Central Square Theater is located at on Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge, two blocks from the Red Line’s Central Square T station. The facility was built in 2008 and is home to CST’s two resident theatre companies: The Nora Theatre Company and Underground Railway Theater. The facility is comprised of a flexible black box mainstage (capacity up to 170) and an adjacent studio (capacity 45), in addition to a lobby, concessions area, backstage space, and offices.
Availability
The mainstage is typically only available on dark nights (Sunday through Wednesday). Availability of the studio varies. Please contact us for more information.
Front of House
For public performances, we provide a house manager and concessions associate. We will sell concessions before the performance and at intermission (if applicable), including wine, beer, coffee, non-alcoholic beverages, and snacks. The mainstage and studio share a lobby.
Ticketing
If requested, our box office can handle your ticketing needs. We will process ticket orders through our website, our box office on Massachusetts Avenue, or via phone. We will provide box office staff for each performance.
Mainstage
Maximum Capacity
180. Seating capacity is 135-170 (varies depending on current configuration). Seating can be arranged in proscenium, corner, thrust, traverse, or area configurations. Re-arranging of the current configuration is only available in certain circumstances and for an additional fee. Please contact us to find out which configuration will be in use for a specific date.
Technical
- Dimensions: 65ft x 42ft (full room)- stage space dependent on seating setup.
- Grid height: 19ft floor to grid.
- The space is located on the second floor and is served by a patron elevator in front and a material lift from shop.
- Lighting grid with 110 channels of control via an ETC Ion and preset house system.
- Lighting instruments and audio equipment are also available to rent.
- A green room with two dressing rooms (with private restrooms) are adjacent to the space. Each dressing room comfortably accommodates 4 people.
Includes:
- Use of stage, seating, and lighting as set for current production (additional fees for requested changes to current seating configuration, light plot, and scenery)
- One technical meeting prior to the event to discuss technical needs and logistics with the production manager at CST.
- Use of green room and dressing rooms
- Front of house staff (house manager and concessions)
- Setup in Lobby (tables and chairs as needed)
- Overhead Costs: utilities, insurance, security, cleaning, administrative processing and support, miscellaneous supplies and inventory as needed, general wear and tear on facility and equipment.
Studio
Maximum Capacity
49
Technical
- Dimensions: 35ft x 25ft (full space including seating areas).
- Ceiling height: 19ft to grid space, 9ft in seating area.
- The space is located on the second floor and is served by a patron elevator in front and a material lift from shop.
- Lighting grid with 6 channels of control via a two-scene preset console.
- Lighting instruments and audio equipment are also available to rent.
- The green room and dressing rooms are located down a hallway
Includes:
- Use of studio (configuration of seating and stage area is flexible)
- One technical meeting prior to the event to discuss technical needs and logistics with the production manager at CST.
- Non-exclusive use of green room and dressing rooms
- Front of house staff (house manager and concessions)
- Setup in lobby (tables and chairs as needed)
- Overhead Costs: utilities, insurance, security, cleaning, administrative processing and support, miscellaneous supplies and inventory as needed, general wear and tear on facility and equipment.