Brown Theatre

The W. L. Lyons Brown Theatre, originally called the Brown Theatre, is a restored theatre dating back to 1925 that seats approximately 1,400 patrons in Louisville, Kentucky. It is ones of three venues owned by Kentucky Performing Arts. The theatre still stands today and remains a testament to the glory days of Louisville's theatre district.[1][2]

The Brown Theatre
Address315 W. Broadway
Louisville, Kentucky
Coordinates38.24623°N 85.75739°W / 38.24623; -85.75739
OwnerKentucky Performing Arts
OperatorKentucky Performing Arts
Capacity1,400
Opened1925
Website

History

The Theatre opened on October 5, 1925.[3] The space was named for James Graham Brown, an Indiana native and longtime Louisville resident. Modeled after New York's famous Music Box Theatre, the space boasts a 40' x 40' stage.

With the onset of the Great Depression, the Brown was leased to the Fourth Avenue Amusement Company in the 1930s as a movie theater. By 1962 the Brown Theatre was renovated so that it could once again stage live performances.

Another renovation took place in 1971 and afterwards was sold to the Louisville Board of Education, operating under contract to the Louisville Theatrical Association. The theatre was briefly rechristened the Macauley's Theatre. In 1982, the Broadway-Brown Partnership was formed and purchased the theatre and adjoining hotel in an effort to rejuvenate the southern end of Louisville's downtown business district.[4]

Louisville's Fund for the Arts acquired the building in 1997, undertaking to finance the remainder of the $4.2 million restoration with Kentucky Performing Arts under contract to manage the theatre. Generous gifts were also received from the W.L. Lyons Brown Foundation, the Brown family of Louisville, and the Brown-Forman Corporation.

In 1998, re-christened the W.L. Lyons Brown Theatre, new stage equipment and rigging, a modernized computer marquee, and new heating and air conditioning systems are put into place making the space a comfortable and state-of-the-art theatre. Further gifts from Owsley Brown Frazier resulted in the main reception area adjoining the Fifth Third Conference Center being named the Frazier Lobby.

See also

References
  1. Brown Theatre on Broadway
  2. Gregory Luhan, Dennis Domer, David Mohoney, The Louisville Guide (2004), p. 180-181.
  3. The History of the Brown Theatre
  4. The History of the Brown Theatre
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