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THE NATIONAL THEATRE  - HISTORY Unlike the Kennedy Center and Wolf Trap, which also present Broadway shows, the National has no direct government support. If it is to prosper, the National must now achieve higher visibility as a not-for-profit organization in need of contributed funds. The theatre has a glorious history and tradition. William Corcoran, the philanthropist for whom the city’s oldest private art museum is named, joined other public-spirited citizens in 1835 to invest in the creation of a proper playhouse. They wanted something more suitable to the aspirations of the young capital city than the existing ruder venues. There were, of course, no 501.c.3 not-for-profit organizations at that time. - Photo by Jeremy McGraw

Presidents and their families have continued to patronize the National throughout its history, and through a number of reconstructions of the building. President Lincoln was reputedly the most frequent attendee, and his son was at the National on the night his father was shot.  During the run of "Hello, Dolly!," Pearl Bailey invited the Johnsons to join her and Cab Calloway onstage.  She reprised the title song as "Hello, Lyndon!"The theatre occasionally hosted such events as an inaugural ball for President Polk, and marksmanship demonstrations by Annie Oakley.  Marine Band concerts were conducted by John Philip Sousa, and Sir Winston Churchill made a speech from the stage. - Photo by TIMEx

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Each New York playhouse can claim its share of memorable plays and famous actors in long engagements.  But the National -- with its procession of limited runs -- surely holds the record for most major players and plays over its 174 years. Many shows premiered here prior to Broadway, including the original Show Boat, Amadeus, Crazy for You, A Funny Think Happened on the Way to the Forum, Hello, Dolly!, the original West Side Story and its 50-Year-Anniversary Revival, now playing on Broadway.   A quick perusal of our time-line can be astonishing for the number and nature of productions spanning 17 decades - a veritable history of American theatre-going: http://nationaltheatre.org/location/timeline.htm - Photo by Joan Marcus

The National continued to present a steady stream of leading plays and players, while other local theatres hosting tours disappeared entirely prior to the creation of The Kennedy Center. In the 1960's, following the Martin Luther King riots and the “flight to the suburbs,” Washington’s downtown declined.  By 1975, the Nederlander Organization was eager to end its unprofitable operation of the National.   Roger Stevens formed the not-for-profit organization which assumed responsibility for the theatre, with management services provided by the Kennedy Center.   In the 1980's, The Shubert Organization took over the provision of management services and that contractual arrangement continues today. The theatre and the non-profit corporation operate with a full-time staff of six (including a receptionist and stage door guard). All other personnel - performers, stage hands, wardrobe, box-office, bartenders, ushers and cleaners - are brought in on a part-time basis for the duration of each attraction. Box-office and concession revenues after expenses are shared equally between National and Shubert.   The National’s distinction, other than its remarkable heritage in a series of reconstructions at one location, is its capacity and configuration -- now unique in Washington.

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With 1,700 seats, the theatre is smaller than the Warner and stands midway in size between the Kennedy Center Opera House and the Eisenhower Theatre. Its downtown location and intimate traditional design - with balconies relatively close to the stage, and side boxes descending toward the proscenium - closely approximate the “Broadway” theatre experience in Washington.  The National, in its  current 1920's form, is ideally suitable in size and lay-out for the presentation of musical theatre and straight plays. - Photo by Joan Marcus

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