Atlas Performing Arts Center

The Atlas Performing Arts Center is a multiple space performing arts facility located on H Street in the Near Northeast neighborhood of Washington, DC. Housed in a renovated Art Deco movie house, the facility is home to several arts organizations.[2][3][4]

Atlas Performing Arts Center
Atlas Performing Arts Center in 2012
Address1313-33 H Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C.
United States
CapacityLang Theatre: 262
Sprenger Theatre: 170 - 200
Lab Theatre I: 70
Lab Theatre II: 80
Current usePerforming arts center
Construction
Opened1938
Reopened2005
ArchitectJohn Jacob Zink
Website
atlasarts.org
Atlas Theater and Shops
Atlas Performing Arts Center is located in Washington, D.C.
Atlas Performing Arts Center
Atlas Performing Arts Center is located in the District of Columbia
Atlas Performing Arts Center
Atlas Performing Arts Center is located in the United States
Atlas Performing Arts Center
Coordinates38°53′59″N 76°59′15″W
Architectural styleArt Moderne
NRHP reference No.10000909 [1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPNovember 10, 2010
Designated DCIHSOctober 24, 2002

History

The Atlas Movie Theater was built in 1938 by the Kogod-Burka movie chain, one of four movie houses on the then-bustling commercial corridor. The riots of 1968 devastated the area and many businesses and residents abandoned H Street for the suburbs. The area became neglected with many empty buildings. The Atlas closed for good in 1976. The H Street Community Development Corporation purchased the theater in 1985, and renovated the Art Moderne facade in 1989.

In 2001 The Atlas Performing Arts Center purchased the building from the H Street Community Development Corporation. In 2002, the Sprenger-Lang Foundation donated $450,000 of the $1.2 million asking price. The building was renovated for $22 million,[5] beginning in 2004.[6][7] The structure was completely gutted and three adjacent buildings were combined under one roof to house the current Arts Center. The Atlas Performing Arts Center opened in March 2005.[8]

The nearly 60,000 square feet (5,600 m2) facility boasts one 260 seat proscenium theatre, one large flexible seat black box theatre and two smaller Lab Theatres. There are three dance studios, managed by Joy of Motion Dance Center. On the lower level there is a scene shop, seven dressing rooms, one green room and office space for the Atlas and its Resident Arts Partners. Douglas E. Yeuell has been the organization's Executive Director since 2014.

Theater and shops

Atlas Arts Partners

Intersections

In the winter of 2010 the Atlas hosted its first arts festival, Intersections. Under the direction of artistic director Mary Hall Surface, the goal of the festival was to bring artists from different disciplines, ages and cultural backgrounds together under one roof to celebrate and explore the areas to make new connections and break new ground.

Over 5000 people came to the Atlas of the three weekends of the festival, many of whom were new to the Atlas and to H Street. The Atlas plans to host Intersections annually.[9]

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. "For the Atlas, A Bold New World; In a Neighborhood That Once Burned, New Arts Center Fuels Hope for Renewal - The Washington Post | HighBeam Research". November 4, 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-11-04.
  3. "'Let Freedom Sing': Well Tuned to Its Source". The Washington Post. 2009-03-21. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
  4. "Washington Chorus at Atlas Performing Arts Center". The Washington Post. 2009-03-13. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
  5. "Site Page". Nps.gov. Archived from the original on 2016-09-21. Retrieved 2016-07-04.
  6. "Atlas Performing Arts Center Work Begins May 14, 2004", CORE Architects
  7. "Atlas Performing Arts Center" Archived 2012-03-20 at the Wayback Machine, Tishman Construction
  8. "H Street Real Estate - Atlas District Real Estate - Search All Listings in H Street and Atlas District and View Updated Real Estate Market Statistics". Archived from the original on 2013-12-07. Retrieved 2013-04-18.
  9. Ramanathan, Lavanya (19 February 2010). "Atlas Performing Arts Center stages diverse Intersections arts festival". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 10 November 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
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