Casa Mañana
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Casa Mañana Theatre, in Fort Worth, Texas is located in the Fort Worth Cultural District and is known as the "House of Tomorrow." Originally an outdoor amphitheater, Casa opened in 1936 as the part of the official Texas Centennial Celebration.
Built by famed Broadway producer Billy Rose, the original Casa Mañana featured the world's largest revolving stage surrounded by a moat. Fountains shot a water wall, which acted as a curtain for the stage. Combined with a restaurant, the complex sat 4,000 people for dinner and a show. The theatre closed after a 100-day run, and though it was set to open again the following year for another 100 days, cost overruns and the looming threat of World War II prevented it from ever re-opening.
On July 5, 1958, a new Casa Mañana opened in the same location as the original, this time as a fully-enclosed, air conditioned, domed, in-the-round theatre. The debut season featured the musicals Can-Can, Carousel, The Pajama Game, The Merry Widow and Call Me Madam. Casa remained in-the-round until 2003, when the theatre was completely renovated and reopened with a modified thrust stage.
In 1998, Casa Mañana began producing musicals, as well as presenting national touring shows, at the newly-opened Bass Performance Hall.
2008 marks Casa Mañana's 50th anniversary, and is being celebrated with its 50th Anniversary Summer Season, featuring The Fantasticks and Damn Yankees at Casa Mañana Theatre and Avenue Q, Mamma Mia and Tuna Does Vegas at Bass Performance Hall.
