Prince Theater
Map
Former namesKarlton Theater,
Midtown Theater,
Prince Music Theater
Address1412 Chestnut Street,
Philadelphia PA 19102,
United States
LocationPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Coordinates39°57′03″N 75°09′53″W / 39.950878°N 75.164675°W / 39.950878; -75.164675
Typetheatre, performing arts center, Opera house, Concert Hall, movie theater
Genre(s)Musical theatre, opera, Film, theatre, Dance, world music
CapacityMainstage: 450
Black Box: 80
OpenedTheatre opened in 1921
American Music Theater Festival founded in 1984.
Prince Theater opened in 1999
Website
filmadelphia.org/phila-film-center/

The Prince Theater is a non-profit theatrical producing organization located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and specializing in music theatre, including opera, music drama, musical comedy and experimental forms. Founded in 1984 as the American Music Theater Festival by Marjorie Samoff, Eric Salzman and Ron Kaiserman, for the first 15 years AMTF performed in various venues throughout Philadelphia. In March 1999,[1] AMTF moved into the renovated Midtown Theater and changed its name in honor of Broadway producer and director Harold Prince.[2] AMTF/Prince Theater produced 92 world premieres and sent 81 productions to theaters in New York and worldwide.[citation needed]

History

The American Music Theater Festival was founded in 1984 by Marjorie Samoff, Eric Salzman, and Ron Kaiserman.[3] Salzman was the artistic director beginning with the first festival in 1984.[3] The budget for the first year was $1.2 million, and six productions were shown.[3] The venues for the first season were Walnut Street Theatre, Trocadero Theatre, Port of History Museum Theater, and Philadelphia College of Art.[4] The venues for the second season in 1985 were the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Walnut Street Theatre, and Mandell Theater at Drexel University.[5][6]

The Prince Music Theater organization went bankrupt in 2010 and the building was subsequently sold at auction to a real estate group, which leased it to a successor organization also named the Prince Music Theater.[7]

The 450-seat theater closed in November 2014.[7] On March 5, 2015, the theater was bought by the Philadelphia Film Society, with the venue name changed to Prince Theater.[7]

Notable productions

The Prince Theater productions (primarily as the American Music Theater Festival) have included the world premieres of

Revivals have included Love Life, St. Louis Woman, Pal Joey, Lady in the Dark, Adam Guettel's Myths and Hymns, Dreamgirls, Annie Get Your Gun, Hair, and Ain't Misbehavin'.

Reviews

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Notable press has included...

References

  1. ^ a b Keating, Doug (March 16, 1999). "Princely Debut: The city's latest theatrical venue". The Philadelphia Inquirer.
  2. ^ "Prince at Prince: Director to Stage New Musical at Philly Theatre That Bears His Name". Playbill. April 28, 2000.
  3. ^ a b c d Jordan, Gerald B. (March 28, 1984). "A musical summer festival". The Philadelphia Inquirer. pp. 1-E, 7-E. Retrieved June 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Stock, Craig (February 18, 1985). "A theater festival seeks success in a new season". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved June 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b Kimmelman, Michael (March 25, 1985). "Music theater festival plans 5 productions". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved June 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b Kimmelman, Michael (September 8, 1985). "A 2d season for a daring music series". The Philadelphia Inquirer. pp. 1-J, 10-J. Retrieved June 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ a b c Dobrin, Peter (March 8, 2015). "Prince Music Theater Lives". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved June 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Collins, William B. (April 30, 1984). "City's newest group is ready to 'Strike Up the Band'". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved June 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Boasner, Leonard W. (May 8, 1984). "Jones won't appear in musical here". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved June 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Boasberg, Leonard W. (August 20, 1985). "New opera: Turbulent life of Malcolm X". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved June 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Collins, William B. (12 October 1987) "'Revelation' Is A Fitting Cap To Music-theater Festival." The Philadelphia Inquirer
  12. ^ Walsh, Michael (October 26, 1987). "Music: Elvis Meets the Bacchae In Philadelphia, two new musicals - or are they really operas?". TIME Magazine. Archived from the original on February 20, 2008.
  13. ^ McLellan, Joseph (April 22, 1990). "Philadelphia's Premiere-Factory; Seven Seasons of the Music Theater Festival". The Washington Post.
  14. ^ Pareles, Jon (October 12, 1987). "Review/Theater - FLOYD COLLINS; Dreamers and Exploiters in a Slice of Americana". The New York Times.
  15. ^ Weber, Bruce (November 16, 2000). "Review/Theater - 3HREE: Hey, They Do Write 'Em Like They Used To ..." The New York Times.
  16. ^ Zinman, Toby (November 13, 2000). "Review of 3hree". Variety.
  17. ^ Fox, David Anthony (April 12, 2001). "Flow - Exquisite details and a strutting diva, too: An unexpected blend at the Prince. Review of The Silver River". Philadelphia City Paper.
  18. ^ Collins, William (October 12, 1987). "Review/Theater - 'Revelation' Is A Fitting Cap To Music-theater Festival". The Philadelphia Inquirer.

External links

Philadelphia area theaters
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