View source for Boch Center

{{Short description|Performing arts center in Boston, Massachusetts}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox venue
| name                   = The Boch Center
| nickname               = The Wang
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| image                  = Boch_Center_Boston_Massachusetts.jpg
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| caption                = The Boch Center Wang Theatre, 2018
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| address                = 270 Tremont Street 
| location               = [[Boston, Massachusetts]], [[United States]]
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| renovated              = 1983
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| capacity               = 3,500
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| website                = {{URL|bochcenter.org}}
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The '''Boch Center''' (formerly '''Citi Performing Arts Center''' and '''Wang Center for the Performing Arts''') is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing arts organization located in [[Boston, Massachusetts]]. It manages the historic [[Wang Theatre|Wang]] and [[Shubert Theatre (Boston)|Shubert]] theatres on Tremont Street in the [[Boston Theater District]], where it offers theatre, opera, classical and popular music, comedy, dance, and [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] musicals. The center also offers educational workshops and community activities. It maintains partnerships with numerous arts organizations in Boston, including the [[Celebrity Series of Boston]], Fiddlehead Theatre Company, Express Yourself, and more.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.citicenter.org/about-us/about-us|title=Citi Center About Us}}</ref>

== History ==
When the [[Wang Theatre]] first opened in 1925, it was called the Metropolitan Theatre. After 30 years as the Metropolitan Theatre, the venue was called the Music Hall, then the Metropolitan Center. In 1983, [[An Wang|An and Lorraine Wang]] donated the funds to renovate the theatre, and it became the Wang Center for the Performing Arts.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.citicenter.org/discover/our-theatres/wang-theatre/theatre-history|title=Wang Theatre History}}</ref> The Wang Theatre is listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]], and with 3,600+ seats, it is one of the five largest stages in the country.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.citicenter.org/discover/our-theatres/wang-theatre/wang-theatre-landing-page|title=Wang Theatre About}}</ref> The Wang Center began managing and operating the [[Shubert Theatre (Boston)|Shubert Theatre]] in 1996 when it entered a 40-year lease agreement with the venue.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.citicenter.org/discover/our-theatres/shubert-theatre/theater-history|title=Shubert Theatre History|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160731053931/http://www.citicenter.org/discover/our-theatres/shubert-theatre/theater-history|archive-date=2016-07-31|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2006, the Wang Center became the Citi Performing Arts Center after establishing a 10-year partnership with [[Citigroup]]. In 2016, the Citi Performing Arts Center became the Boch Center following the announcement of a long-term partnership with the Boch family.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://citicenter.org/about-us/news/2016/citi-performing-arts-center-to-be-renamed-the-boch-center|title=CITI PERFORMING ARTS CENTER TO BE RENAMED THE BOCH CENTER|website=citicenter.org|access-date=2016-10-31}}</ref> In the past, it also managed the booking and preservation of the Emerson [[Colonial Theatre (Boston)|Colonial Theatre]] and the [[Strand Theatre (Dorchester, Massachusetts)|Strand Theatre]].<ref name=":0" />

== Programming ==
The Boch Center hosts a variety of performances and events at the Wang and Shubert Theatres, including theatre, dance, comedy, opera, classical and popular music concerts, and Broadway shows. The center maintains partnerships with other Boston arts nonprofits such as Fiddlehead Theatre Company, [[Handel and Haydn Society]], [[American Repertory Theater|A.R.T.]], [[Celebrity Series of Boston]], [[Huntington Theatre Company]], World Music, Dance Umbrellas, and Express Yourself.

The Wang and Shubert Theatres also host special events, such as corporate conferences, award ceremonies, galas, weddings, and more.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.citicenter.org/discover/our-theatres/plan-an-event|title=Citi Center Events}}</ref> They are also used as locations for movie filming. Movies filmed at the Wang Theatre include ''[[Ghostbusters (2016 film)|Ghostbusters]]'' [[Ghostbusters (2016 film)|(2016)]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boston.com/culture/movies/2016/03/09/6-boston-locations-you-might-have-missed-in-the-new-ghostbusters-trailer|title=6 Boston locations you might have missed in the new Ghostbusters trailer}}</ref> ''[[American Hustle]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.movie-locations.com/movies/a/American-Hustle.html#.V4j5mvkrKUk|title=American Hustle filming locations}}</ref> ''[[The Pink Panther 2]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/09/20/the-pink-panther-prowls-boston|title=THE PINK PANTHER PROWLS BOSTON}}</ref> ''[[The Witches of Eastwick (film)|The Witches of Eastwick]]'', and ''[[The Great Debaters]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cinemareview.com/production.asp?prodid=4514|title=The Great Debators}}</ref>

== Nonprofit Work ==
In 1988, the Education Department at the Boch Center was founded, and the following year the Walter Suskind Memorial Education Fund was established. The nonprofit arts education initiatives at the center include the City Spotlights Leadership Program, Teen Council, Target Arts, Interactive Readings Stories Alive, and Ticket Access.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.citicenter.org/discover/education-and-community-programs/programs/education-and-community-programs|title=CIti Center Education & Community Programs|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160712013004/http://www.citicenter.org/discover/education-and-community-programs/programs/education-and-community-programs|archive-date=2016-07-12|url-status=dead}}</ref> City Spotlights Leadership Program is a seven-week summer employment program for teens in the Boston area. In 2016, the program reached 61 students from 30 different high schools and 13 Boston and [[Everett, Massachusetts|Everett]] neighborhoods. The program includes arts and leadership training, community advocacy, and performance.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.citicenter.org/discover/education-and-community-programs/programs/city-spotlights-summer-leadership-program|title=City Spotlights Teen Leadership Program|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630021805/http://www.citicenter.org/discover/education-and-community-programs/programs/city-spotlights-summer-leadership-program|archive-date=2016-06-30|url-status=dead}}</ref> Teen Leadership Council brings together a smaller group of teens from greater Boston for year-round programming where teens create original performance pieces, facilitate workshops, advocate for social change, and volunteer in the community.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.citicenter.org/discover/education-and-community-programs/programs/city-spotlights-teen-leadership-council|title=Teen Council|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160702094053/http://www.citicenter.org/discover/education-and-community-programs/programs/city-spotlights-teen-leadership-council|archive-date=2016-07-02|url-status=dead}}</ref> Founded in 2009 in partnership with [[Boston Public Schools]], the Target Arts Program is an artist residency program funded by [[Target Corporation]]. It provides an in-depth arts residency at four different Boston schools each year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.citicenter.org/discover/education-and-community-programs/programs/target-arts-in-school-residency-program|title=Target Arts|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630043731/http://www.citicenter.org/discover/education-and-community-programs/programs/target-arts-in-school-residency-program|archive-date=2016-06-30|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Interactive Reading: Stories Alive program provides interactive storytelling to children in various Boston neighborhoods.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.citicenter.org/discover/education-and-community-programs/programs/interactive-readings-stories-alive|title=Interactive Readings|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630021917/http://www.citicenter.org/discover/education-and-community-programs/programs/interactive-readings-stories-alive|archive-date=2016-06-30|url-status=dead}}</ref> The center's Ticket Access program provides tickets to roughly 3,000 community organizations and schools in Greater Boston each year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.citicenter.org/discover/education-and-community-programs/programs/ticket-access|title=Ticket Access|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160731105956/http://www.citicenter.org/discover/education-and-community-programs/programs/ticket-access|archive-date=2016-07-31|url-status=dead}}</ref>

ArtWeek Boston is another nonprofit initiative produced by the Boch Center. This bi-annual, 10-day creative festival features more than 150 unique and creative experiences that are hands-on, interactive or offer behind-the-scenes access to artists or the creative process.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.artweekboston.org/about/|title=ArtWeek About}}</ref> It is presented by Highland Street Foundation.

==Theatres==
* [[Wang Theatre]]
* [[Shubert Theatre (Boston)|Shubert Theatre]]

==See also==
* [[An Wang]]
* [[The Shubert Organization]]
* [[List of concert halls]]

==External links==
* [http://bochcenter.org/ Boch Center website]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Boston theatres}}
{{Boston landmarks}}
{{National Register of Historic Places}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Culture of Boston]]
[[Category:Concert halls in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Theatres in Boston]]
[[Category:Performing arts centers in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Shubert Organization]]
[[Category:Boston Theater District]]
[[Category:2006 establishments in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:21st century in Boston]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Boston]]
[[Category:Event venues on the National Register of Historic Places in Massachusetts]]