MERRIAM THEATER

The Merriam Theater, located in Philadelphia, has played an integral and entertaining role in the city's cultural life. The theater, which has a seating capacity of 1,872, was taken over in 1972 by the Pennsylvania Musical Academy, now the University of Arts.

Now completing its 75 year, the Sam S. Shubert Theater opened on August 26, 1918, with a road production o a musical from London and New York called Chu Chow Chin. In the early years, there were Gershwin musicals and Al Jolson reviews. John Barrymore played Hamlet in the 1920s and burlesque was featured in the 30s.