A Night At Boston's Charles Playhouse

The Charles Playhouse is one of Boston's oldest and most-beloved theaters. The building was constructed in the 19th century, but did not become the iconic playhouse until 1958. Since that time, the theater has been host to a number of big Broadway plays and musicals. In fact, Broadway in Boston is the current owner of the space.

Charles Playhouse
74 Warrenton St.
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 426-6912
www.charlesplayhouse175.com

Getting There

The Charles Playhouse is in Boston's Theater District behind the Shubert Theatre, which makes it easy to reach by car, on foot or by public transportation. It is walking distance from the Boston Common and several T stations. Finding it is easy in a car simply by taking Tremont St. to Stuart St. where the parking is most abundant.

From the Green Line, get off at Boylston and come up to the surface at Tremont St. Follow Tremont until the Stuart St. intersection and take a right. Look for Warrenton St. on the right. The playhouse is just up the street.

From the Red Line, get off at Park Street and walk down Tremont. Take a right at Stuart St. and the first left onto Warrenton St. where the Charles Playhouse is located. These walking directions will get patrons from the Boston Common to the playhouse.

From the Orange Line, get off at Tuft Medical Center. Come up at Tremont St., go through the playground across the street and go through the underpass on the right after the playground. The theater will be on the left.

Related: Boston's Best Free (Or Almost Free) Theater

Parking

There are numerous lots and garages near Charles Playhouse thanks to the busy Theater District, the Boston Common and other nearby attractions. The official website for the theater suggests the 200 Stuart St. parking garage because it is short walking distance from the theater. The garage is easy to spot next to the Revere hotel.

Food and Drink

There are myriad options for food and drink near the Charles Playhouse. The closest are only a very short walk away. Just a brief walk longer down Stuart St. offers up a huge variety of establishments. The closest to the theater include:

Abby Lane
275 Tremont St.
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 451-2229
www.abbylaneboston.com

Underbar
279 Tremont St.
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 292-0080
www.underbaronline.com

Rustic Kitchen Bistro & Bar
210 Stuart St.
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 423-5700
www.rustickitchen.biz

What to See

The Charles Playhouse is historically home to everything from musicals to comedies. However, it is currently home to two of the longest running shows in Boston. "Shear Madness," a comedic murder mystery, and "Blue Man Group," a wild percussion adventure, are so popular that they are on every season at the Charles Playhouse. The themes and even the shows are largely the same from night to night. Nonetheless, the laid-back tone of both "Blue Man Group" and "Shear Madness" allow for a little ad-libbing. That means guests can come year after year and have a different experience every time.

Related: Boston's Best Small Theatre Companies

Shelly Barclay is a professional freelance writer and amateur author. She writes on a variety of topics from food to mysteries. She loves to share the culture and rich history of her birthplace and home, Boston, with the rest of the world. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.