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The building that is now known as The Melico Salazar Theater was purchased by Mr. Jose Raventos during the second decade of the 20^th century; he had destined it to become a theater in which Zarzuelas and “Operetas” from Spain (his country of origin) could be performed and appreciated by the local audiences.

Located in front of San Jose’s Central Park, the construction begun on February 8^th 1927 costing around eight hundred thousand Colones, with an estimated capacity for 2250 people; inaugurated during the evening of October 7^th 1928 with a presentation by the “Compania de Operetas de Esperanza Iris”, having attended the then president Mr. Cleto Gonzalez Viquez.

Tragedy struck the morning of April 23^rd 1967, when a fire consumed the main stage; and as the Raventos Theater (as it was then known) lost relevance, the government envisioned in it –more precisely the Ministry of Culture- the recreation as a popular theater. The building was then purchased and works of remodeling were still in action when on December 13^th 1981 a special presentation of Bizet’s “Carmen” took place to re-inaugurate the now called “Teatro de la Cultura Melico Salazar”.

After some years and endless efforts, it is during 1985 that the theater was finally presented in its final form and appearance.

Music, Dance, Classic, traditional and contemporary presentations all fill the itinerary of the Theater making for outstanding cultural value, the “Festival de las Artes” is also program hosted by it.

For information on the program of presentations please visit: http://www.teatromelico.go.cr/programacion.htm

(this article was written with the aid of Teatro Melico Salazar’s Official Page http://www.teatromelico.go.cr)