The Academy of Music

Our History

In the late 19th century, Edward H.R. Lyman, a philanthropist and Northampton native, had a vision for a new venue for culture and theater in his hometown. On May 23, 1891, the then 1000-seat Academy of Music Theatre opened its doors to the public for the first time. One year later, Lyman deeded the Academy to the Citizens of Northampton, making it the first municipally owned theater in the nation.

The theater quickly became a favorite stop on tours of leading troupes and big-name performers: legendary French actress Sarah Bernhardt, film star Mae West, and illusionist Harry Houdini all performed at the Academy in the early 20th century.

The Academy evolved over time. With the introduction of film in the 1930s, the Academy screened the latest in silent film, soon followed by talkies, as well as presenting live entertainment. By the 1970s with 800 seats, the theater was regularly screening first-run films. And in the late 1980s, with the introduction of the multiplex, the Academy was faced with creating a new business model.

Today, the Academy of Music has been reclaimed as a venue for live theater, as well as for dance, film, music, and arts education. The Academy is home to resident companies and partners: the Pioneer Valley Ballet, PanOpera, Valley Light Opera, Signature Sounds and WGBY. We are host to annual programs such as Django in June, GEN IV Dance, Berkshire Bach, Rock Voices, Young at Heart Chorus; co-present KidsBestFest and Youth Film; and, act as anchor site of First Night Northampton. We are proud to host the many offerings presented by Dan Small Presents.The Academy continues to present their own slate of national and international artists and stands proudly as one of the most iconic buildings in downtown Northampton.

This exhibit of memorabilia and photographs is currently for view in the salon.

During the early twentieth century, the Academy was home to The Northampton Players, the nation’s first municipal stock company, whose cast included William Powell of Thin Man fame and Frank Morgan, who later went on to play Oz in film, The Wizard of Oz. Pictured are former members of the cast.

Calvin Coolidge was the 30th president of the United States from 1923-1929. Prior to his presidency, Coolidge served on the Northampton City Council, Mayor of Northampton, as well as Massachusetts House of Representatives, Massachusetts State Senator, and Governor of Massachusetts.

A letter accepting tickets for a show at the Academy from Calvin Coolidge’s Mayoral Office.

The photo is a staging of a show during the early twentieth century at the Academy. Note the local advertisements used on the set.

Examples of playbills and tickets from the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.

Examples of playbills and tickets from the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.

The revival, “The Matchmaker,” toured the northeast in 1962 and made a stop at the Academy. It was directed by Harold Prince, who went on to direct such Broadway shows as West Side Story, Fiddler on the Roof, Cabaret, Sweeney Todd and Phantom of the Opera.

The items are from a scrapbook saved of the tour at the Academy.

Photo of Bank Night, an evening when prizes were awarded by lottery to audience members at the movies.

Throughout the life of the Academy, the venue experienced a back-and-forth between staged performances and movies. A Daily Hampshire Gazette article shares one of these moments.

An example of an Advance Sheet, which provides technical and logistical information for companies on national tour at the Academy.

Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton attending two James Bond films at the Academy of Music Theatre after finishing their 1965 filming of “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”

Photo from a performance of “Beauty and the Beast” with Pioneer Valley Ballet, who stages the longest running community performance of “Nutcracker” in the nation.

A photo of the Academy’s auditorium during the years 1980-2000.

Wrappers from the concessions stand during the years 1970-1980.

A photo of the Live-stream 2009 Presidential Inauguration Event ticket January 20, 2009.

In the late 19th century, Edward H.R. Lyman, a philanthropist and Northampton native, had a vision for a new venue for culture and theater in his hometown.

On May 23, 1891, the then 1000-seat Academy of Music Theatre opened its doors to the public for the first time. One year later, Lyman deeded the Academy to the Citizens of Northampton, making it the first municipally owned theater in the nation.

Lyman Photo:
L to R front: Mrs. Edward H.R. Lyman, Jean White (granddaughter), Mr. Edward H.R. Lyman, Catherine White (granddaughter) L to R back: Frank Lyman (son), Mrs. Anne Jean Lyman White (daughter), Mr. Alfred Frederick White (son-in-law)

Typewritten copy of deed – Click Here

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Phone

(413) 584-9032

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VISIT

3pm to 6pm
Tuesday–Friday

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Email

boxoffice@aomtheatre.com

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Address

274 Main St
Northampton, MA 01060