The Howard Theatre is a historic theater, located at 620 T Street, Northwest, Washington, D.C., has been a pillar of the community since its opening in 1910. This historic venue, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974,[3] showcases a variety of events, including live music, comedy, weddings, private events, and more.
In its heyday, the theater was known for catering to an African-American clientele, and had played host to many of the great Black musical artists of the early and mid-twentieth century. The Howard Theatre was billed as the "Theater of the People", and supported two theatrical organizations, the Lafayette Players and the Howard University Players.[4] In September 2010 extensive renovations were started to restore the theater to its former glory.[5] The theater reopened on April 9, 2012 to headline acts including Wanda Sykes, Blue Öyster Cult, and Chaka Khan, all of whom appeared in the first month after its reopening.[6]
Early history
Constructed in 1910,[3] the theater was founded and owned by the National Amusement Company, a white-owned group.[4] When built, it had a capacity of more than 1,200.[4] Designed by J. Edward Storck,[3] the theater featured orchestra and balcony seats and eight proscenium boxes, with a lavishly decorated interior.[7] No less extravagant was the exterior, which combined elements of the Beaux-Arts, Italian Renaissance, and neoclassical styles.[7] The whole was surmounted by a larger than life statue of Apollo playing his lyre.[7]
Andrew Thomas served as the theater's manager during its early years.[4] Beginning in 1922 it was leased and run by actor, producer, and entrepreneur Sherman Dudley.[4] It was taken over in 1926 by Abe Lichtman, the white owner of a chain of movie theaters that were frequented by Blacks.[4] With the onset of the Great Depression, the building became a church for a time under the direction of Elder Michaux.[8] In 1931, as part of the venue's return to its original purpose, Duke Ellington appeared with his band at "the Howard", helping also to cement the theater's reputation as an entertainment hotspot.[4][9] This rebirth was helped along by Shep Allen, the building's new manager.[4] In the 1930s Allen introduced an amateur contest that was used as a springboard to stardom by Billy Eckstine and Ella Fitzgerald.[4]
The 1968 riots, which followed the April 4 assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., caused the venue a great deal of harm. The riots, coupled with desegregation, contributed to the theater's difficulty in attracting patrons, and the theater closed in 1970.[4] Three years later, in 1973, the Howard Theatre Foundation was organized to reopen the venue.[4] It was this organization which succeeded, in 1974, in gaining the building historic landmark status.[4] In April 1975, the New Howard Theatre Corporation presented an evening of entertainment to salute the reopening of the theater.[11]Redd Foxx and Melba Moore were among the acts featured at the theater's reopening.[4] Later in the decade, go-go bands played the venue,[4] and Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers also performed at the Howard Theatre in the 1970s and 1980s.[4] In 1980, the theater closed again. At the time it was the oldest venue in the country that featured Black artists.[4] Under Mayor Marion Barry the theatre was purchased by the District government for $100,000.[12] In 2002, the DC Preservation League listed the Howard Theatre as one of its Most Endangered Places in the District.[13]
Reopening
In 2006, the Howard Theatre was returned to private ownership when Ellis Development was selected to renovate and restore the theatre.[14] The District set aside $20 million in public funding for the renovation.[14]
Ellis Development, led by Chip Ellis and his son, Malik Ellis, formed Howard Theatre Development Group LLC. Through Howard Theatre Development Group, Ellis Development received nearly $12 million in District funds to redevelop and reopen the theatre.[15] To oversee management of the facility, Ellis Development created the nonprofit Howard Theatre Restoration Inc.[12][15]
In September 2010, groundbreaking for extensive renovations of the theater was held.[5] The project's goals were to restore the Howard Theatre to 600 seats,[5] complementing developments at the adjacent Progression Place. Martinez + Johnson Architecture and Marshall Moya Design were responsible for the restoration, architecture, and design of the theater. The theater reopened for Community Day on April 9, 2012.[16] The grand opening event was held on April 10.[17]