Teatro Municipal, Opera house in São João del Rei, Brazil
The Teatro Municipal is a three-story theater building in São João del Rei featuring a Greek-Roman facade with sculpted faces representing drama, comedy, and tragedy carved into its exterior walls. Inside, the venue accommodates 480 upholstered seats, 190 wooden chairs, and ten private boxes for performances.
The theatre was built in 1893 and underwent a major renovation between 1922 and 1925. It served as a stage for regional culture until the 1970s, then stood abandoned through the 1990s without the technical conditions to host shows. Restoration and modernisation, led by the Instituto Histórico e Geográfico de São João del-Rei with private backing, were completed in June 2003.
The theatre's name alternates between "Theatro Municipal" and "Teatro Municipal", the older spelling still used by the Instituto Histórico e Geográfico de São João del-Rei. Since its 2003 reopening it has been run by the municipal government, which programmes both free and paid shows, from theatre to music and circus acts.
The theatre stands at Rua Hermílio Alves 50 in the centre of São João del-Rei, a short walk from the city's main squares. It is run by the municipal government, and its programme mixes free and paid shows, so check what is on before planning an evening there.
The theatre was a regional cultural stage until the 1970s, then stood abandoned through the 1990s, unfit for performances. The Instituto Histórico e Geográfico de São João del-Rei, backed by private sponsors, restored and modernised it, completing the works in June 2003.
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