The Orpheum Theatre is a live
performance
A performance is an act of staging or presenting a play, concert, or other form of entertainment. It is also defined as the action or process of carrying out or accomplishing an action, task, or function.
Management science
In the work place ...
and
musical theater in downtown
Madison, Wisconsin, located one block from the
Wisconsin State Capitol.
History
Built in 1926 by
Rapp and Rapp, the
Limestone,
Art Deco exterior and
French Renaissance interior made the building an icon, with the "Orpheum" sign towering over State Street. There have been limited changes to the structure of the building over the years. The
terrazzo floors,
chandeliers, grand staircase, and statue of
Orpheus overlooking the entryway are still intact. Partially financed by dentist William Beecroft, also known as "Mr. Theater," The Orpheum cost $750,000 to build and originally featured
vaudeville shows and a
movie theater
A movie theater (American English), cinema (British English), or cinema hall ( Indian English), also known as a movie house, picture house, the movies, the pictures, picture theater, the silver screen, the big screen, or simply theater is a ...
, later featuring contemporary artists and film. The Orpheum sponsors the yearly Madison Independent Film Festival and serves food daily from its Lobby Lounge restaurant.
Facts
*The Orpheum Theatre was the first building in Wisconsin to have air conditioning; the air conditioner itself takes up an entire room in the basement. Furthermore, it was the first building on its block between Johnson Street and State Street.
*The Orpheum Theatre originally seated 2,400 people. After renovations in the 1960s to add "The Stage Door" Theatre, only six feet of the original stage was left, and 700 seats were lost, making the capacity 1700. At the time, the Orpheum was part of the 20th Century Theaters chain.
*The Orpheum nearly burned down on December 19, 2004. It was the third attempted
arson
Arson is the crime of willfully and deliberately setting fire to or charring property. Although the act of arson typically involves buildings, the term can also refer to the intentional burning of other things, such as motor vehicles, wat ...
on the building. Several other Madison landmark music establishments such as
O'Cayz Corral O'Cayz Corral was a downtown Madison, Wisconsin bar and music venue that primarily featured local and national punk, rock, and grunge musical acts.
History
Located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States, O'Cayz Corral was originally named Don's She ...
and the Club deWash had burned down mysteriously in previous years.
Investigators say Orpheum theatre fire was arson, Madison.com - website
/ref>
The Orpheum Theatre in Madison is on The National Register of Historic Places listings in Wisconsin
See also
* House Of Blues
References
{{Authority control
Buildings and structures in Madison, Wisconsin
Culture of Madison, Wisconsin
Music venues in Wisconsin
Theatres on the National Register of Historic Places in Wisconsin
Vaudeville theaters
National Register of Historic Places in Madison, Wisconsin
1927 establishments in Wisconsin
Theatres completed in 1927