Remembering Harlem's Pioneering Lafayette Theatre

The historic venue was New York City's first integrated theater, paving the way for diverse storytelling.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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The Lafayette Theatre in Harlem is believed to be the first major New York City theater to desegregate, just a year after its opening in 1912. Known as "The House Beautiful," the venue gave African American theatergoers a chance to enjoy first-class theater up close and personal, rather than being forced to sit in the back or balcony. Despite its historic significance, the theater was torn down in 2013 to make way for an apartment building. However, its legacy of unique and diverse storytelling lives on through other Harlem theater companies like The Classical Theatre of Harlem.

Why it matters

The Lafayette Theatre's desegregation was a groundbreaking moment in New York City's cultural history, providing equal access to the arts for African American audiences at a time when they were often marginalized. Its closure was a loss for the Harlem community, but other local theater groups continue to carry on its mission of diverse representation and storytelling.

The details

Opened in 1912, the Lafayette Theatre is believed to be the first major New York City theater to desegregate, allowing African American theatergoers to enjoy the same seating and experiences as white patrons. In 1936, the theater famously presented Orson Welles' all-Black adaptation of Shakespeare's "Macbeth." Despite its historic significance, the theater was demolished in 2013 to make way for new development, much to the dismay of preservation groups like Save Harlem Now!.

  • The Lafayette Theatre opened in 1912.
  • The theater desegregated just a year after opening in 1913.
  • In 1936, the theater presented Orson Welles' "Voodoo Macbeth" with an all-Black cast.
  • The Lafayette Theatre was torn down in 2013.

The players

Vanessa Jo Bradley

The founder of Save Harlem Now!, a preservation group that helped get the neighborhood where the Lafayette Theatre once stood designated as a historic district.

Ty Jones

The Producing Artistic Director of The Classical Theatre of Harlem, a company that continues the legacy of diverse storytelling in the Harlem community.

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What they’re saying

“They couldn't go downtown to see theater because they didn't let them in. The indignity of being told where they had to sit.”

— Vanessa Jo Bradley, Founder, Save Harlem Now! (cbsnews.com)

“Everything that is happening right now has happened before, and artists of particular eras have dealt with these issues.”

— Ty Jones, Producing Artistic Director, The Classical Theatre of Harlem (cbsnews.com)

What’s next

The Classical Theatre of Harlem will present the Shakespearean tragedy "Othello" in the summer of July 2026 at Harlem's Marcus Garvey Park, continuing the legacy of diverse storytelling in the community.

The takeaway

The closure of the historic Lafayette Theatre was a loss for Harlem, but other local theater groups like The Classical Theatre of Harlem are carrying on its mission of providing equal access to the arts and diverse representation on stage, proving that the community's passion for the performing arts endures.