Belasco Theatre (after 1905) | |
 Architect's rendering of the Lafayette Square Opera House | |
 | |
| Address | 717 Madison Place NW Washington D.C. United States |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 38°53′58″N 77°02′05″W / 38.899462°N 77.034851°W |
| Owner | John W. Albaugh, 1895 – 1905 The Shubert Organization and David Belasco 1905 – 1940 |
| Type | Opera House |
| Capacity | 1,800[2] |
| Construction | |
| Opened | September 30, 1895 |
| Closed | 1940 |
| Demolished | 1964 |
| Years active | 1895 - 1940 |
| Architect | Wood & Lovell[1] |
The Lafayette Square Opera House was an opera house built in 1895, at 717 Madison Place, NW in Washington D.C. It was dedicated on 30 September 1895 by Lillian Russell, one of the most well known actresses of the time, who was there to perform in Tzigane. Reginald De Koven, composer of the opera, led the orchestra at Russell's request.[3] In 1905 it was purchased by the Shuberts and David Belasco and was renamed the Belasco Theatre. The theatre was acquired by the US federal government and used as a warehouse until World War II, when it was operated by the American Theatre Wing as a Stage Door Canteen. During the Korean War, it was used by the United Services Organization to entertain troops. The theater was razed in 1964.