From 1974 to 1993, The Front Row Theater in Highland Heights was one of the more beloved venues in Northeast Ohio. It seated 3,200 people who enjoyed shows in the theater-in-the-round setting, with a stage that rotated 360 degrees.
Many famous musicians performed there over the years including Sonny and Cher, Marvin Gaye, Roberta Flack, Loretta Lynn, Harry Belafonte, Willie Nelson, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Aretha Franklin, Tony Bennett, Miles Davis, Alice Cooper, Peter Tosh, B.B. King, Stephen Stills, Whitney Houston, the Righteous Brothers, Tom Jones, Run-DMC, The Tempations, Jay Leno, Diana Ross, Roy Orbison, Salt-N-Pepa, James Brown, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Frankie Valli, Muddy Waters and many others. The Michael Stanley Band ended their time as a band there when they played 12 straight sold out shows in 1987.
The venue closed in 1993 when it merged with the Playhouse Square Foundation. Luther Vandross played the final show. The theater was torn down in 1995. A Home Depot now stands in its place. Here, a trip back through the years.
Vintage Photos: The Front Row Theater, Cleveland's Theater-in-the-Round
By Scene Staff on Fri, May 26, 2023 at 7:33 am
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Lobby Crowd Sammy Davis Jr Benefit opening at Front Row, 1974
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Sammy Davis Jr. on stage at Front Row Theater, 1974
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Benefit for University Hospitals, 1974
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Mayor Perk and Bob Hope at Front Row Theater, 1975
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Performers at Front Row Theater, 1976
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Women pulled on stage during a Sonny Bono show, 1977
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Part of the Alice and Wonderland cast, 1979
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Phil Donahue, his mother, and George T. O'Donnell at Front Row Theater, 1980
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Phil Donahue greeting audience at his show, 1980
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Cast of a production of the Little Rascals, 1980
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