Strand Theatre
The Strand serves as a cultural and educational resource to artists and audiences. This is true regardless of race or cultural background, age, ability, gender, economic level, or sexual orientation.
Please note: You'll also find our events on the ArtsBoston calendar.
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543 Columbia Road
Boston, MA 02125 -
Contact:
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Neighborhood:Dorchester
About the Strand
The Strand Theatre is a venue for a diverse range 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 fabric of the neighborhood.
We envision a Strand Theatre that will be a thriving, attractive performing arts center, drawing audiences from the Upham’s Corner neighborhood, all parts of the City and across Greater Boston. In fulfilling its mission, the Strand will:
- Celebrate diversity in all areas through its programming, its audiences, its employees, and the performers and producers who use its facilities
- Promote community involvement in the growth and development of the Theatre
- Partner with both the public and private sectors to advance the economic development of the neighborhood
Rental information
Please consider renting our theater for your next event. For more information and nonprofit rates, contact Melodi Greene at melodi.greene@boston.gov
or 617-635-1403.
Rental application
The Strand is ADA compliant with an elevator to all seat levels. All restrooms have been upgraded to include wheelchair accessibility and a baby changing pull down.
Interested in projecting artwork onto the Strand? View our projection guidelines.
Related resources
Booking Calendar
The Conservatory Lab Charter School performing at the Strand Theatre. (Photo courtesy of Alida Warn)
Plan your visit
Plan your visit- Red Line: Get off at Andrew station. Take the #16 (Forest Hills) or #17 (Field's Corner) bus to Upham's Corner/Dudley Street. Get off in front of Payless Shoe Store. The Strand is up one block on the left, just past Bank of America.
- Orange Line: Get off at Ruggles station. Take the #15 (Upham's Corner) bus via Dudley Station. Get off in front of Get off in front of Payless Shoe Store. The Strand is up one block on the left, just past Bank of America.
- Orange Line: Get off at Forest Hills station. Take the #16 (Forest Hills) or #17 (Field's Corner) bus to Upham's Corner/Dudley Street. Get off in front of Payless Shoe Store. The Strand is up one block on the left, just past Bank of America.
- From South: Take I-93 North to exit 15, Columbia Road. Left at the bottom of ramp to third set of lights. There is a Kentucky Fried Chicken / Tedeschi’s on the corner. Turn left onto Columbia Road. Go through two sets of lights, the Strand is on the left, just past Bank of America.
- From North: Take I-93 South to exit 15, Columbia Road. Right at the bottom of ramp to third set of lights. There is a Kentucky Fried Chicken / Tedeschi’s on the corner. Turn left onto Columbia Road. Go through two sets of lights, the Strand is on the left, just past Bank of America.
- From West: Mass Pike (I-90) east into Boston, to I-93 south. Follow "From the NORTH" directions.
- From Jamaica Plain / Brookline: Take the JamaicaWay south to the Arborway. Keep straight to the rotary. Go 3/4 around the rotary and turn into Franklin Park. Go through the park, and turn left onto Blue Hill Avenue. Go about 50 yards, then make a right onto Columbia Road. The Strand is about 1 1/3 miles down on the right, just past the Strand / Walgreen’s Pharmacy.
- On street parking is available on Columbia Road.
- There is a free parking lot at the corner of Cushing Ave and Columbia Rd. Parking is first come first serve. T
- There is another public parking lot on Ramsey Street at the intersection of Dudley Street and Columbia Road, behind CVS Pharmacy.
554 Columbia Road
Boston Pizza and Grill535 Columbia Road
Canton House6 Hancock Street
Delicias Restaurant149 Stoughton Street
Dora Taqueria112 Stoughton Street
Dorchester Brewing Company1250 Massachusetts Avenue
Dublin House7 Stoughton Street
1269 Massachusetts Avenue
33 Hancock Street
744 Dudley Street
New York Fried Chicken and Pizza531 Columbia Road
Singh's Roti Shop692 Columbia Road
Terra Terra Restaurant79 Hancock Street
Upham's House of Pizza566 Columbia Road
More Strand information
- The theater seats 1,381 - 1,414 people based on optional seating
Orchestra
- There are 292 seats in total, including two wheelchair seats and two chaperone seats. 16 seats are all-access at the end of the rows of stage left and right seats.
Mezzanine
- There are 414 seats in total. Six are wheelchair seats and six are chaperone seats.
Stage
- The stage is wheelchair accessible.
- Proscenium opening width: 38 feet x 6 inches
- Stage floor to top of grid: 57 feet x 0 inches
- Wing Space right: 14 feet x 0 inches
- Wing Space left: 16 feet x 0" inches
- 8 feet 0 inches into wing there is a ceiling height of 12 feet 0 inches.
- There are 296 seats in the lower balcony standard seating area, including four wheelchair seats and four chaperone seats.
- There are 379 seats in the upper balcony seating area.
A lessee may choose to add additional seats based on an optional seating chart, which will decrease the number of wheelchair seats. This is to be discussed with Management prior to contracting.
Stage Floor
- The stage is a natural hardwood floor, with a medium density overlay in the wings. The orchestra pit cover is constructed of ¾ plywood on a metal turn lock post.
- The pit is covered for all productions and must be requested in advance for use. Additional fees apply.
- A full stage 30 feet x 40 feet portable sprung floor with reversible black/gray marle is available upon request. Additional fees apply.
- The lessee may not drill, lag or screw into the stage floor without prior permission. Any accidental holes, scrapes and scruffs must be repaired before the final load out.
Orchestra Pit
- The curved front accommodates approximately 20 players.
- The orchestra pit is 6 feet 0 inches deep. It is fully removable in three different dimensions. Fees for removal and reinstallation apply.
Dressing Rooms
- There are seven rooms in total.
- The green room measures 14 feet x 12 feet and can be divided into two dressing rooms. It is the only dressing room that is wheelchair accessible, and includes a restroom with showers on each side that is ADA compliant.
- The dressing room at the top of the stairs (facing stage right) measures 10 feet x 12 feet.
- The next three dressing rooms measure 6 feet x 10 feet.
- Upstairs, all four dressing rooms are equipped with sinks.
- The last dressing room (facing stage left) measures 8 feet x 12 feet.
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There are public restrooms on the main level in the gallery space and on the second floor mezzanine level back lobby.
1918
November 11, 1918 - The Strand opens as a movie and vaudeville palace. Two celebrations took place in the Uphams Corner community of Dorchester on Nov. 11, 1918: The Armistice was signed that day, ending World War I, and that night the Strand Theatre swung open its doors to a grand first-night celebration.
Vaudeville was comedians, singers, plate-spinners, ventriloquists, dancers, musicians, acrobats, animal trainers, and more. Beginning in the 1880s and through the 1920s, vaudeville was the most popular form of entertainment in America, and an essential part of every community.
1930s
The Strand introduces "talkies" to audiences with a screening of Marx Brothers movies.
1938-1969
The Strand continues to run first-run films until 1969, when the theater closed its doors due to declining ticket sales.
1970s
The Strand is revived! Led by Dorchester resident Thomas McKenna, a group of neighborhood residents create a plan to salvage the theater. They incorporate as the M. Harriet McCormack Center for the Arts to refurbish and reopen the Strand.
1979
The City of Boston takes over. With the support of the City of Boston, the federal Economic Development Administration, and Community Development Block Grant money, the Strand is renovated and the M. Harriet McCormack Center for the Arts signs a 25-year lease of the theater with the City of Boston for a dollar a year.
1980s
Performances come to the Strand. Performers include Tracey Chapman, BB King, Julius Hemphill (with Long Tongues: A Saxophone Opera), Boogie Down Productions, and Public Enemy.
1985-1987
More big names are featured at the Strand! Joe Perry (of Aerosmith), Till Tuesday, and New Kids On The Block all shoot videos at the Strand. Irish theater group Parnassus brings a production of the play Da by Hugh Leonard over from Dublin for a 3 night run in 1987.
1990s
Programs to serve the inner city youth are initiated. Strand Teen Players emerges as a model program teaching teens every facet of theater production, both creative and technical. Louis Farrakhan speaks at the Strand Jazz/Tap/Hip-Hop Festival sponsored by Dance Umbrella, features a young Savion Glover and the first American performance by the group STOMP.
1991
Phish performs at the theatre in 1990, and in 1991, the theater lights a new marquee with a gala reception.
2000's
The Urban Nutcracker premieres at the Strand. Acclaimed jazz artist Boney James' tour takes on a Strand date, and Pro Arte Orchestra celebrates its 25th anniversary at the Strand with a special concert. LL Cool J plays the Strand, and Can a Woman Make a Man Lose His Mind continues an annual run of gospel play sell-outs.
2004 - 2013
Mayor Thomas M. Menino appoints a task force to help him set a new vision for the Strand Theatre. Ruben Studdard and Frenchie Davis, of American Idol, come to the Strand with the Broadway musical Ain't Misbehavin'.
2013 – 2015
Fiddlehead Theatre took up residence at the Strand, performing:
- A Little Princess
- Aida
- The Wiz
- Jesus Christ Superstar
- West Side Story
- The Little Mermaid
- Black History Month - OrigiNation's Our Story and Roxbury Center for the Arts' SANKOFA
- Boston Bhangra traditional East Indian folk dance and Bollywood competition
- Boston Children’s Chorus
- Boston Scores Poetry Slam
- Commonwealth Shakespeare Company
- Company One
- CUSAV Entertainment Cape Verde MEGA Show
- Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre's The Nutcracker
- Stanley David Entertainment Haitian Comedy Festival
Strand Teen Employment Program
The Brighter Boston Strand Teen Employment Program served Boston-area youth. The pilot program offered employment and training in technical theater and event production over the summer of 2020.
Students worked alongside mentors to develop their skills in:
- lighting, audio, and stage management, and
- interfacing with professional artists, with an eye toward creating meaningful new productions.
This six-week program culminated in a series of capstone projects. The program allowed the students to make their own voices heard.
The Conservatory Lab Charter School performing at the Strand Theatre. (Photo courtesy of Alida Warn)
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543 Columbia Road
Boston, MA 02125 -
Contact:
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Neighborhood:Dorchester
