Discover Our Most Historic Theater
Located in Northampton, MA | Photo by Lynne Graves
Northampton is one historic city—it’s the place where U.S. President Calvin Coolidge lived and retired, as well as home to Sylvester Graham who gave his name to the one and only graham cracker. But it’s also home to a theater on whose stage Anna Pavlova danced and Harry Houdini escaped, and whose seats were frequented by stars like Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.
The Academy of Music Theatre has been a landmark in Northampton since it opened in 1891 as a state-of-the-art opera house. It was built by Northampton native Edward H. R. Lyman who deeded the building to the City of Northampton in 1892, making it the nation’s first municipally-owned theater.
By the turn of the 20th century, the Academy was home to the first city-owned stock company in the United States, the Northampton Players, which formed in 1912. Its members included William Powell of Thin Man fame and Frank Morgan, who played Oz in The Wizard of Oz. By mid-century, film had overtaken live theater, and the Academy became known as a first-run movie house. In 1965, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton were regular patrons when they were shooting Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf in Northampton.
Today, the Academy has returned to live performances and provides a much-need home for community-based performing arts groups. The Academy has seven resident companies and partners: the Pioneer Valley Ballet, Old Deerfield Productions, the Pioneer Valley Symphony Orchestra, the Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter School, Starlight’s Youth Theater, Valley Light Opera, and WGBY Channel 57, which features documentary selections on the big screen.
Last fall the Academy announced its first capital campaign, which will help restore the busy 122-year-old landmark to its turn-of-the-century grandeur. In celebration of the theater’s rich history and upcoming improvements (which will close the building for 8 weeks starting late summer 2014), the Academy is offering three rare opportunities to explore the significant historical and architectural features.
On Wednesday, April 23, Duane Robinson (Academy Manager from 1971-2007) will provide a history tour of the theater where you can see the century-old trap door cut in the stage floor for Houdini's disappearing act, Cole Porter's grandfather clock, dressing rooms used by Sarah Bernhardt, Boris Karloff, Ethel Barrymore, and more. A similar history tour will be repeated on Tuesday, June 24 with current Executive Director Debra J’Anthony.
On Wednesday, May 21, architect Tom Douglas and the Academy’s Technical Director, Hugh Hall, will give an architecturual tour where you can learn about the unique architectural features of the theater's renaissance style, the use of gas and electric lamps, the full-fly hemp system, and more.
And if you’re interested in seeing a performance at the Academy of Music, check out the full calendar of events here.