House is available for rental for a wide variety of private events. You can rent various parts of the theater, depending on the size of your gathering. For example, the Grand Lobby is commonly used for things like luncheons or cocktail parties, while the Mezzanine accommodates larger groups. The Fireplace Room, which was originally the men's smoking room is a more intimate spot, as is the mirrored Versailles Room. The downstairs Walnut Room is a more private spot that accommodates both large and small events, and the VIP Lounge is popular for rental during shows as well as for other events. You can even rent the stage for anything from conferences to weddings.

Location

The Boston Opera House is located in the city's theater district. It's easily accessible via public transportation[Boston subway]. It is within walking distance of stops on the Red, Green, and Orange Lines. If you drive, there are several nearby parking garages close to the theater.