| The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, Catherine Street, | | | | the previous building. Since its opening, it has been |
| WC2B 5JF, is an un-air conditioned theatre in | | | | visited by Shakespearean actors, comedians, |
| Covent Garden, in Westminster, London's, West | | | | musical composer and performers and even the |
| End. The current theatre building is actually the | | | | Monty Python comedy troupe, who recorded a |
| most recent of four theatres that have been | | | | concert album there. World War II forced the |
| located in the same spot since 1663, and this | | | | theatre to temporarily close and during the war, |
| makes the Theatre Royal the oldest theatre in | | | | the theatre was used as headquarters for the |
| London. The current building was listed Grade I in | | | | Entertainments National Service Association. |
| February 1958 by English Heritage. The first | | | | Although the theatre suffered minor bomb |
| incarnation of the theatre came to light after the | | | | damage, it reopened in 1946 with Noel Coward's |
| Puritan Interregnum, which was an 11-year ban on | | | | "Pacific 1860." Since the war, it has produced |
| "frivolous" pastimes, including theatre. It opened | | | | mainly musical theatre, including several Rodgers |
| May 7, 1663, and was known as the "King's | | | | and Hammerstein musicals including "Oklahoma!" In |
| Playhouse" by many. The original building was a | | | | 1946, "South Pacific" in 1951 and "The King and I" |
| wooden structure made of three tiers, 112 feet | | | | in 1953. Other productions have included "My Fair |
| long and 59 feet wide. At maximum capacity, it | | | | Lady," which had a five-year run beginning in 1958; |
| could hold 700 patrons. The performances during | | | | "42nd Street" from 1984 to 1989; Miss Saigon |
| this time typically took place around 3 p.m. in | | | | from 1989 to 1999; and, more recently, "The |
| order to make use of the daylight. There was no | | | | Producers," which closed in January 2007; a |
| roof over the audience pit, which oftentimes left | | | | musical adaptation of "The Lord of the Rings," |
| those attending plays at the mercy of the | | | | which closed July 19, 2008; and "Oliver!" which |
| elements. When the first theatre was destroyed | | | | began directly after the closing of "The Lord of |
| by fire in 1672, the second theatre, named the | | | | the Rings." The Drury Lane theatre is currently |
| "Theatre Royale in Drury Lane," opened in 1794. | | | | owned by Andrew Lloyd Webber. It is often |
| This theatre lasted almost 120 years but was | | | | referred to as one of the world's most haunted |
| demolished in 1791 to make room for a bigger | | | | theatres. One of the most famous spirits alleged |
| theatre, which opened in 1794. This theatre only | | | | to haunt the theatre is that of the "Man in Grey," |
| lasted 15 years, as it also burned down in 1809. | | | | a man whose skeleton was found in a walled-up |
| The theatre building still existing today opened on | | | | room in 1848. Other supposed ghosts within the |
| Oct. 10, 1812. It seats about 2,237 people which, | | | | theatre include the spirits of comedian Joe Grimaldi |
| despite still being considered a large theatre, | | | | and actor Charles Macklin. |
| makes it approximately 550 seats smaller than | | | | |