Pabst Theater
Theater and music venue in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about Pabst Theater?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
The Pabst Theater is an indoor performance and concert venue and landmark of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. Colloquially known as "the Pabst", the theater hosts about 100 events per year.[4] Built in 1895,[3] it is the fourth-oldest continuously operating theater in the United States,[5] and has presented such notables as pianist Sergei Rachmaninoff, actor Laurence Olivier, and ballerina Anna Pavlova, as well as various current big-name musical acts.[3]
Grande Olde Lady | |
Full name | Captain Frederick Pabst Theater |
---|---|
Address | 144 E Wells St Milwaukee, WI 53202-3519 |
Location | East Town |
Public transit | MCTS |
Owner | Pabst Theater Group |
Operator | PTG Live Events |
Capacity | 1,339 |
Construction | |
Broke ground | December 1894 |
Opened | November 9, 1895 (1895-11-09) |
Renovated | 1928, 1976, 1989, 1998, 2002 |
Construction cost | $300,000 ($10.6 million in 2023 dollars[1]) |
Architect | Otto Strack |
Website | |
Venue Website | |
Pabst Theater | |
Architectural style | German Renaissance Revival, Late Victorian |
NRHP reference No. | 72000063[2] |
Significant dates | |
Added to NRHP | April 11, 1972 |
Designated NHL | December 4, 1991[3] |
The Pabst is known for its opulence as well as its role in German-American culture in Milwaukee. It is officially designated a City of Milwaukee Landmark and a State of Wisconsin Historical Site, and was also designated a National Historic Landmark in 1991. It is sometimes called the "Grande Olde Lady", being the oldest theater in Milwaukee's theater district.[5]
The Pabst is a traditional proscenium stage theater with two balconies,[6] for a total capacity of 1,300 people.[5] It hosts approximately 100 events per year, including music, comedy, dance, opera, and theater events.[4] The theater also has a hydraulic orchestra pit, adding to its suitability for virtually any performing arts event.[citation needed] The auditorium itself is drum-shaped and is decorated in reds and maroons with gold and silver accents.[5] A large, 2-ton Austrian crystal chandelier hangs over the auditorium. The theater also boasts a staircase crafted from white Italian Carrara marble[citation needed] and a proscenium arch highlighted in gold leaf, which frames the stage.[5]
The theater features a historic organ, which once provided accompaniment for silent films. The instrument is a 4 manuals; 20 ranks opus of M.P. Moller.[7]