Dock Street Theatre, Theatre in French Quarter, Charleston, United States
Dock Street Theatre is a theatre building in Charleston's French Quarter featuring Federal-style architecture. The structure displays classical elements including wrought iron balconies and sandstone columns that were added during an 1835 renovation.
The original theatre building opened in 1736 and was the first structure in America built specifically for theatrical performances. It later operated as a hotel before returning to theatre use and undergoing a major restoration in 2010.
The theatre now hosts Charleston Stage, which produces a diverse range of performances each year. Visitors can experience both traditional classics and contemporary productions that reflect the company's varied programming.
The theatre stands at 135 Church Street, at the corner of Church and Queen streets in the French Quarter. The 2010 renovation made the building fully handicapped accessible and added sound-proofing, heating and air conditioning. Charleston Stage performs over 120 shows each season, and more than 15,000 South Carolina students attend school-day performances yearly.
The wrought-iron balcony and sandstone columns on the Church Street facade date from 1835, when the Planter's Hotel was enlarged. Before the Civil War, Robert Smalls, later a U.S. Congressman and naval hero, worked as a waiter in the hotel's dining room. The dining room now serves as the theatre's box-office lobby.
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