The Wilbur
About
The Wilbur is a historic theater in Boston’s Theatre District that now ranks among the city’s main stages for stand-up comedy, live music and special events. Opened in 1914 and designed by architect Clarence H. Blackall in the American Colonial style, it has a portico salvaged from an 1830s Beacon Hill townhouse. Built before sound amplification, the hall is compact, so even the farthest seats sit close to the stage.
Named for producer A.L. Wilbur, the theater was an early tryout house for Broadway-bound shows, including the pre-Broadway premiere of A Streetcar Named Desire, and it hosted a young Marlon Brando. In 2008 Bill Blumenreich, former owner of the Comedy Connection, took over and reintroduced it as a comedy and music venue. It regularly appears among Pollstar’s top five worldwide selling clubs, with touring comedians and musicians on the calendar.
What to Know
- The Wilbur was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
- It was designated a Boston Landmark in 1987.
- A membership program offers presale access, a members-only entry line, exclusive merchandise and some complimentary tickets.
- The theater is also available as a special event venue.
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