StageSource Hosts THEATER IN THE CROSSING Talk and Fundraiser Today

StageSource presents an exclusive opportunity for a hands on tour of theater in Boston's Downtown Crossing during the last half of the 19th century. Historian Susan Roberts will present her collection of theater memorabilia at a talk at the Tremont Temple Baptist Church in Boston at 3:00 pm today, January 13th. Event admission is "pay what you can".

The Downtown Crossing area was home to The Boston Museum Theater, Boston Music Hall, Keith's Theaters and the Boston Theater. Ms. Roberts explains the shows, performers and theaters with visual images including a virtual tour of the B.F. Keith Theater. Programs, scrapbooks, mementos and other materials of the era will be available for people to examine and explore the theaters in more detail.

Julie Hennrikus, Executive Director of StageSource, is excited to offer this unique opportunity. "StageSource is spending a lot of time looking forward, with some big plans for 2013. But what better way to start the year than to remember what has been, and to hear some stories about our rich theatrical history?"

Susan Roberts has researched theater and collected its memorabilia for over 25 years and has a Masters degree in Theater Management from Emerson College. She has worked in Boston theaters as an electrician, carpenter, property mistress, stage manager and box officer manager.

The presentation is about an hour in length followed by a display of the theater memorabilia. This StageSource fundraiser is "pay what you can" suggested $10 minimum. The Tremont Temple is at 88 Tremont Street in Boston and is conveniently located near the Park Street MBTA Station.

Founded in 1985, StageSource provides leadership and services to advance the art of theater in the Greater Boston region. Our mission is to unite theater artists, theater companies and related organizations in vision and goals that inspire and empower our community to realize its greatest artistic potential. Current membership stands at over 2,000 individual theater artists working both onstage and off. Our membership resides in all six New England states and New York. Our 220 organizational members operate from Western Massachusetts to upstate Maine. Their repertoire ranges from classical theater to experimental and they range in size from the largest institutional theaters to smaller start-up and community theater companies. The audiences they serve are as diverse as their repertoire.

For more information on StageSource, visit www.stagesource.org.