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| Located at | Jerusalem  |
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| Coordinates | 31°46′08″N35°12′56″E / 31.768911°N 35.215644°E /31.768911; 35.215644 |
| Country | Israel |
| Website | www |
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TheJerusalem Theatre (Hebrew:תיאטרון ירושלים,a.k.a.The Jerusalem Centre for the Performing Arts) is a centre for theperforming arts inJerusalem. The theatre opened in 1971.[1] The complex consists of the Sherover Theatre, which seats 950, the Henry Crown Symphony Hall (home of theJerusalem Symphony Orchestra) with 750 seats, the Rebecca Crown Auditorium, with 450 seats, and the Little Theatre with 110 seats.[1] Changing art exhibits are held in the main foyer and other spaces in the building, and a restaurant and bookshop operate on the ground floor.
In 1958, theJerusalem Municipality, headed byMordechai Ish Shalom, held a design competition for a municipal theatre on a plot of 11 dunams (2.8 acres), on the southern edge of theTalbiya neighborhood. Architects Michael Nadler,Shulamit Nadler and Shmuel Bixson won first prize.[2] The municipality also received a large donation from the Jewish millionaireMiles Sherover, who made his fortune inVenezuela.[3][4]
The cornerstone laying took place in October 1964. Despite plans to complete the building within two years, work progressed slowly due to disputes and budgetary problems. Critics claimed that the city had more pressing problems and predicted that the theatre would be a "white elephant."[citation needed] The building was dedicated in October 1971.[2]
American millionaireLester Crown, who had donated $9 million for a new sports stadium, in theShuafat area that was never built, was persuaded by Jerusalem mayorTeddy Kollek to change the designation of the donation from sports to arts and culture. The money was used to build the Henry Crown Concert Hall, which seats 750, and the Rebecca Crown Auditorium, which seats 450.[2] The planning and design of the new wing was carried out by the same architectural firm, so that the new wing, named for Crown's parents, was a natural continuation of the original design.[2]
The theatre combines sculptural elements of exposed concrete with traditionalJerusalem stone construction. It sits in a large public square that is used for outdoor concerts and other events.[2]
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