Theatre de la Rue Saint Pierre

Theatre de la Rue Saint Pierre, was the first (French speaking) theatre in New Orleans in Louisiana. It opened in 1792. It was described as a small building of native lumber near the center of the city.

In 1792, a troupe under Carondelet begun to perform in the city; they were probably refugee actors from Saint Domingue. The troupe performed regularly until 1800, and was properly organized in 1794. In 1797, there were fourteen actors employed at the theatre's troupe. In 1798, the stockholders of the theatre asked for and were granted a gambling permission to finance the theatre. In 1800, an etiquette argument about reserved seats in the theatre lead to the closure of the theatre, officially because the gambling concession was to have been abused, but it was opened again in 1802. In 1803, the theatre was closed due to the bad condition of the building. In 1804, the building had been repaired and the theatre was permitted to open again.

In 22 March 1796, the opera "Silvain" by Grétry, the first opera performed in New Orleans, was performed here.

References

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