Casino Theatre

9 Freebody Street,
Newport, RI 02840

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Related Websites

International Tennis Hall of Fame

Additional Info

Architects: Stanford White

Functions: Concerts

Previous Names: Casino Civic Theatre, Freebody Park Theatre

Nearby Theaters

Casino Theatre

The Casino Theatre, part of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, designed by Stanford White, originally opened on July 26, 1880. It has unique shingle-style architecture. Here is a description of the Casino Theatre from the Tennis Hall of Fame website:

“The Theatre on the grounds was also built by Stanford White and was joined to the Court Tennis building by a connecting piazza porch. A visual masterpiece, it served as both a 500-capacity removable seat theatre and as a ballroom for dances. The interior was gold-trimmed ivory with a sky blue ceiling, decorated with golden stars. Attached were dressing rooms and a small utility kitchen. It was the scene of many artistic performances, both amateur and professional. Dances, recitals, poetic readings, shows and ballets were held for the adults, while children were entertained by vaudeville acts and magical mystifications”.

In addition to the above mentioned uses, the theatre also has a documented history as a movie theatre, during both the silent and sound eras, closing in 1987.

While the Tennis Hall of Fame has its entrance at 194 Bellevue Avenue, the Casino Theatre entrance is on Freebody Street, across from Freebody Park, once home to the Newport Jazz and Folk Festivals.

Restoration was completed by the Summer of 2010.

Contributed by Gerald A. DeLuca

Recent comments (view all 11 comments)

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca on August 26, 2005 at 6:38 am

That Flickers showing of The Shop on Main Street that I saw was on May 5, 1983. The film society was run, if I am not wrong, by George Marshall, who has been heading the R.I. International Film Festival for nearly a decade. Flickers also used other venues, including the Jane Pickens Theatre and a second floor hall off Washington Square that I forget the name of.

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca on October 8, 2006 at 7:47 am

Four lovely photos of the interior of the Casino Theatre, an unknown treasure of Rhode Island.
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca on September 25, 2009 at 3:09 am

The Casino Theatre is scheduled to re-open, after an extensive restoration. READ ARTICLE

johndereszewski
johndereszewski on September 25, 2009 at 6:28 am

Gerard, thanks so much for the pictures and the article. This theater certainly means a lot to you. Since I am familiar with the Tennis Hall of Fame, I will look up the theater the next time I visit Newport.

The fact that the Casino was designed by Stanford White – and that it is his only theater that still exists – is really valuable information. It is also clearly documented in the article. Thus, the Casino’s architect is clearly not “Unknown”, and the site manager should accordingly add the great man’s name at the top of this page.

johndereszewski
johndereszewski on September 28, 2009 at 5:10 pm

Site manager, thanks for the prompt response to my Stanford White request!

johndereszewski
johndereszewski on June 25, 2010 at 4:24 pm

Gerald, do you know if the Casino has re-opened? If it has, do you know what events are being scheduled there?

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca on June 26, 2010 at 2:54 am

Not sure, but I don’t think so.
There is a Casino restoration website. Perhaps that info will appear here at some point.
http://www.thestanfordwhitecasino.com/

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca on July 22, 2011 at 6:13 pm

Last week, on July 13, I attended a concert at the Casino Theatre, part of the Newport Music Festival dedicated to chamber music events each year. The concert, entitled “Notturno,” was well-attended. The opportunity to see close-up again this beautiful music box of a theatre was very much appreciated by all those present. The last time I had been inside was in the early 1980s.

Roger Katz
Roger Katz on January 22, 2013 at 11:08 am

This theatre should be listed as open.

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