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The Strand Theater

Located in the Uphams Corner neighborhood of Dorchester, The Strand Theatre was built in 1918 as a movie and vaudeville house. In the late 1960’s, the theatre was forced to close its doors due to disrepair. The City of Boston obtained the Strand by eminent domain in the early 1970’s and began extensive renovations. In 1979, the newly renovated, 1,400-seat and professionally equipped Strand Theatre opened its doors once again.

In 2004, Mayor Menino convened a Task Force on the Future of the Strand Theatre to articulate a renewed vision and mission for the Strand, following a period of public concern regarding its operations. Led by Ken Novack, former Chair of AOL/Time Warner, the task force conducted a community input process that included neighborhood youth. Adult and youth community members strongly stated the need for year-round community involvment and youth programming to be renewed at the Strand. As a result of this process, community-based programming resumed and a reinvestment in direct youth programming was made. The Strand served 60 teens annually through year-round arts programming. The theatre was available to the community for rentals priced below market value. In 2006, the theatre offered direct public programming nearly 200 days of the year.

In Fall of 2004, a request for proposals was sent out by the Department of Neighborhood Development for management of the theatre, but no response was received. DND staff indicated that the City’s ability to replace a poorly peforming operator (M. Harriet McCormack Center for the Arts) would be critical to the theatre’s sustainabilty. By default, the Mayor’s Office of Arts, Tourism & Special Events assumed the interim management of the theatre.

In the Summer of 2005, Wilson Butler Architects created a master plan for a complete renovation. The master plan was designed to be completed in four phases at a total cost of $17.9 million. The four phases included an added arts education wing. This comprehensive renovation also included a complete historic paint and plaster restoration.

Mission Statement

The Strand Theatre is a venue for a diversity of performing arts, cultural programming, and community events. Its mission is two-fold: to engage the multicultural residents of Boston, with a special commitment to youth and the Upham’s Corner community; and to act as a catalyst in strengthening the economic fabric of the neighborhood.

References

(1) http://www.bostonahtsfestival.com (2) http://www.cityofboston.gov/news/default.aspx?id=3954