The Nation's Second Largest Theater District Is Playhouse Square, Which Has Dazzled Since The 20s
By Nikki Rhoades|Published November 11, 2019
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Nikki Rhoades
Author
Nikki is a lifelong Ohioan with a love for literature. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Akron and has enjoyed publishing her written work since 2007. She has a love of travel and does so frequently, though she believes that home is where the heart is — she continues to work in and around Cleveland as a digital content specialist to this day, working on everything from commercial scripts and social media posts to grassroots marketing initiatives.
The 2020s are promising to be one of Cleveland’s greatest decades yet. Following years of improvements and an unprecedented rise in tourism, The Land is facing a future that’s endlessly bright. If we are lucky, the decade will be as dazzling as Cleveland’s Jazz Age: the 1920s. This era turned one Cleveland neighborhood into the second-largest theater district in the nation, an honor that it maintains to this day.
As nighttime settles over the landscape, neon lights start to illuminate the streets of Cleveland.
At over 82 square miles in size, there's much to see and do in Cleveland. However, one area stands out in particular - as night falls on its streets, music and festivity spill out into the crisp air.
The colors are particularly splendid in Playhouse Square, which was constructed in only 19 months in the 1920s.
Though it is quite a bit younger than New York's Broadway Theater District, Playhouse Square is every bit as dazzling... and almost as big! The final theater to open in the area, Palace Theatre, had a particularly impressive draw. At the time of its unveiling, it featured the biggest electric sign in the world.
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As beautiful as the square is today, it was once in a state of incredible disrepair.
There was once, believe it or not, a time in human history when a trip to the nation's largest theater district outside of New York was less attractive than a night at home. You see, the rise of television once made theater in Cleveland a struggling industry. Playhouse Square struggled and eventually fell victim to fire and vandalism. It was only revitalized after the grassroots initiatives of locals.
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Of course, this massive performing arts district has since been restored to a state of splendor that's unrivaled anywhere else in the state.
And, for that matter, the beauty of Playhouse Square is unrivaled by most of the nation. After the massive performing arts center was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, millions of dollars were pumped into its rebirth. It now boasts over 1,000 performances each year.
It's easy to see why over one million people visit Playhouse Square each year. Not only is its architecture splendid and vibrant, but it also includes the world's largest outdoor chandelier.
No matter the season, the colors of this eccentric Cleveland neighborhood are always warm and bright.
An impressive network of signage and marquees illuminate the streets in every season, but Christmastime brings a new sort of splendor to the district. Its lights are appropriately over-the-top, and its resident theaters and eateries feel particularly welcoming.
Today, it's hard to imagine what Playhouse Square looked like back in the Jazz Age...
So much has changed in the last century or so. This neighborhood came into existence, fell into disrepair, enjoyed a rebirth, and then became a major feature of the Cleveland tourism scene. The Playhouse Square area is beautiful, but it is truly a testament to the adaptability of rustbelt communities. Here, the future and the past meet.
...But its future is bright, both as a hub of culture and as a tourist destination.
If you’re longing to catch a spectacular show without facing the heavy traffic of Broadway, a trip through the second-largest theater district in the nation should do the trick. Cleveland’s Playhouse Square is downright incredible, and it grows lovelier as the years continue to march on. What plays have you seen in this interesting neighborhood?
Want to read more about this impressive performing arts district? Check out why its epic outdoor chandelier is one of Cleveland’s most incredible landmarks.
