Melico Salazar Theatre

Coordinates: 9°56′01″N 84°04′46″W / 9.9335°N 84.0794°W / 9.9335; -84.0794

Teatro Popular Melico Salazar
City	San José,
Country	Costa Rica
Architect	José Fabio Garnier Ugalde
Owned by	Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sports
Capacity	2,752
Type	Historic property
Opened	7 February 1928
Years active	1928-present
Previous names	Raventós Theater

The Melico Salazar Theatre is located in San José, Costa Rica. It maintains a full schedule of concerts, recitals, and plays. So far, it has been likened to Madison Square Garden.

While large and built in the European Baroque style, it is far simpler than the Parisian influenced Teatro Nacional one block east.

The land was bought by Jose Raventós, who dreamed of building a theatre in which to produce zarzuelas, usually comic) Spanish operettas. The building was designed by Jose Fabio Garnier Ugalde, dramatist and architect. Construction began 8 February 1927, and was completed 7 October 1928. The inauguration featured operattas of Esperanza Iris, the famous Mexican singer known as the Empress of Operetta.

In 1960 a new gallery was added that included a screen for cinemascope. Seven years later, in 1967, during the dawn of 23 April, a fire destroyed the room.

In the early 70s, the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sports decided that Costa Rica must buy the theater and renew it. In December 1981, a pre-inauguration occurred. Shortly afterwards, the building was closed to finish the restoration. There was a re-inauguration 6 March 1985, and 7 April the following year. "The Gaceta", the official newspaper of the government, announced law 7023 that gave the Melico Salazar the position of "cultural institution especializada" of the Costa Rican State.

Originally named the Raventós Theater, it was renamed in 1986 to honor famous Costa Rican tenor Manuel "Melico" Salazar.