Wang Theatre

The Wang Theatre is a historic performing-arts venue at 252–272 Tremont Street in Boston, Massachusetts. It opened in 1925 as the Metropolitan Theatre and remains one of the major historic theaters in Boston's Theatre District. The building was developed by Max Shoolman and designed principally by Boston architect Clarence Blackall, with assistance from Detroit theater architect C. Howard Crane. Its original capacity exceeded 3,600 seats, making it suitable for large-scale theatrical productions, opera, ballet, concerts, films, and touring entertainment. The venue has operated under several names that reflect changes in its programming, institutional role, and sponsorship. After opening as the Metropolitan Theatre, it became known as the Music Hall in 1962, when it became the home of the Boston Ballet. During the 1960s and 1970s, the theater hosted prominent international companies and artists, including the Stuttgart Opera, Metropolitan Opera, Bolshoi Ballet, and Kirov Ballet, alongside popular films and contemporary performing artists. The Grateful Dead performed there repeatedly, including 16 appearances between 1971 and 1978. Bob Marley and the Wailers also performed at the venue in 1978; that concert was later issued in 2015 as the live release Easy Skanking in Boston '78. As the touring-entertainment industry changed, the building's large stage and outdated production infrastructure made it less competitive for major touring companies. In 1980 it was converted into a nonprofit center and renamed the Metropolitan Center, a change intended to support renewed theatrical and cultural use. In 1983, a major donation from computer-industry executive and philanthropist An Wang led to the name Wang Center. The venue is now generally known as the Wang Theatre. A substantial restoration program took place from 1989 to 1992. Approximately $9.8 million was raised for the work, which sought to recover the theater's elaborate 1920s character while improving its ability to host modern performances. Boston-based Finegold Alexander & Associates led the architectural restoration, while Conrad Schmitt Studios worked on decorative elements including gilded moldings, murals, scagliola, and marbleized surfaces. The Boston Landmarks Commission designated the theater a Boston Landmark in 1990, during the restoration period. The venue is operated as part of the Boch Center, a Boston nonprofit performing-arts organization that also operates the adjacent Shubert Theatre. Its role combines historic preservation with live entertainment, including concerts, theatrical productions, dance, family programming, and other touring events. In 2008, the then Citi Performing Arts Center announced a co-booking arrangement with The Madison Square Garden Company, illustrating the theater's effort to strengthen its national touring pipeline. The building has also served as a filming location, including scenes in American Hustle and The Witches of Eastwick. The Wang Theatre's identity therefore rests on both its architectural heritage and its continuing use as a large-scale cultural venue.

The building that is now the Wang Theatre opened in 1925 as the Metropolitan Theatre. It was developed by Max Shoolman and designed by Clarence Blackall, with assistance from C. Howard Crane. The theater was built for large audiences, with seating for more than 3,600 people, and occupied a prominent site on Tremont Street in Boston's Theatre District. In 1962, the venue became the home of the Boston Ballet and adopted the name Music Hall. Its programming during the 1960s and 1970s extended well beyond ballet. The theater presented international opera and dance organizations such as the Stuttgart Opera, Metropolitan Opera, Bolshoi Ballet, and Kirov Ballet. It also hosted popular films and touring performers. The Grateful Dead played 16 concerts at the venue between 1971 and 1978, while Bob Marley and the Wailers appeared there in 1978. The theater later faced operational difficulties because its stage dimensions and production facilities were no longer well suited to the requirements of major touring companies. In 1980, it was converted into a nonprofit cultural center and renamed the Metropolitan Center. The nonprofit model enabled the venue to attract theatrical and other performing-arts activity again. A major change in identity came in 1983, when Dr. An Wang made a substantial donation and the theater was renamed the Wang Center. From 1989 through 1992, a restoration campaign raised approximately $9.8 million to recover the building's historic appearance and improve its condition. Finegold Alexander & Associates handled the architectural work, and Conrad Schmitt Studios restored or recreated decorative features including gilded moldings, murals, scagliola, and marbleized surfaces. The Boston Landmarks Commission designated the building a Boston Landmark in 1990. The venue subsequently became known as the Wang Theatre and was operated as part of the Boch Center. In 2008, the Citi Performing Arts Center, the organization then associated with the venue, announced a co-booking arrangement with The Madison Square Garden Company. This represented an effort to expand the theater's access to national touring productions and live entertainment bookings. The building has also had a secondary role in popular culture as a filming location. Its lobby appeared in American Hustle for live-band performance and casino scenes, and it was used in The Witches of Eastwick as part of the home associated with Jack Nicholson's character. The 1978 Bob Marley performance was later preserved for a wider audience through the 2015 release Easy Skanking in Boston '78. Today, the Wang Theatre continues to function as a historic Boston venue for concerts, theater, dance, family events, and other touring productions while retaining its restored early twentieth-century architectural character.

• 2015

  Easy Skanking in Boston '78 released

  [1]Wang Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The recording of Bob Marley and the Wailers' 1978 concert at the venue is released.

• 2008

  Co-booking arrangement announced

  [1]Wang Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The Citi Performing Arts Center announces a co-booking relationship with The Madison Square Garden Company.

• 1992

  Major restoration completed

  [1]Wang Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  A restoration campaign conducted from 1989 to 1992 concludes after renewing the theater's historic architectural and decorative elements.

• 1990

  Designated a Boston Landmark

  [1]Wang Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The Boston Landmarks Commission designates the theater as a Boston Landmark.

• 1983

  Renamed Wang Center

  [1]Wang Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  A major donation from Dr. An Wang leads to the theater adopting the Wang Center name.

• 1980

  Converted into a nonprofit center

  [1]Wang Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The venue is converted to a nonprofit center and renamed the Metropolitan Center.

• 1962

  Venue becomes Music Hall and home of the Boston Ballet

  [1]Wang Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The theater is renamed the Music Hall and becomes the home of the Boston Ballet.

• 1925

  Metropolitan Theatre opens

  [1]Wang Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The venue opens on Tremont Street as the Metropolitan Theatre, with a capacity of more than 3,600 seats.

A landmark Boston performing-arts venue that combines a richly restored 1920s theater interior with the capacity and location needed for major touring entertainment.

• Performing-arts venue · 1925

  Wang Theatre venue rental and presentation

  The theater's core offering is a large historic auditorium for public performances and special events. Its restored 1920s interiors, central Boston location, and capacity of more than 3,600 seats support concerts, theatrical productions, opera, ballet, dance, films, family entertainment, and other touring presentations.

• 2008

  Co-booking partnershipStrategy

  Background

  The venue sought to maintain and expand its access to major touring entertainment.

  Action taken

  The Citi Performing Arts Center announced a co-booking arrangement with The Madison Square Garden Company.

  Aftermath

  The partnership was intended to support touring-event bookings at the theater.

  Source

• 1989

  Historic restoration campaignStrategy

  Background

  The theater required substantial renewal to preserve its historic character and remain suitable for contemporary performances.

  Action taken

  A restoration campaign was conducted from 1989 to 1992, with architectural work by Finegold Alexander & Associates and decorative restoration by Conrad Schmitt Studios.

  Aftermath

  The building's gilded moldings, murals, scagliola, marbleized surfaces, and other period features were restored, reinforcing its role as a landmark venue.

  Restoration fundraising. (1989-1992)

  Source

• 1983

  Name change following An Wang donationOther

  Background

  The nonprofit venue sought support for its continued cultural and performing-arts role.

  Action taken

  Following a substantial donation from Dr. An Wang, the theater adopted the name Wang Center.

  Aftermath

  The Wang name became the basis of the venue's current identity as the Wang Theatre.

  Source

• 1980

  Conversion to nonprofit cultural-center operationStrategy

  Background

  The theater's stage size and outdated production facilities had made it harder to attract large touring companies.

  Action taken

  The venue was converted into a nonprofit center and renamed the Metropolitan Center.

  Aftermath

  The new operating model enabled the theater to attract theatrical performances again.

  Source

1. 1Wang Theatreen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Boch Centerbochcenter.org