Rajah Theatre; Rajah Temple | |
Address | 136 N. 6th Street Reading, Pennsylvania United States |
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Coordinates | 40°20′16″N75°55′34″W / 40.33778°N 75.92611°W |
Owner | Santander Bank |
Type | Regional |
Capacity | 1,752 |
Years active | 1922-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]
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]
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to theatre:
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