The Howard Theatre is a historic theater, located at 620 T Street, Northwest, Washington, D.C. Opened in 1910, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. In its heyday, the theater was known for catering to an African-American clientele, and had played host to many of the great black musical artists of the early and mid-twentieth century. The Howard Theatre was billed as the “Theater of the People”, and supported two theatrical organizations, the Lafayette Players and the Howard University Players.
After briefly closing in 1929, theatre manager Shep Allen re-opened it in 1931 with native Washingtonian Duke Ellington playing the theater’s first night. Allen introduced the concept of Amateur Night (early winners included Ella Fitzgerald and Billy Eckstine) and brought in nationally-regarded performers including Pearl Bailey, Diana Washington, Sammy Davis, Jr., Lena Horne, Lionel Hampton, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Dizzy Gillespie and The Supremes, who made their first stage appearance at The Howard.
The Howard Theatre provided a place where color barriers blurred and music unified. The Washington Bee dubbed it the “Theatre for The People,” as both dignitaries and everyday folks gathered to see both superstars and rising stars. While The Howard Theatre inspired change, it felt the impact of a nation in flux following the 1968 riots. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974, but the degradation of the neighborhood forced the theatre to close in 1980.
On April 9, 2012, The Howard Theater, announced their grand re-opening after a $29 million renovation and a 32-year hiatus. The Howard Theatre’s opening lineup included Wale, Wanda Sykes, The Roots, Robert Randolph, Taj Mahal, Yasiin Bey (aka Mos Def), Meshell Ndegeocello, Bad Brains, Chuck Brown, Chuck Berry, Esperanza Spalding and a weekly Sunday Brunch featuring the Harlem Gospel Choir.