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other performing arts productions. The
Commission approved the drawings of National Capital Parks (now known as the National Capital Region of the National Park Service (NPS)) Architect William M. Hausman for the new 4,200-seat Sesquicentennial Amphitheatre. Plans called for outfitting the amphitheatre with state-of-the-art technology including a communication system which allowed the stage manager to speak to any actor or stagehand from his desk and the best lighting and sound equipment available at the time. (The original construction cost estimate was $ 200,000 but the actual cost totaled $ 563,676.90.)
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Due to competition from other centers for performing arts and changes in production values, the Feld's company Super
Attractions began to incur heavy losses and asked to be released from its contract and in 1976 Cella-Door-Dimensions, Inc. was hired as new management. They scheduled acts such as Kool
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President Harry S. Truman dedicated the
Sesquicentennial Amphitheatre on August 4, 1950, but following Barron's death, he rededicated the amphitheatre the Carter T. Barron Amphitheater in an official ceremony on May 25, 1951. Many people considered Carter Barron the link between the performing arts
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At the end of the 1976 season, the NPS decided to operate the theater on its own and continues to do so today. CBA continues to host a variety of performances. Shows today include reggae, Latin, classical, gospel, musical, pop, R&B, jazz, new age, theater, and dance. Ticket prices are still the
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in 1947, as a way to memorialize the 150th anniversary of
Washington, D.C., as the U.S. national capital. As Vice Chairman of the Sesquicentennial Commission, Barron envisioned an amphitheatre where "all persons of every race, color and creed" in Washington could attend musical, ballet, theater and
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The Carter Barron
Amphitheatre closed for repairs following a February 2017 inspection. The National Park Service (NPS) found that the stage's substructure was structurally unsound to handle the onstage weight of performers and equipment. If the NPS has the requisite funding, the construction phase
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where he played football for three years until a knee injury ended his career. He moved to
Washington, D.C. in 1932 and remained until his death from cancer on November 16, 1950, just three months after the opening of the amphitheater. Barron was a community activist, and participated on numerous
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in cooperation with NPS in 1991. In the early 1990s, the NPS renovated the public restrooms, repaired the roofs, and did some electrical upgrades in the backstage area. Between the 2003 and 2004 summer performance seasons, all new seats were installed and the drainage in the seating area was
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and Israel, won the contract to host the 1954 season. Their company, Super
Attractions, hosted performances such as the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO), "The Mikado," and numerous musicals. Their 1963 lineup changed performances to include more music and less ballet. Acts included
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has operated Carter Barron, having offered a variety of quality performances, including reggae, Latin, classical, gospel, musicals, pop, R&B, jazz, new age, theater, and dance. Many of the performances have been provided free of charge. The adjacent
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best entertainment bargain in town and many of the performances are provided free of charge. The NPS still follows Carter T. Barron's original mission of providing quality performances to all residents in
Washington, D.C. Partnerships, such as the
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The original design has been changed little. In 1965, a curtain and track were added to the stage. In the 1970s, the Feld
Brothers added a three-pole circus tent to cover part of the stage which was changed to a truss and canvas roof system by the
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reporter
Jacqueline Trescott wrote "The hordes of teenagers were back, but scattered among the visors and t-shirts were family groups, black and white couples in their 20s and 30s and a large number of women dressed in the latest fashions."
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winning playwright and author of the symphonic outdoor drama "The Lost Colony", was commissioned to write the opening season production. "Faith of Our Fathers" was a tribute to
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reviewed and commented on the site selection for an amphitheatre. The original plan called for benches to seat about 1,500 and a stage equipped with a movie screen.
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both claimed Barron to be a great friend. Barron organized twelve birthday balls for President Roosevelt and worked on both Roosevelt's and Truman's inaugurations.
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After the first two seasons of "Faith of Our Fathers," the CBA began to feature a variety of acts and performances. In 1952, CBA hosted military bands and the
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point man in Washington, and an active promoter of the arts. He was known as "everyone's friend – the burly, red-headed, blue-eyed, smiling giant." President
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446:. Israel Feld died in December 1972, and his wife, Shirley, took over management of CBA. The venue began to include soul and rock 'n' roll acts like
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improved. Electrical service and wiring was also updated. A major renovation project to the stage area is planned for the future.
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509:"Free for All", the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington Post "Weekend's Weekend Concerts" help fulfill this goal.
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The Carter Barron Amphitheatre (CBA) is located in Rock Creek Park. Initial plans for an amphitheatre in the
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and the government. The amphitheatre is a legacy to his dedication.
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boards. He was manager of Lowe's Eastern Division of Theaters,
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The amphitheatre opened on August 4, 1950. Paul Green,
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Members of the Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington
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neighborhood of Washington, D.C., began in 1943, when
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is part of the Carter Barron recreational facility.
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662:"Rock Creek Park Sesquicentennial Amphitheatre"
317:of the process has been planned for 2021–2022.
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296:is a 4,200-seat outdoor performance venue in
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578:"The History of Carter Barron Amphitheatre"
27:Performance venue in Washington, D.C., U.S.
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708:The History of Carter Barron Amphitheatre
92:Sesquicentennial Amphitheatre (1949–1951)
634:Gilmore, Matthew B. (February 3, 2017).
610:"Carter Barron Amphitheater Restoration"
1053:Tourist attractions in Washington, D.C.
1028:1950 establishments in Washington, D.C.
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393:It found two . . . the Feld brothers,
311:William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center
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880:Harold and Sylvia Greenberg Theatre
1002:Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
552:List of contemporary amphitheatres
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521:on January 30, 1905. He attended
478:and the Gang, Bruce Springsteen,
915:Sixth & I Historic Synagogue
781:Music venues of Washington, D.C.
725: This article incorporates
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468:Smokey Robinson and the Miracles
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341:This plan was expanded upon by
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961:Entertainment and Sports Arena
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716:at the Rock Creek Conservancy
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456:Diana Ross & the Supremes
337:Sesquicentennial Amphitheatre
1048:Theatres in Washington, D.C.
840:Atlas Performing Arts Center
582:www.rockcreekconservancy.org
300:, United States. Located in
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507:Shakespeare Theatre Company
484:National Symphony Orchestra
376:Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo
363:Shakespeare Theatre Company
282:/carter-barron-amphitheatre
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18:Carter Barron Amphitheater
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157:249 ft (76 m)
143:38.9502918; -77.0417345
727:public domain material
865:DAR Constitution Hall
738:National Park Service
733:Carter Barron History
714:Carter Barron Project
666:www.trumanlibrary.gov
606:National Park Service
519:Clarkesville, Georgia
306:National Park Service
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100:4850 Colorado Ave NW
1007:Washington Coliseum
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638:. What Once Was.
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855:Blues Alley
743:December 1,
675:December 1,
646:December 1,
619:December 1,
614:www.nps.gov
587:December 1,
492:Chick Corea
452:Ray Charles
141: /
116:Coordinates
1022:Categories
830:The Anthem
563:References
470:, and the
464:The O'Jays
327:Brightwood
241:1950-08-04
129:77°02′30″W
126:38°57′01″N
977:The Bayou
875:Echostage
850:BloomBars
845:Black Cat
825:9:30 Club
472:Four Tops
460:B.B. King
252:2021–2022
249:Renovated
175:Open-air
154:Elevation
546:See also
388:Carousel
386:," and "
204:Capacity
192:concerts
183:Genre(s)
107:Location
321:History
265:Website
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195:theatre
177:theatre
97:Address
934:Arenas
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257:Closed
234:Opened
729:from
528:MGM's
395:Irvin
278:/rocr
226:Built
208:4,200
189:music
162:Owner
745:2019
677:2019
648:2019
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292:The
284:.htm
276:.gov
274:.nps
260:2017
229:1949
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272:www
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