Queen's Theatre in a modern style. The reconstructed theatre opened 8 July 1959 with John Gielgud's solo performance in "Shakespeare speeches and sonnets, Ages of Man". Since April 2004, the theatre has played host to Cameron Mackintosh's production of "Les Misérables" which transferred after 18 years at the nearby Palace Theatre. The musical celebrated its 20th anniversary at the venue on 8 October 2005 and overtook "Cats" as the longest running musical of all time a year later on 8 October 2006. The theatre was Grade II listed by English Heritage in June 1972. An extensive refurbishment was undertaken in the latter
Theatre at the Center educational and accessible to the entire community. Theatre at the Center’s main stage season offers five productions annually. Many of Theatre at the Center’s productions have been recommended by the Jeff Awards, celebrating excellence in Chicago theatre. Theatre at the Center additionally offers Theatre for Young Audiences programming, presenting four productions annually. William Pullinsi was the founder and artistic director of Candlelight Playhouse, America’s first dinner theater which opened in Washington, D.C. in 1959 and Summit, Illinois in 1961. He is widely credited with introducing theater to hundreds of thousands of patrons who might not have otherwise attended live theatrical