| The Savoy Theatre, built by Richard D'Oyly | | | | closed June 3, 1929, and the interior of the building |
| Carte, opened Oct. 10, 1881 in order to showcase | | | | was rebuilt completely. The original capacity of the |
| the comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan. This | | | | theatre was 1,292, but was reduced to 986 by |
| theatre was the first theatre, as well as public | | | | 1912. The new theatre designed allowed for 1,200 |
| building in the world, to be lit by electricity in its | | | | people. The theatre was reopened Oct. 21, 1929, |
| entirety. Around 1,200 incandescent lamps were | | | | and presented a production of "The Gondoliers." |
| used. It also had gaslights installed for backup | | | | Gilbert and Sullivan seasons ran at the Savoy |
| purposes, but they were not used often. The | | | | Theatre on and off from 1929 to 2003. The |
| Savoy Hotel, also built by D'Oyly Carte, went up | | | | theatre also featured "Blithe Spirit" in 1941, which |
| next to the theatre in 1889. The theatre was, for | | | | ran for 1,997 consecutive performances. |
| many years, home to the D'Oyly Carte Opera | | | | Management of the theatre went to Sir Hugh |
| Company and the Carte family ran it for more | | | | Wotner in 1948. The D'Oyly Carte Opera |
| than a century. D'Oyly Carte's son, Rupert, | | | | Company ceased operations in 1982 and the last |
| modernized and rebuilt the theatre in 1929 and in | | | | heir of the D'Oyly Carte family died in 1985, |
| 1993, following a fire, it was rebuilt again. The | | | | effectively ending the family line. During |
| original design for the theatre was came from C.J. | | | | renovations in 1990, a fire destroyed the building, |
| Phipps. It closed in 1903 and reopened in February | | | | sans the stage and backstage area. It reopened |
| 1904 with John Leigh and Edward Laurillard acting | | | | July 19, 1993, and the newly rebuilt theatre |
| as managers. They remained in the managerial | | | | currently seats 1,158. During the renovations, a |
| positions until December 1906, when the D'Oyly | | | | swimming pool was added above the stage and |
| Carte Opera Company returned to the site for | | | | another story was added about the theatre. Since |
| repertory seasons between 1906 and 1909. At | | | | 1993, some shows at the theatre have included |
| this point, C.H. Workman took over the manager | | | | "Relative Values," "Travesties," the musical "She |
| position until 1911. The theatre was managed by | | | | Loves Me," "Dead Funny," and "Coward's Hay |
| George Augustus Richardson from November | | | | Fever." In 2000, the D'Oyly Carte Opera |
| 1911 to Feburary 1915, at which point D'Oyly | | | | Company was shortly reconstituted and produced |
| Carte's son, Rupert D'Oyly Carte, took over. | | | | "H.M.S. Pinafore" and "Pirates of Penzance." The |
| Rupert decided to bring the D'Oyly Carte Opera | | | | company followed these with "The Barber Seville" |
| Company back to the theatre at this time and he | | | | in 2004. Currently, the theatre (located at The |
| also hired Malcolm Sargent and Geoffrey Toye as | | | | Strand, Westminster, London, WC2R 0ET), is |
| guest conductors and Isidore Godfrey and Harry | | | | showing Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Carousel," a |
| Norris as musical directors. Savoy Theatre was | | | | show which debuted Nov. 29, 2008. |