Originally constructed in 1914 by acclaimed theater architect Thomas Lamb as a luxurious movie and vaudeville showcase, Baltimore’s Hippodrome Theatre fell into disrepair in the late 1970s, and closed in 1990. In 2006, the venue was rechristened the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center and reopened after an extensive renovation that restored the theater to its former grandeur.

The Hippodrome is now Baltimore’s premier touring house, presenting major plays, musicals, and special engagements year round.