Boston Theater District
The Boston Theater District, also spelled Boston Theatre District, is the downtown cluster of historic playhouses and performance halls along Tremont Street, Boylston Street and lower Washington Street. Its best-known venues include the Wang Theatre, the Shubert Theatre, the Colonial Theatre, the Cutler Majestic Theatre and the Boston Opera House, and the area sits beside Boston Common and Chinatown. This page covers where the district is, how it grew, which theaters to know, what else to do around a show, and how to reach it with Boston Sightseeing, since the tour map lists the Theater District near Stop 4.
Location
The theater district in Boston is in the city's downtown, centered on lower Washington Street and Tremont Street, with the Colonial Theatre on Boylston Street. Tremont Street and Boylston Street both run along the edge of Boston Common, which is why searches for the Boston Common theater district lead to the same place. Chinatown lies right next to it. There is no single official boundary, so the easiest way to place the district is by its main addresses:
- Colonial Theatre: 106 Boylston Street
- Cutler Majestic Theatre: 219 Tremont Street
- Shubert Theatre: 265 Tremont Street
- Wang Theatre: 270 Tremont Street
- Boston Opera House: 539 Washington Street
If you ride with Boston Sightseeing, the tour map lists the Theater District and Chinatown under Stop 4, Boston Common, and lists the Boston Opera House under Stop 3, Downtown. The All Day ticket covers Stops 1 to 8, the Boston and Charlestown ticket covers Stops 1 to 11, and the Cruise Terminal ticket covers Stops 1 to 8 and 12 to 15, so every ticket reaches Stops 3 and 4.
History
Boston opened its first purpose-built theater, the Federal Street Theatre, in 1793, although one listing dates it to 1794. One history of the district says that by 1900 the area held 31 theaters with about 50,000 seats. The theaters that still stand date from that boom: the Colonial Theatre opened in 1900, the Cutler Majestic Theatre in 1903, the Shubert Theatre in 1910, the Metropolitan Theatre, now the Wang Theatre, in 1925, the Keith Memorial Theatre, now the Boston Opera House, in 1928, and the Paramount Theatre in 1932.
Many playhouses later became movie houses. The Cutler Majestic, for example, ran as the Saxon Theatre until 1983. Since the 1970s, owners and nonprofits have renovated the old halls. The Wang Theatre had a major restoration in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Cutler Majestic reopened in 1987 after Emerson College restored it, and the Colonial Theatre reopened in July 2018 after major improvements. Seven buildings on the west side of Washington Street, numbers 511 to 559, are also listed as the Washington Street Theatre District on the National Register of Historic Places, with a listing date of 1979.
Activities
Most visitors come for a performance, but the district is also a good place to look at theater architecture from the sidewalk. Here is how to plan around the venues, a show and a meal.
Theaters In The District
- Wang Theatre (270 Tremont Street): Opened in 1925 as the Metropolitan Theatre and renamed the Wang Center in 1983. It is a designated Boston Landmark.
- Shubert Theatre (265 Tremont Street): Opened in January 1910, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
- Colonial Theatre (106 Boylston Street): Opened on December 20, 1900, and described as the oldest continually operating theater in Boston. It is known for pre-Broadway tryouts, including Oklahoma!, which played there as Away We Go!
- Cutler Majestic Theatre (219 Tremont Street): Opened in 1903 as the Majestic, with a Beaux-Arts design by John Galen Howard. Emerson College owns it.
- Boston Opera House (539 Washington Street): Opened in 1928 as the B. F. Keith Memorial Theatre. Its entrance hall is described as the city's only surviving work of theater designer Thomas W. Lamb.
- Paramount Theatre: On Washington Street, opened in 1932, and used by Emerson College as a performance venue.
Catching A Show
Each theater posts its own schedule, and programs change often, so check the venue's calendar for the date you plan to visit. The district handles touring Broadway productions, dance, concerts and shows that try out before moving to New York. Plan time to arrive before the curtain, since lobbies and sidewalks fill quickly on show nights.
Eating Before Or After A Show
Chinatown is next door and is the closest neighborhood for a meal, and the shopping streets around Downtown Crossing have more options. Restaurant hours change, so check them before you plan a pre-show dinner. For a wider evening plan, see things to do in Boston at night.
Nearby Attractions
The theaters sit between several of Boston's best-known stops, so most of these are a short walk away.
- Boston Common: The large public park along Tremont Street, and Stop 4 on the Boston Sightseeing route.
- Boston Public Garden: The formal garden next to the Common, listed with Stop 4 on the tour map.
- Chinatown: A dense neighborhood of restaurants and bakeries, listed with Stop 4 on the tour map.
- Downtown Crossing: A shopping area a few blocks away, which also covers other downtown sights.
- Park Street Church: A Freedom Trail landmark by the Common, listed with Stop 3.
- The Freedom Trail: The walking route that begins at Boston Common.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Boston Theater District?
The Boston Theater District is in downtown Boston, Massachusetts, around lower Washington Street, Tremont Street and Boylston Street, next to Boston Common and Chinatown.
What theaters are in the Boston Theater District?
The main theaters are the Wang Theatre, the Shubert Theatre, the Colonial Theatre, the Cutler Majestic Theatre, the Boston Opera House and the Paramount Theatre.
Is the Boston Theater District near Boston Common?
Yes. Tremont Street and Boylston Street both run along the edge of Boston Common, and the tour map lists the Theater District under Stop 4, Boston Common.
What is the oldest theater in the Boston Theater District?
The Colonial Theatre, which opened on December 20, 1900, is described as the oldest continually operating theater in Boston.
Is there a map of the Boston Theater District?
There is no official boundary, but the main venues sit along Tremont Street, Boylston Street and Washington Street, at the addresses listed above. The Boston Sightseeing tour map shows Stop 4, Boston Common, which lists the Theater District nearby. A phone map app will give exact walking directions.
What shows are playing in the Boston Theater District?
Programs change by season and by venue, so check each theater's own calendar for the date you plan to visit.
What is there to do near the Boston Theater District?
Boston Common, the Public Garden, Chinatown, Downtown Crossing and Park Street Church are all within walking distance.
Is the Boston Theater District on the Boston Sightseeing route?
Yes. The tour map lists the Theater District under Stop 4, Boston Common, and the Boston Opera House under Stop 3, Downtown. The All Day ticket covers Stops 1 to 8, which includes both.
Can I use the Boston Sightseeing bus to get to an evening show?
The bus runs daily from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM, so it works for a daytime visit but not for most evening performances. Plan separate transportation for a night show.
Planning a Tour with Boston Sightseeing
Boston Sightseeing runs a hop-on hop-off double-decker bus tour with live commentary, so you can see the downtown landmarks and get off where you like. The tour map lists the Theater District under Stop 4, Boston Common, and the Boston Opera House under Stop 3, Downtown. From either stop you can walk the Tremont Street theaters on foot, then return to the bus.
The bus runs daily from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM, and the route starts at 206 Atlantic Avenue. That schedule suits a daytime look at the theater fronts and the neighborhood. It does not cover an evening performance, so arrange separate transportation if you have tickets for a night show. See the ticket cards below for current options, and use the hop-on hop-off tour map to see every stop. The complete guide to hop-on hop-off tours in Boston explains how the tickets compare.
Our Tour Packages
Single Ride Pass
$33.25
Explore Boston in 90 Minutes
Ride above the crowd and enjoy the panoramic view of Boston
- Boston City Tour Single Ride Pass
- Stop-1 to Stop-8
- Blue Route Tour
- Double-Decker Bus Tour
- 90 Minutes Tour
- 1 Day Validity
- Hop-on Hop-off Tour
- Charlestown Sightseeing Tour
Hop-On Hop-Off All Day
$41.55
Boston City Sightseeing Tour
Experience historic Boston with unlimited hop-on hop-off at your own pace.
- Stop-1 to Stop-8
- Hop-on Hop-off Boston Tour
- Blue Route Tour
- Double-Decker Bus Tour
- 90 Minutes tour
- 1 Day Validity
- Shuttle Bus Service
- Charlestown Tour
Hop-on Hop-off Boston & Charlestown Tour
$48.65
Boston & Charlestown Tour
Experience the charm of Boston & Charlestown with Boston Sightseeing at your own pace.
- Hop-on Hop-off Boston Tour
- Stop-1 to Stop-11
- Hop-on Hop-off Charlestown Tour
- Blue & Orange Route Tour
- Double-Decker Bus Tour
- Shuttle Bus Tour
- 120 Minutes Tour
- 1 Day Validity
2 Days Boston & Charlestown Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
$70.40
2 Days Boston & Charlestown Tour
Explore Boston & Charlestown with Boston's first double-decker bus at your own pace.
- Hop-on Hop-off Boston Tour
- Stop-1 to Stop-11
- Hop-on Hop-off Charlestown Tour
- Blue & Orange Route Tour
- Double-Decker Bus Tour
- Shuttle Bus Tour
- 120 Minutes Tour
- 2 Days Validity
Cruise Terminal Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
$52.00
200 Minutes Hop-on Hop-off
Get onboard from Boston Cruise terminal and explore the historic beantown with Boston Sightseeing double-decker bus.
- Hop-on Hop-off Boston Tour
- Stop 1-8, 12-15
- Blue & Purple Route Tour
- Double-Decker Bus Tour
- Shuttle Bus Tour
- 200 Minutes Tour
- 1 Day Validity
- Charlestown Tour
Boston & Cambridge City Tour
$63.00
Guided Photo & City Tour
A 3.5-hour guided shuttle tour featuring Boston’s most iconic neighborhoods, Cambridge highlights, waterfront views, and curated photo opportunities.
- Guided Boston & Cambridge sightseeing tour
- Approximately 3.5 hours
- Curated stops and photo opportunities
- Climate-controlled shuttle bus transportation
- Live local tour guide
- 45-minutes Quincy Market lunch break
- Same-day tour experience
- Double-Decker Bus Service
- Hop-on, hop-off service
Attractions To Explore Near This Stop
Winter Things To Do in Boston
Winter transforms Boston into one of the most scenic and festive destinations in New England, with holiday lights.
Historical Attractions in Boston
Boston is one of America's most historic cities, attracting visitors who want to explore famous historical attractions in Boston.
Best Parks To Visit In Boston
From the oldest public park in the United States to a 1,100-acre chain of connected parks designed by the father of the American .