| Rex Théâtre | |
| Location Country: | Haiti |
| Completion Date: | 1935 |
The Rex Theater (French: Rex Théâtre) is a venue in Port-au-Prince, Haiti that opened in October, 1935.[1] [2] It was built by the Société Haïtienne des Spectacles (Haitian Entertainment Corporation), led by Daniel Brun.[2] The theater seated 1,200 people and was managed by Mrs. Muffat Taldy until 1951.[2]
The Rex has been the site of many cultural and entertainment events. In its first week, the Rex Theater screened films that included La Bataille (The Battle), La Robe Rouge (The Red Dress), Gai Divorce (The Gay Divorcee), and Banque Nemo (Nemo's Bank), and hosted its first play in April 1937.[2] Marian Anderson performed at the Rex in January 1954 in honour of the 150th anniversary of Haitian independence[3] :60. Folk acapella ensemble Sweet Honey in the Rock also performed at Rex Théâtre in Fall 1994 to mark the return of constitutional democracy to Haiti.[4]
On various occasions events at the Rex have had a political focus or political implications. For example, on 20 December 1945, as the first of a planned series of twelve lectures, the poet André Breton spoke at the Rex on "Surréalisme".[5] Upon completing his lecture, which was attended by six hundred students as well as the president of Haiti and many of his ministers, senators and deputies, and some military dignitaries and business people,[5]
Many years later, in 2001, the Rex was the planned site of an opposition political event.[6] The Rex Theater had been the initially planned site for the "inauguration" of Gérard Gourgue as an "alternative president".[6] However, "the theater's management, fearful of popular outrage, canceled the event".[6]