Venue Information

In 1926, a local industrialist named Arthur Darman invested nearly one million dollars to build the Stadium Theatre and the adjacent office building in downtown Woonsocket, Rhode Island. He called the theater the Stadium in reference to its stadium style seating; which uses elevated rows to give every patron the luxury of feeling that they have the best seat in the house. 

Not only did Mr. Darman fund the theater project, he also influenced its design. He chose an elaborate but stylish look that set the theater apart from what he felt were the gaudy movie houses of the day.

His preference was the eighteenth century neoclassical  style, and it is evident throughout the building. Arthur Darman loved vaudeville and entertaining audiences. It was through his determination that the Stadium Theatre first thrived. 

In its early years the Stadium hosted three shows a day, seven days a week, and featured a twelve piece orchestra, a Wurlitzer o ...