The historic Teatro Carmen, built in 1915, remains largely intact with the original theater space, the pressed metal ceiling, the proscenium arch, all in its original condition. This is the last known remaining theatre building of that era and genre. The theatre is located in Barrio Viejo, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Tucson. The neighborhood is the largest surviving concentration of mud adobe Sonoran rowhouses left in the United States and has a remarkable inventory of intact buildings being used for residential and businesses. The neighborhood, listed on the National Register, is currently being nominated as a National Historic Landmark District. Teatro Carmen is a contributing building to that nomination, due to its rich and diverse cultural history and social importance within the Hispanic community.
Extensive historical research is currently underway on multiple aspects of the property’s history to address the Mexican, African-American, and Anglo heritage in future programming. Current timelines for the rehabilitation project a grand reopening in 2024-2025.
Architects: Poster Mirto McDonald
