Photography Workshops
Have you ever wanted to photograph an abandoned theater?
I’ve been traveling around the country photographing historic theaters and using my images to raise awareness of their plight for over 15 years now.
One of the most common questions I get about my work is “Can I come with you?” So, I reached out to some theater owners, and finally the answer to the question is “Yes, you can.” I have co-hosted some workshops in the past, and through those we raised over $10,000 to help with maintenance and other expenses. However, these are solo workshops, which means more money will be going to the owners to help the theaters. While the money from these workshops will never be enough to save a theater, every little bit helps.
As I mentioned last year, workshops will be evolving in 2025. While I’ll continue hosting a few local sessions, I’m excited to announce plans for two destination workshops—one in late spring/early summer and another in the fall. Each will feature multiple locations. Below are the workshops currently planned, with more dates and locations to be added throughout the year. I look forward to seeing some of you in these incredible spaces!
Strand Theatre Workshop – Clinton, MA
Location: Clinton, MA
Dates/Times: March 22, 2025
The Theater: The Strand Theatre opened in 1924, in Clinton, Massachusetts. It closed in 2021 after years as a dinner theater.
Tickets: https://www.mlambrosphotography.com/workshops/strand-theatre-workshop-clinton-322
Auditorium, Saenger Theatre – Pine Bluff, AR
Saenger Theatre – Pine Bluff, AR
Location: Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Dates/Times: June 7, 2025
The Theater: Pine Bluff’s Saenger Theater was built in 1924 in the Classical Revival style of architecture. It was designed by Emile Weil, the designated staff architect of the Saenger Amusement Company. The Saenger was known as the “Showplace of the South” and attracted visitors from across southeast Arkansas. The theater had Italian marble floors and intricate plasterwork. It could seat 1,500 people and hosted performances by famous people like Ziegfield Follies, Harry Houdini, Roy Rogers and Trigger, and Will Rogers.
Tickets: https://www.mlambrosphotography.com/workshops/saengerworkshop
PAST WORKSHOPS
Orpheum Theatre
Location: New Bedford, MA
Date: TBA 2024
The Theatre: The Orpheum Theatre opened on April 15, 1912 — the same day the Titanic sank. Located on Water Street in New Bedford, Massachusetts, it was part of a Beaux-Arts building that was built in 1910 by a French-Canadian group known as Le Club des Francs-Tireurs (The French Sharpshooters Club). The building’s official name is La Salle Francs Tireurs, or French Sharpshooters Hall. The theater was closed for the first time in 1958-59. It opened several times after that for special events, but was eventually sold by the French Sharpshooters Club in 1962 and was later used as a warehouse by a tobacco company. The back of the building housed a supermarket, but was closed a few years ago when the owner put the building up for sale.
Cost: $110
Tickets: https://www.mlambrosphotography.com/workshops/orpheum-theatre-workshop527
Strand Theatre
Location: Boston, MA
Date/Time: TBA 2025
The Theatre: The Strand Theatre opened on November 11, 1918, in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. It was designed by Boston architectural firm Funk and Wilcox, who also designed the nearby Franklin Park Theatre. It is currently used for live events.
Cost: $75.00
Tickets: https://www.mlambrosphotography.com/workshops/strand-theatre-workshop-boston-ma826
Fox West Theatre
Location: Trinidad, Colorado
Date: TBA
The Theatre: The Fox Theatre in Trinidad, Colorado made its grand debut on March 16, 1908, showcasing the stage play “The Bondman.” Over the years, it served as a versatile venue for a variety of performances including stage shows, vaudeville acts, opera, and silent films. It closed in 2013, making it one of the longest running single screen theaters in the country.
Cost: $160.00
Tickets: https://www.mlambrosphotography.com/workshops/foxwestworkshop1021
Victory Theatre
Location: Holyoke, MA
Date: TBA
The Theatre: Construction on the Victory began in the fall of 1919, and cost around $500,000 or $7,057,106.74 when adjusted for inflation. It opened on December 31, 1920, and the proceeds from the theater’s opening night were given to the Holyoke City Hospital and the House of Providence Hospital. Its name is itself a reference to the Allies’ victory during the war. From its opening date, The Victory operated as a “combination house,” showing both films and vaudeville performances. Vaudeville was phased out in the early 1930s for the more popular motion picture screenings.
It closed in the late 1970s and was seized by the city for nonpayment of taxes. In September 2008, the city of Holyoke transferred ownership of the theater to the Massachusetts International Festival of the Arts, who plan to renovate the theater and reopen it as a performing arts center.
Cost: $50.00
Tickets: http://www.mlambrosphotography.com/workshops/victory-theatre-workshop-821
Grant Theatre
Location: South of Boston, MA
Date/Time:
TBA
The Theatre: The Grant opened in the early 1900s as a vaudeville theater, and was eventually divided into 2 separate theaters. It’s been closed for several years with no plans to reopen it.
Cost: $65.00
Tickets: https://www.mlambrosphotography.com/workshops/granttheatre2023
***At the request of the owner the real name and location of this theater will be disclosed only to workshop attendees***
Variety Theatre – Co-hosted with Matthew Christopher of Abandoned America
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Date/Time:
TBA
The Theatre: The Variety Theatre in Cleveland, Ohio, originally opened on November 24, 1927 in the Jefferson neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio. It operated on the Variety Amusement Company circuit before being sold to Warner Brothers in 1929. Warner Brothers ran the theater until 1954 when it was sold to Wargo Realty for $500,000, one of the largest real estate sales involving a theater since the great depression. The Variety was last used as a wrestling gym called the Cleveland Wrestleplex before closing for good in the late 1980s.
Cost: $125.00
Tickets: http://www.dismantlingthedream.com/product-page/variety-theatre-photography-workshop
Grand Theatre Workshop
Location: Steubenville, Ohio
Date/Time:
Currently Under Construction
The Theatre: The Grand Theatre building was built in 1885 by German immigrant Jacob Griesinger, Sr. in Steubenville, Ohio. It originally housed a saloon, restaurant and livery stables. In 1924, the building was taken over by Charles, Edward, Howard and William Biggio. The four brothers had the stables torn down and constructed the Grand Theatre auditorium in its place. In 2010, the theater was purchased by the Grand Theatre Restoration Project, who plan to restore and renovate the theater into a performing arts center and museum. For more information, visit: https://afterthefinalcurtain.net/2013/07/22/grand-theatre/
Cost: $50.00
Tickets: http://www.mlambrosphotography.com/workshops/grand-theatre-steubenville-ohio-workshop
Everett Square Theatre
Location: Boston, MA
Date/Time:
TBA
The Theatre: The Everett Square Theatre opened in 1915 in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. It was designed by Boston architect Harry M. Ramsay for the Littlefield Trust, the original owner of the theater. For more information visit: https://afterthefinalcurtain.net/2014/08/05/everett-square-theatre/
Cost: $50.00
Tickets: http://www.mlambrosphotography.com/workshops/everett-square-theatre-workshop
After the Final Curtain 
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Hi Matt, Any workshops planned in late September New York way? I’m here in the Uk and visiting friends in NY. I work in costume for theatre with an interest in derelict/ empty buildings having spent many years exploring them and living in them. I love that you talk about the history of each building and it saddens me that they are not valued as part of film and theatre history.
thank you for sharing your passion.
Janet – Not in New York City, but I may have one in Upstate New York around then. Subscribe to my mailing list (at the upper right hand side of the page) and you’ll be one of the first to know.
Hi Matt, I’m very interested in a tour of the Waterbury Poli Theater. Does that one ever come up as an option?
It hasn’t, but if enough people are interested I’m happy to set one up. The only active theater I have right now is the Strand Theatre in Boston, MA.
How many people would you consider to be enough?
It really depends on what the theater would want to rent it out for a day. That’s how my workshops are priced.
Good morning,
I’m in the L.A. area, would be very interested in touring the old Pantages, the Roxie or any of the derelict theaters in downtown.
Ian
Hi Ian,
I did an LA Workshop series back in 2017. If there’s enough interest I’d be happy to do another one, but I currently do not have plans for one.
Matt
Hi Matt,
Any insight about the Sterling Opera House in Derby, CT? They used to do tours, but have been shut down for a while. Would love to attend a workshop here!
Best,
Sam
I’ve actually been talking to the city about that one. I’ll hopefully have some more information soon. Probably not this year though.