Ted Shawn Theatre
"Everything about it is designed for use with a functionalism that is both modern and classic. There appears to be not a wasted nail or an unnecessary board anywhere and the whole thing operates smartly with a unity and efficiency that are themselves a form of beauty."
- John Martin, The New York Times, 1942
On July 9, 1942, the Ted Shawn Theatre, the first theatre in the United States
designed specifically for dance, opened its doors to the Berkshire community in Western Massachusetts, presenting world premieres, US debuts of artists from all over the world and exciting programs and collaborations not seen elsewhere. Architect Joseph Franz, who also built The Music Shed at Tanglewood, agreed with Shawn that the theatre exterior must harmonize with the existing farmhouse and barns. Franz also handcut the weathervane atop the theatre, which depicts Barton Mumaw, Shawn's leading dancer. Within the Ted Shawn Theatre and flanking the proscenium are life-size paintings of Ted Shawn in the Hopi Indian Eagle Dance and Ruth St. Denis as Kwannon, the Japanese Goddess of Mercy. Both were painted during the Denishawn era by Albert Herter.
World renowned dance companies and artists perform Wednesdays through Sundays every week.
World renowned dance companies and artists perform Wednesdays through Sundays every week.
