Manila Metropolitan Theater

The Manila Metropolitan Theater, and Met ( German: Theater der Stadt Region Manila ) is situated in the Ermita district between the city and the fortress of Intramuros Pasig River, at the mouth of Padre Burgos Drive in Quezon Avenue in Manila. It is the largest theater in the Greater Metro Manila and the Philippines.

History

The history of the Manila Metropolitan Theatre dates back to the early 1920s, when Manila was known for its cultural scene and not only as the " Pearl of Asia " but also as the " Milan of Asia" was. Many internationally renowned artists made ​​guest appearances at this time in Manila. In 1924, the Manila Metropolitan Theatre was founded, but the ensemble had no adequate theater house and found in the Gabaldon school building in the Mehan Garden their first home. The American urban planner Daniel Burnham Manila sought an architectural design that could be worthy of the honor, and found him in the draft Philippine architect Juan Arellano. The architectural design called for a building in the style of Art Deco, which should provide about 1,700 visitors. Above the main entrance was decorated with stained glass. The facade has many playful elements such as the numerous smaller minarets and a viewing platform has been installed on the roof. The Met was inaugurated in 1931, but in 1945 the building was destroyed during the Battle of Manila. A reconstruction of the building was only in the 1970s with the support of Imelda Marcos; the Met could be reopened in 1978. Beginning of the 21st century, however, sparse means for the operation of the house were present until the then President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo to the operator of the house, the National Commission on Culture and the Arts ( NCCA ) ready made ​​50 million pesos to the renovation and to finance the operation of the house.