Santander Performing Arts Center

Last updated
Santander Performing Arts Center
Rajah Theatre; Rajah Temple
Santander Performing Arts Center
Address136 N. 6th Street
Reading, Pennsylvania
United States
Coordinates 40°20′16″N75°55′34″W / 40.33778°N 75.92611°W / 40.33778; -75.92611
Owner Santander Bank
TypeRegional
Capacity 1,752
Years active1922-present

The Santander Performing Arts Center (formerly known as the Rajah Theatre or Rajah Temple, and Sovereign Performing Arts Center) is a historic theatre in Reading, Pennsylvania. It is the current home of the Reading Symphony Orchestra and the "Broadway on 6th St" annual series of musicals and plays. [1]

History

Built in 1922 under the name The Rajah Temple, it was second structure owned by the Shriners that operated as a dual purpose public theatre and temple for the masons in the city of Reading and the third building to be known as the Rajah Temple. [2] The first Rajah Temple was originally the St. Matthew Lutheran Church property at Pearl and Franklin Streets, which was purchased by the Shriners in 1892. [2] In 1917 the Shriners purchased the Academy of Music, a theatre in Reading, and relocated their temple to that location where it continued to operate as the Rajah Temple and Rajah Theatre for public performances and freemason events. [2] That structure was destroyed by fire on May 21, 1921. [2]

In November 1922 construction began on the current theatre. It operated as a performance arts venue for vaudeville, operas, concerts, plays, and a movie theatre at various times during the 20th century. [2] In 2000 the Berks County Convention Center Authority oversaw the acquisition and renovation of the theatre by Sovereign Bank; who rebranded the theater as the Sovereign Performing Arts Center. [1] Sovereign Bank was rebranded as Santander Bank on October 17, 2013; and the performing arts center for which it has naming rights were also rebranded. [3] It is now the home of the Reading Symphony Orchestra and the "Broadway on 6th St" annual series of musicals and plays. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of theatre</span> Overview of and topical guide to theatre

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to theatre:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santander Arena</span> Sports arena in Pennsylvania, U.S.

The Santander Arena is a 7,160-seat multi-purpose arena, in Reading, Pennsylvania. It was built in 2001. The arena sits on the former site of the Astor Theater; one of several grand movie and theater palaces built in Reading in the early 20th century. Closed in 1975, the theater sat vacant for over two decades. In 1998, the Astor was demolished to make room for the Santander Arena. Early in construction, steps were taken to retain mementos of the Astor, including its ornate Art Deco chandelier and gates. These are on display and in use inside the arena corridors, allowing insight into the ambience of the former movie house.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ohio Theatre (Columbus, Ohio)</span> Theater and former movie theater in Columbus, Ohio

The Ohio Theatre is a performing arts center and former movie palace on Capitol Square in Downtown Columbus, Ohio. Known as the "Official Theatre of the State of Ohio", the 1928 building was saved from demolition in 1969 and was later completely restored. The theater was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1977 as one of the nation's finest surviving grand theaters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Denver Performing Arts Complex</span> Entertainment complex in Colorado, U.S.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">State Theatre (New Brunswick, New Jersey)</span>

State Theatre New Jersey is a nonprofit theater, located in New Brunswick, New Jersey. It has seating for 1,850 people. Designed by architect Thomas W. Lamb in 1921, it is one of the oldest theaters in the State of New Jersey.

The culture of St. Louis, Missouri includes a variety of attractions located within the city of St. Louis, Missouri, and in surrounding communities in Greater St. Louis, such as local museums, attractions, music, performing arts venues, and places of worship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts</span> Performing arts center in Jacksonville, Florida

The Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts (JCPA) is a performing arts center located in Jacksonville, Florida. Situated along the Riverbank, the venue is known as the First Coast’s "premiere riverfront entertainment facility". Originally opening in 1962, the facility was renovated beginning in 1995 until 1997; with a grand re-opening on February 8, 1997. The center consists of three venues: a theatre; concert hall and recital hall. It is home to the Jacksonville Symphony, Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestra, and the FSCJ Artist Series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santander Bank</span> Wholly owned subsidiary of Spanish Santander Group

Santander Bank, N. A., formerly Sovereign Bank, is an American bank operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Spanish Santander Group. It is based in Boston and its principal market is the northeastern United States. It has $57.5 billion in deposits, operates about 650 retail banking offices and over 2,000 ATMs, and employs approximately 9,800 people. It offers an array of financial services and products, including retail banking, mortgages, corporate banking, cash management, credit card, capital markets, trust and wealth management, and insurance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center</span>

Blumenthal Performing Arts is a non-profit, multi-venue performing arts complex located in Charlotte, North Carolina. It opened in 1992 and is named in honor of the people of the state of North Carolina and the Blumenthal Foundation established by I.D. Blumenthal who founded RSC Brands, the largest private donor to the capital campaign. The idea for the center dates back to the late 1970s. Momentum for the project grew in the 1980s resulting in a $15 million allocation from the state of North Carolina, approval of a $15 million bond by the citizens of Charlotte and an additional $32 million contributed by individuals, corporations and foundations. In 1987 the Belk Brothers donated a valuable piece of land as the site of the new theatre complex. Total construction cost for the Blumenthal Center was over $62 million.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Count Basie Center for the Arts</span> Theater in Red Bank, New Jersey, United States

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players</span> Repertory theatre

New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players is a professional repertory theatre company, based in New York City that has specialized in the comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan for over 40 years. It performs an annual season in New York City and tours extensively in North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Performing arts in Louisville, Kentucky</span>

The performing arts community in Louisville, Kentucky is undergoing a renaissance. The Kentucky Center, dedicated in 1983, located in the downtown hotel and entertainment district, is a premiere performing arts center. It features a variety of plays and concerts, and is the performance home of the Louisville Ballet, Louisville Orchestra, Broadway Across America - Louisville, Music Theatre Louisville, Stage One, KentuckyShow! and the Kentucky Opera, which is the twelfth oldest opera in the United States. The center also manages the historic W. L. Lyons Brown Theatre, which opened in 1925 and is patterned after New York's acclaimed Music Box Theatre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heinz Hall</span> Performing arts center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Heinz Hall is a performing arts center and concert hall located at 600 Penn Avenue in the Cultural District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Home to the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (PSO) and the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra, the 2,676 seat hall presents about 200 performances each year. Originally built in 1927 as Loew's Penn Theatre, the former movie palace was renovated and reopened as Heinz Hall in 1971.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laura Osnes</span> American actress

Laura Ann Osnes is an American actress and singer known for her work on the Broadway stage. She has played starring roles in Grease as Sandy, South Pacific as Nellie Forbush, Anything Goes as Hope Harcourt, and Bonnie and Clyde as Bonnie Parker, for which she received a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical. She also starred in the title role of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella on Broadway, for which she received a Drama Desk Award and her second Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miller Symphony Hall</span>

Miller Symphony Hall is a 1,100-seat performing arts facility in Allentown, Pennsylvania that hosts the Allentown Symphony Orchestra. The hall was previously known as Central Market (1896), Lyric Theater (1899), and Allentown Symphony Hall (1959). In 2012, it was renamed for the Miller family, longtime owners of the hall and of The Morning Call newspaper.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old National Centre</span> Performing arts center in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.

The Old National Centre, formerly known as the Murat Shrine Temple and the Murat Shrine Center, is located at North and New Jersey streets in Indianapolis, Indiana, and is owned by the Murat Shriners of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. The theater portion of the building is now known as the Murat Theatre at Old National Centre or simply the Murat Theatre and houses the oldest extant stage house in downtown Indianapolis. It is the only Shrine Center in the world with a name of French origin and is the largest Shrine Center in North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richmond CenterStage</span>

Richmond CenterStage is a performing arts center in Richmond, Virginia, that includes the Altria Theatre. The theatre was formerly known as the Carpenter Theatre Center for the Performing Arts. The Carpenter Theatre was originally a Loew's Theatre movie palace developed by the Loew's Theatres company and designed by John Eberson. The building's construction began in 1927, with its doors opening in 1928. The Altria Theatre was constructed a year earlier, in 1926, and was originally a Shriners hall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew McKinley</span> American opera singer

Andrew McKinley was an American operatic tenor, violinist, arts administrator, music educator, and school administrator. Although he mainly performed in the United States, he had an active international singing career with major opera companies and symphony orchestras from the 1940s through the 1960s. His repertoire spanned a wide range, from leading tenor parts to character roles.

The performing arts in Detroit include orchestra, live music, and theater, with more than a dozen performing arts venues. The stages and old time film palaces are generally located along Woodward Avenue, the city's central thoroughfare, in the Downtown, Midtown, and New Center areas. Some additional venues are located in neighborhood areas of the city. Many of the city's significant historic theaters have been revitalized.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Mark S. Rosentraub (2014). Reversing Urban Decline: Why and How Sports, Entertainment, and Culture Turn Cities Into Major League Winners, Second Edition. Taylor & Francis. p. 314. ISBN   9781482206210.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Charles Jesse Adams (2000). Reading in Vintage Postcards. Arcadia Publishing. pp. 105–107.
  3. GOSSELIN, KENNETH R. (16 October 2013). "Sovereign Bank Name Changes To Santander". courant.com. Retrieved 2019-03-08.