Next Event
Performing Arts Center
TwitterMyspaceFacebook

Abilities in Motion
All Star Distributing
All Temp
Alvernia University
Bellco Federal Credit Union
Berks and Beyond Employment Services
Berks Fire and Water Restorations, Inc.
The Berks Packing Company, Inc.
Berks-Schuylkill Oil Heat Association
Boscov’s Travel
Bursich Associates, Inc.
Capital Blue Cross
Carvel
Chester Perfetto Agency, Inc.
Chris Talarico & Associates
C J Rooter
Classic Harley Davidson
Coca Cola
Comcast
CTCE Federal Credit Union
Days Inn
Diamond Credit Union
Deibler Dental
The Drawing Board
Ehrlich
Engle, Hambright, and Davies
Environaire Corporation Rainbow Distributor
Fairgrounds Square Mall
Fraser Advanced Information Systems
Gage Personnel
GMI First Mechanical Solutions
Golden Oaks Golf Club
Heck Bros.
Home Health Care Management, Inc.
Immix Wireless
John Sauder Chevrolet
Judy’s On Cherry
LArte della Vita
Keller Williams Realty Elite
Kutztown University
Maiden Creek T.V. & Appliance
McCarthy Engineering
The Mercury
Michael's Classic Limousine
Pagoda Electrical, Inc.
The Peanut Bar & Restaurant
Pennsylvania Lottery
Penn State Berks
Penske Truck Rental
Perrotto Builders
Production Solutions, Inc.
Quadrant
Reading Eagle
Sovereign Bank
The Speckled Hen
Stanley Steemer Carpet Cleaners
Stubbs Janitorial Services
Suzy Rae Design, LLC
Tom Sheehan Worldwide
Toscani
UGI
VF Outlet
Van Scoy Jewelers
VIST Financial
Wyndham Reading
Wyndham Reading – Melody’s Tavern
Weidenhammer
WFMZ - TV
The Works

 

 

 

 

 

Sovereign Center
  • Reading Performing Arts Center
  • Reading Theater
 
The Sovereign Performing Arts Center was built in the 1870s as a market, with a Masonic Temple on its upper floors. It became the Academy of Music in 1886. The Rajah Shriners purchased it in 1917 to use the building for various activities including vaudeville, motion pictures, and live appearances. The auditorium was rebuilt in 1921 after a fire destroyed most of the facility. It is now a venue for quality symphonic, opera, ballet, popular music, and theatrical performances.

At the turn of the 21st Century, the Rajah Theater was the only downtown movie palace of its kind to survive. Its sister palaces, the Astor, Embassy and Loew's Colonial, had all been demolished.

In June of 2000, the Berks County Convention Center Authority purchased the Rajah Theater from the Shriners. The building was renovated and renamed the Sovereign Performing Arts Center. The $7 million renovations included a new air conditioning system, seating that is more comfortable, better stage equipment, improved dressing rooms, and more. These improvements, along with the building being managed by SMG, ensure that this historical center for performing arts will be preserved for years to come.
Today, the Sovereign Performing Arts Center is home to the Reading Symphony Orchestra and the Broadway on 6th Street series. It has also hosted numerous different events. Willie Nelson, Hillary Duff, Jerry Seinfeld, David Copperfield, and Sesame Street Live are just a few of the shows that have been seen at the theater.

Sovereign Performing Arts Center
136 N. 6th Street
Reading, PA 19601
610-898-7299


 

Reading Royals Hockey
Express Indoor Football
Express Indoor Football
Join the Sovereign Spotlight

Join our email list and receive notices of concert and events ahead of time!