July 23, 2024 | Theatre,

History of the Cutler Majestic Theatre

Performances at ArtsEmerson take place across a number of spaces in Downtown Boston, but perhaps none are more iconic than The Cutler Majestic Theatre , located in the center of Boston’s vibrant Theatre District! Opened in 1903, the Beaux-Arts Design was created by John Galen Howard, and has transformed in form and function over time, yet remains a a relic of the past and a beacon of hope for theatrical future in Boston.

Initially in the 1920s a Vaudeville house, Boston was exposed to lavish designs and performances making the Cutler a preeminent destination of Boston’s premier entertainment. As time and styles evolved, the elaborate theatre pivoted to become a movie venue in the 1950s, and back to its rightful place as a performance venue in the 1980s. In 1983, Emerson College acquired the space and eagerly worked to ensure the space’s historic preservation in order to retain it as a cultural and theatrical hub. The College took on several initiatives to restore the space to its original grandeur, where today it stands as a preeminent venue for ArtsEmerson’s productions in dance, music, and theatre. The Cutler Majestic is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Massachusetts Register of Historic Places, and was designated a Boston Landmark in 1986. 

The Cutler Majestic Theatre has been home to number of hit ArtsEmerson productions, including multiple 7 Fingers performances, Step Afrika!, The Trip to Bountiful, Born for This, An Inspector Calls, Parable of the Sower, and most recently, the sold-out performance of We Are The Land. In the 24/25 Season, ArtsEmerson is thrilled to utilize the magic of the Cutler for the run of Prison Dancer: The Musical, a production inspired by a viral Youtube video where Filipino prison inmates dance to Micheal Jackson’s “Thriller.” 

Do you have a favorite show you’ve seen at the Cutler Majestic? Let us know in the comments! If you haven’t had the chance to visit this landmark space, or would like the opportunity to return, be sure to secure your tickets for the Broadway-ready production of Prison Dancer: The Musical. Tickets for this show are now available through Season Ticket Packages, which are available for purchase on the ArtsEmerson website, over the phone, or in-person at the Box Office.