Friends of Chevalier Auditorium and Gene Mack Gymnasium in Medford, MA

About the Theatre

A Grand Space

Scene from "South Pacific"
staged by The Mystic Players

Chevalier Theatre, located at 30 Forest Street, Medford, is the fifth largest stage theatre in the greater Boston area. Its spacious interior features 2,061 seats -- 1,350 on the floor and 711 in the grand curved balcony. Moreover, every seat was designed to be a "good one," providing a clear view of the wide, elliptical stage fronted by an orchestra pit with a capacity for 60 musicians. Most striking in the interior is the double elliptical ceiling with its spectacular recessed lighting, a design that adds to the enormous feeling of spaciousness and grandeur. Acoustically, the building is near perfect, with no standing waves. In 1983, the Theatre was placed on the National Register of Historical Places.

Top-notch Facilities
Although the theater dates to 1940, it has all the modern amenities to stage any kind of performance. The full 43-foot stage features high-speed rigging with 39 sets of lines, computer controllable lighting as well as the original lighting board. A loading dock provides direct access to the stage. For performers, there are eight dressing rooms plus a prep area and a closed-circuit stage TV monitor. A stage elevator is handicapped accessible from the stage, dressing rooms, and outside.

For patrons, a separate elevator is available to reach either the orchestra or balcony levels. Two large public restrooms adjacent to lobby are handicapped accessible. A ventilation system recycles air every five minutes, yet produces no audible noise in the building.

Special Performances
From its opening until the 1970, Chevalier Theatre was used by the Medford High School administration and student body for assemblies, theatrical productions, graduation exercises, student debates, etc. and civic events such as the City of Medford Inaugural ceremonies and the reunion of the USS Chevalier Association.

After re-opening in 1992, Chevalier Theatre has played host to a wide variety of local, regional and national stage productions. The Friends of Chevalier have sponsored numerous shows. Especially popular were the six free concerts by the U.S. Air Force bands that were presented between 1994 and 2000. Other outstanding Friends productions included “That’s Entertainment,” “Great Moments on Broadway” and “The Snow Queen.”

Since re-opening Chevalier with “Showboat” in 1992, the Mystic Players have presented at least one annual production at Chevalier, with “Peter Pan” ranking as one of the all-time audience favorites. For eight years, Chevalier also was home to the Northeast Youth Ballet’s production of “The Nutcracker,” and the theatre also has staged shows produced by the Medford Arts Council, Medford Community Schools and the Medford Kiwanis, who brought the great Lou Rawls to Chevalier in 1997.

Today and Beyond
The Chevalier Theatre is viewed as one of the anchor institutions in the ongoing Medford Square Revitalization Plan.

With handicap accessibility in the building, new cushioned seats on the lower level, a full performance stage and excellent acoustics, the Chevalier theatre has the potential of being a destination in Medford Square and to bring economic stimulus to businesses located in downtown.