BOSTON, Mass. (09/14/2008) -- The colorful murals that enliven every square foot of the theatre ceilings, along with gold leaf lined banisters and elegant red carpeting gives the Cutler Majestic Theatre its nickname as the “House of Gold.”
Sunday, September 14, the Cutler Majestic Theatre opened its doors to the general public for an afternoon of entertainment, food, and relaxation. The theatre hosted an open house from one to five p.m. featuring live opera performances and serving hors d’oeuvres from local restaurants in the Boston Theatre District.
“All of the Boston community is struggling to find a way to reengage audiences,” said Julie Hennrikus, the general manager of Emerson Stage. Emerson Stage, the producing arm of the Department of Performing Arts at Emerson College, is one of the many musical organizations that makes its home at the Cutler Majestic Theatre at 219 Tremont Street in Downtown Boston.
Emerson sophomore Justin Nako works as a front receptionist at the Majestic. With 3 years experience selling merchandise at Broadway shows, Nako told the Globe that the Majestic theatre is unique, not only because of its gold vaulted ceilings and historical revelry, but because of the comfortable work atmosphere that accompanies its quaintness. Compared to the more ostentatious Wang Theatre one block down the street, Nako said that the Majestic sees a surprisingly diverse assortment of performing groups throughout the year. “You get a wide array here,” said Nako. “Yes, Legally Blonde
(the Broadway production) won’t be playing here, but there will be a lot of other stuff.”
The Cutler Majestic Theatre, built in 1903, is one of the oldest theatres in Boston—second only to the Colonial Theater. Designed by John Galen Howard in the Beaux Arts style, it blends Victorian classical tradition with exotic romance. Thirty years after Emerson College installed drop ceilings, the college renovated the building and found intricate overhead murals covering all of the original ceiling, painted by William deLeftwich Dodge.
During the Sunday open house, more than 75 people gathered in the Majestic theatre to explore the building. Open house guests were allowed to climb on stage, walk underneath the Opera pit, and explore the multiple dressing rooms in the intestines of the Majestic.
Nako explained to the Globe that the theatre was experimenting with a way to reach out to the public. “The open house is meant to help foster a better sense of community,” said Nako.
Representatives from different performance groups who are featured at the theatre throughout the year were invited to set up vendor tables within the auditorium. Performing Groups such as Emerson Stage, Opera Boston, the Boston Early Music Festival, and the New England Conservatory offered information on their upcoming seasons and encouraged visitors to attend performances at the Majestic.
The theatre also held several silent raffles for open house visitors to enter, featuring prizes such as weekend stays at the Courtyard Marriott Boston Tremont and tickets to upcoming Broadway shows touring through Boston.
During the afternoon performance, the buzz of the open house quieted down as people found seats in the auditorium and settled themselves to listen to the performers sing. Sitting up in an exclusive balcony alcove in the Mezzanine, Dorothy and Tom Prendergast listened to the live performance of New England Conservatory’s Paul Brennan, an Opera Boston singer who will be featured during the Majestic’s upcoming season.
The Prendergasts, both retired and living in Bedford, Massachusetts, took the MBTA from Alewife into downtown Boston for the Majestic Theatre’s open house. Despite the rain, Tom Prendergast said that they were determined not to miss the event.
“This theatre is lovely,” said Dorothy Prendergast, a retired schoolteacher. “It’s more intimate than the others.” Tom Prendergast agreed, saying that although they were enjoying the opera performance, he prefers to see musical theatre when he comes to the Majestic. Frequent visitors to Boston theaters, the Prendergasts are anticipating attending upcoming performances of both A Chorus Line and Chicago in the city.
After the open house performance was concluded, audience members left their seats and began to mill around the vendor tables once again. Several groups of elderly visitors left the auditorium with a theater receptionist who was giving hourly-guided tours.
The theatre open house offered the general public a chance to step onto the stage and explore the world of performing arts. The “no-doors-barred” open house, as described in the theatre pamphlet, created an atmosphere that allowed little girls to dance on the massive stage. A backstage manager explained the dynamics of the stage equipment to a small audience and a tall, blonde woman in a long beige raincoat took a spontaneous bow, front and center, to an imaginary full house. “That would be so much fun!” she mused, as her husband gently led her away.
The Cutler Majestic Theatre’s 2008-2009 calendar features performances by history teacher and comedian Robert Wuhl in October, Giuseppe Verdi’s opera Aida in and Carnivale by Cirque Le Masque in January, and a Celebrity Series by the Hubbard Street Dance Chicago company in February. The Majestic will also be welcoming the Moiseev Russian Classical Ballet in April to perform Swan Lake.
With more than 23 scheduled performance during the upcoming season, the Majestic hopes to encourage people throughout the year to venture downtown for an evening of musical enrichment. Tickets can be purchased at www.MAJ.org or the theatre encourages guests to call 617-824-8000 for further information on upcoming events.
By CATHERINE MOORE
