Charleston Theatre, also called Broad Street Theatre was a theatre in Charleston, South Carolina between 1794 and 1833. It was the first permanent theatre in Charleston, the first with a permanent staff, and the only theater for much of its duration. It was succeeded by the New Charleston Theatre (1837–1861).

History

Since the first temporary theatre

Dock Street Theatre The Dock Street Theatre is a theater in the historic French Quarter neighborhood of downtown Charleston, South Carolina. History The structure, which was built as a hotel in 1809 and converted to a theater in 1935, occupies the site of the first ...

in 1736, several playhouses had been constructed in Charleston to house the

Old American Company The Old American Company was an American theatre company. It was the first fully professional theatre company to perform in North America. It also played a vital role in the theatre history of Jamaica. It was founded in 1752 and disbanded in 1805. ...

during their visits in the city, the last of whom, Church Street Theatre, built in 1773 to replace the New Theatre of 1754, burnt down in 1782. Charleston was the center of a planter aristocracy which spent half the year in the city living a society life in which theater was considered a suitable part, and a new theater house was therefore regarded necessary after the repeal of the Vagrancy Act of 1787, which had the effect of banning the theater. Charleston Theatre initially housed the Company of Thomas Wade West, which was called Charleston Company or South Carolina Company when performing there, and Virginia Company when performing in Virginia. Until 1817, the St. Cecilia Society performed their concerts in the building as well as participated in the theatre orchestra.Butler, Nicholas Michael. Votaries of Apollo: The St. Cecilia Society and the Patronage of Concert Music in Charleston, South Carolina, 1766–1820. Columbia: University of South Carolina Press, 2007. In 1794, John Sollée opened the Charleston French Theatre or Théâtre Francais, which became a powerful rival, able to offer artists from

Saint Domingue Saint-Domingue () was a French colony in the western portion of the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, in the area of modern-day Haiti, from 1659 to 1804. The name derives from the Spanish main city in the island, Santo Domingo, which came to re ...

, such as

Alexander Placide Alexander Placide (1750–1812), was an American (originally French) actor and theatre manager.Robin O. Warren, Women on Southern Stages, 1800-1865: Performance, Gender and Identity He debuted in France in 1770 and was active in Saint-Domingue unt ...

and Suzanne Douvillier. In 1796, Thomas Wade West sold the Charleston Theatre to John Sollée, uniting the two theatres. Under Placide, the theater was the base of the Charleston Company, which performed in Savannah in Georgia (from 1801) and Richmond, Virginia (from 1804) until 1812. It was closed during the war of 1812 but reopened in 1815. In 1817, the theater was the center of the

Charleston Theatre riot Charleston most commonly refers to: * Charleston, South Carolina * Charleston, West Virginia, the state capital * Charleston (dance) Charleston may also refer to: Places Australia * Charleston, South Australia Canada * Charleston, Newfoundlan ...

, in which the audience sided with the popular star actor James H. Caldwell during his conflict with the management. The theatre deteriorated during the 1820s and went bankrupt in 1833. ; Managers: * 1793-1796: Thomas Wade West * 1796-1799: John Sollée * 1799-1812:

* 1812-1813:

Charlotte Wrighten Placide Charlotte Wrighten Placide (1776–1823), was an American actress and opera singer.Robin O. Warren, Women on Southern Stages, 1800-1865: Performance, Gender and Identity' She was married to Alexander Placide and mother of Jane Placide. She had a su ...

* 1813-1815: The theater is closed. * 1815-1817:

Joseph George Holman Joseph George Holman (1764–1817) was an English actor, dramatist and actor-manager. Early life Born in August 1764, he was son of John Major Holman of St. Giles's, Middlesex, an ensign and adjutant in the British service, who died when his so ...

* 1817-1822: Charles Gilfert * 1822-1825:

Amelia Holman Gilfert Catherine Amelia Holman Gilfert (1789–1833) was an American stage actor and theater manager. She was referred to by contemporary critics as the first star of the American theater. She was the Actor-manager, manager of the Charleston Theatre in ...

References

History of Charleston, South Carolina Former theatres in the United States 1794 establishments in the United States Theatres completed in 1794 18th-century in Charleston, South Carolina 19th-century in Charleston, South Carolina {{US-theat-struct-stub