The Altria Theater in Richmond, Virginia, United States is a theater at the southwest corner of Monroe Park, the largest venue of Richmond CenterStage's performing arts complex. Formerly known as The Mosque and the Landmark Theater, the Altria Theater was originally built for Shriners of the Acca Temple Shrine.
In 1940, the building was purchased by the City of Richmond, which converted much of its interior for municipal use. The Richmond Police Department occupied the theater's basement, where they opened up office space, classrooms, a gymnasium, and a shooting range for the police academy. An underground swimming pool was also maintained, initially for training purposes, until it was filled in with concrete during the 2014 renovation.
The name of the theater was changed in 1995 from "The Mosque" to "Landmark Theater" following a year of restoration. After a $10 million renovation gift from the company, the theater was officially dubbed the Altria Theater in February 2014. It annually plays host to big-name musical and theatrical performers.
The theater was designed in Moorish Revival style by Marcellus E. Wright Sr. in association with Charles M. Robinson and Charles Custer Robinson circa 1925. J. R. Ray, of the Richmond Tile and Mosaic Works, was responsible for the widely-used ornamental tile, and J. Frank Jones, of the Rambusch Decorating Company, oversaw the interior decoration. The building officially opened in 1927, and was dedicated by the Shriners in 1928.
Performers such as Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix and The Supremes held shows at this venue. Notable Broadway performances such as Wicked, The Lion King, Les Miserables, and Cats have also been past visitors of The Altria Theater.
Frank Sinatra sang at The Mosque in 1994 and had a health problem towards the end of his performance. The show ended early, and he was taken to Medical College of Virginia where some tests were done, and he was released.
Video Altria Theater
Theater Statistics
- Theater capacity: 3,565 seats
- Ballroom capacity: 1,100 persons
- Ballroom dimensions: 18,000 square feet (1,700 m2)
Maps Altria Theater
References
External links
- Private page with many pictures and detailed information about historic performances
- Landmark Theater information page
- Photographs of the theater's interior, 1950s
Source of article : Wikipedia
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