Tapia Theater
Cultural landmark in Old San Juan
virginvoices.com staff
The Tapia Theater, on Calle Fortaleza, in Old San Juan's Plaza Colon, is the oldest free standing drama stage in continuous use in the United States or its territories.
Named for the Puerto Rican playwright Alejandro Tapia y Rivera, the Tapia Theater, known in Spanish as Teatro Tapia, was built in 1832, remodelled in 1949, and again in 1987.
Ballets, operettas and plays are staged a tthis landmark, which seats 700 people.
The theater was almost torn down in the 1940's but was saved by the then Mayor of San Juan, Felisa Rincón.
The Institute of Puerto Rican Culture has established theater.festivals on the island. The Puerto Rican Theater Festival (Festival de Teatro Puertorriqueño) was founded in 1958, and the International Theater Festival (Festival de Teatro Internacional) in 1966. Both festivals took place in the Tapia Theater in Old San Juan.
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