NEW CENTURY THEATRE

Hennepin Theatre Trust's New Century Theatre is a vital component in continuing our commitment to connecting and enriching local cultural resources all along Hennepin Avenue, advancing what we've already accomplished with our historic theatres. I think City Center is an exciting and perfect place for what we want to do for downtown, for arts education and what we present on stage."

The New Century Theatre will enable the Trust to extend its programming as a complement to its ongoing operation of the State, Orpheum and Pantages Theatres. While the schedule is still being planned and will be announced when it is confirmed, the Trust anticipates using the space for shows similar to those it hosted at Hennepin Stages, including Girls Only: The Secret Comedy of Women and Don't Hug Me Christmas Carol, among others. The New Century Theatre will also be used to bring more local and touring performances to Hennepin Avenue and for educational initiatives offered by the Trust, such as the Broadway Confidential series, student cabarets and training for the SpotLight Musical Theatre Program.

The New Century Theatre is named in homage to the Century Theatre, one of four historic theatres that used to operate near the site of what is now City Center. The original theater opened in 1908 as a 2,000-seat vaudeville house called the Miles. It was rebuilt several times, eventually named the Century Theatre in 1929 and transformed into the 1,145 seat Century Cinerama in the mid 1950s. The Century burned in 1964 and was bulldozed the following year.