Lafayette Square Opera House

The Lafayette Square Opera House was a theater building featuring a gray granite exterior, marble staircases, and ornate mahogany finishes in Italian Renaissance style. The main hall accommodated around 1,800 spectators and offered a spacious stage with comprehensive technical capabilities for productions.

The building opened in 1895 with actress Lillian Russell performing in Tzigane, establishing itself as a new cultural venue in the city. A decade later, the Shuberts took over the theater and renamed it, marking a shift in its role within the capital's theatrical landscape.

The venue served multiple purposes throughout its existence, including entertaining troops as a Stage Door Canteen during World War II and Korean War.

The theater was located at a central address near the important Lafayette Square and was easily accessible to visitors. Note that the building has not been used for performances for many years and can now only be viewed from the outside.

Located at 717 Madison Place NW, the structure incorporated advanced safety features for its time, including an asbestos stage curtain.

Location: Washington, D.C.

Inception: 1895

Official opening: September 30, 1895

Capacity: 1800

GPS coordinates: 38.89946,-77.03485

Latest update: December 14, 2025 12:21