Venue Directory
The Charles Playhouse
Comment on Facebook The Charles Playhouse is the current home of Boston's long-running hits, the critically acclaimed Blue Man Group and the longest running play in American History, the hilarious whodunnit, Shear Madness. The venue is owned and operated by Broadway In Boston.
The Charles Playhouse has had a long and varied history in Boston's Theatre District since its beginnings. The venue 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 congregation Ohabei Shalom, before its transformation during Prohibition into a speakeasy called "The Lido Venice." In the 1940s, during the heyday of Boston's PostWorld War II nightclub scene, the upstairs (mainstage) was converted into a fashionable nightclub, "Storyland," while downstairs was transformed with hot jazz by artists such as Fats Waller and Earl Fatha Hines.
The venue became The Charles Playhouse in 1958, when the building was named home to The Actors Company, a group of Boston University graduates who included among their performers, Olympia Dukakis. The Charles Playhouse name originated from The Actors Company's first home, located at The Charles Street Playhouse at 54 Charles Street, at the base of Beacon Hill. Boston drama critic Elliot Norton wrote that the venue's rich history gave it "the proper sinned-in atmosphere to become a great theater." The Charles Playhouse quickly moved to the forefront of America's regional theater 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.
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At-a-
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Contact Info
The Charles Playhouse
74 Warrenton St
Boston, MA 02116Phone: 617-426-6912 | Official Website
Hours:
The Blue Man Group Box Office is open from 12:00pm until one half hour after the final show of the day, except on Saturdays when the box office opens at 10:00am
The Shear Madness Box Office is open:
- Monday: 10:00 am–4:00 pm
- Tuesday - Friday 10:00am-8:00pm
- Saturday: 10:00am-9:00pm
- Sunday: Noon–7:00 pm
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Map
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Accessibility Services
There is no accessibility service information available at this time.
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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. Guests with accessibility questions should contact the House Manager in advance by calling the theatre at 617-426-6912.
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Current Events
05/27/13-
09/29/13Blue Man Group
The Charles Playhouse05/01/10-
OngoingShear Madness
The Charles Playhouse
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Upcoming Events
There are no upcoming events at this time.
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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.
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Current &
Upcoming Events-
Current Events
05/27/13-
09/29/13Blue Man Group
The Charles Playhouse05/01/10-
OngoingShear Madness
The Charles Playhouse
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Upcoming Events
There are no upcoming events at this time.
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Past
Events-
Past Events
06/10/13 One Fund Benefit
The Charles Playhouse
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State & Local Resources
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MADE POSSIBLE WITH SUPPORT FROM
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WITH ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF OUR REGIONAL PARTNERS
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MEDIA PARTNERS
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