The Harman Center for the Arts is a complex consisting of the Lansburgh Theatre at 450 7th Street NW in Washington, D.C. and Sidney Harman Hall at Sixth and F Streets NW. Harman Hall is the latest addition to the existing Lansburgh Theatre to create the new "Center For the Arts". Construction began in November 2004 and it opened on September 15, 2007.[1] Jack Diamond designed the theatre and Paul Beckmann of the DC firm Smithgroup designed the building that houses the theatre at a cost of $89 million. [2]
Both theatres are the home of Washington, D.C.’s Shakespeare Theatre Company, but the new theatre will extend its performance spaces to other local arts groups in the hope of broadening Washington’s appeal as an arts scene.
The completion of the Harman Center allows the Shakespeare Theatre Company to expand its season to seven plays, four at Sidney Harman Hall (which seats 755) and three at its current location, the Lansburgh Theatre (which seats 451), in addition to the Company’s annual Free For All at Rock Creek Park’s Carter Barron Amphitheatre.
Sidney Harman Hall will have multiple stage configurations making it adaptable to the needs of each performance while the Harman Center will make it possible to develop the existing Shakespeare Theatre Company's educational programs in order to reach even more local students. Performances and programs will be made more accessible with the availability of discounted tickets.
The Harman Center for the Arts is named for the Harman family and Shakespeare Theatre Company Board of Trustees member Sidney Harman. Michael Kahn, Artistic Director of the Shakespeare Theatre Company, serves as Artistic Director of the Harman Center for the Arts.
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