Tour Venue Six

The Wang Theatre, 270 Tremont Street, Boston, Massachusetts.

aka: Metropolitan Theatre, The Music Hall. 

Located in the theatre district of the city, 'The Met' opened in 1925 having been developed by Max Shoolman and designed by architect Clarence Blackall, with assistance from C Howard Crane, a Detroit theatre architect who also designed 12 other major Boston theatres.

The design was described as a movie 'cathedral' similar to the splendour of Louis XIV palace and one of the most important Boston landmark's of the 'Roaring Twenties'.  Crystal chandeliers and huge columns and doorways of marble formed a luxurious setting for audiences to enjoy performances from vaudeville musicals to big bands.   

In 1962, it was renamed The Music Hall and became the home of the Boston Ballet.  During the 1960s/70s, the Stuttgart Opera, Metropolian Opera, Bolshoi Ballet and Kirov Ballet along with movies and artists performed there.  However, due to the stage size and outdated facilities, the large touring companies no longer favoured the theatre and it was converted to a non-profit centre in 1980 where theatrical performances such as My Fair Lady with Rex Harrison and Sweeney Todd with Angela Lansbury took over again. 

In 1983, Dr An Wang made a large donation and the Wang Center for Performing Arts was established.  A fundraising drive restored the theatre to its glory of the 1920s.  Boston based architects Finegold Alexander, along with Conrad Schmitt Studios, restored the decorations, gilded holding, murals and marbelized surfaces. 

Today it boasts one of the five largest stages in the US making it only one of a few venues around the world capable of accommodating the national touring company of the hit musical Miss Saigon.

It has presented its Classic Film Series with offerings such as Casablanca, All About Eve and An American in Paris showing on one of New England's largest screens.  It also hosted live recording of TV's The Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. 

It expanded further into the community with new programs including gospel events and multicultural showcases.  It has given millions of dollars in grants as well as reduced-rent rehearsals and performance space to, amongst others, the Boston Ballet, Lyric Opera, Celebrity Series of Boston, and World Music. 

In 2006, it entered into a long-term partnership with Citigroup and was renamed the Citi Performing Arts Centre.  As well as keeping to its traditional roots, the theatre ventured into new areas including live family shows such as Arthur's Live Adventure as well as non-traditional theatrical events such as Burn the Floor.  The lobby was used in the film American Hustle and in The Witches of Eastwick as part of the house that Jack Nicholson's character lived in.  

In 2016, The Wang Center was renamed again to The Boch Center and it continues to manage the Wang and Shubert Theatres.     

It was designated as a Boston Landmark by the Commission in 1990 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

Notable events/artists: as well as those already mentioned in the text the theatre broke box office records for the musicals Les Miserables and The Phantom of the Opera.  Has hosted Riverdance, Sunset Boulevard, Whitney Houston, The Eagles, Harry Connick Jr, Lady Gaga and Harry Styles!