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    Venue Directory

    The Charles Playhouse


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    Blue Man Group performs at the Charles Playhouse which is conveniently located in the heart of Boston's historic theatre district at the base of Beacon Hill.

    The Charles Playhouse has had a long and varied history in Boston's entertainment district since its beginnings in 1958. The Charles Playhouse was originally designed and built in 1839 as the fifth Universalist Church, by renowned architect Asher Benjamin. In 1864 it became the first synagogue in Boston, home of the congregation Ohabei Shalom, before its transformation during Prohibiton into a speakeasy called "The Lido Venice."

    In the 1940s, during the heyday of Boston's post World War II nightclub scene, the upstairs (mainstage) was converted into a fashionable nightclub, Storyland, while downstairs reverberated with hot jazz by artists such as Fats Waller and Earl "Fatha" Hines. When the Charles Playhouse opened as a theatre in 1958, Boston drama critic Elliot Norton wrote that its rich history gave it "the proper sinned-in atmosphere to become a great theatre."

    As a theatre space, Charles Playhouse had its origins as The Charles Street Playhouse at 54 Charles Street, at the base of Beacon Hill. It was started as the Actor's Company, a group of Boston University graduates who included among their performers, Olympia Dukakis.

    The company then moved to the (current) Warrenton Street location, and with that inaugural (1958) season, the era of the Charles Playhouse began.

    The Charles Playhouse quickly moved to the forefront of America's regional theatre movement, premiering works by Brecht, O'Neill, Pirandello, and Tennessee Williams and featured performances by many stars-to-be including Al Pacino, Jill Clayburgh, and Jane Alexander.

    The Charles Playhouse continues its legacy of long runs as the current home to two long-running hits: the critically acclaimed Blue Man Group and the hilarious who-dunnit, Shear Madness.


    • At-a-
      Glance

      • Contact Info

        The Charles Playhouse

        74 Warrenton St
        Boston, MA 02116

          |   Official Website

      • Map

        Full map and directions

      • Accessibility Services

          There is no accessibility service information available at this time.

      • Accessibility Details

        At this time, the Charles Playhouse is not ADA accessible, but we do provide handicapped seating with special arrangements made directly through the theatre.

        • Current Events
          05/14/02-
          Ongoing           		 Blue Man Group
          The Charles Playhouse
        • Upcoming Events

          There are no upcoming events at this time.


      • NOTE: We do our best to ensure all information is accurate. However, it's a good idea to visit the website or call the venue to verify the information.

    • Current &
      Upcoming Events

      • Current Events
        05/14/02-
        Ongoing         		 Blue Man Group
        The Charles Playhouse
      • Upcoming Events

        There are no upcoming events at this time.

    • Past
      Events