The Cabot Performing Arts Center
A historic nonprofit performing arts center in Beverly, Massachusetts, originally opened in 1920 as a movie palace.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Cabot Performing Arts Center, commonly known as The Cabot, is a historic nonprofit theater and cultural venue at 286 Cabot Street in Beverly, Massachusetts. The building began operating in 1920 as the Ware Theatre, created by brothers Harris and Glover Ware, former vaudeville musicians from nearby Marblehead. Eight years earlier, the brothers had established Beverly’s Larcom Theatre. Their new venue was conceived as a large, technically capable entertainment house that could accommodate silent movies, orchestral accompaniment, vaudeville, opera, and other live presentations. The original theater was designed by the architectural firm Funk and Wilcox, whose work also included other New England theaters and civic buildings. Its movie-palace interior featured a full balcony, ornamental plasterwork, frescoes, filigree, a golden dome, an orchestra pit, and a substantial stage. The opening publicity emphasized a $50,000 Austin pipe organ, reflecting the scale and ambition of the project. For much of the twentieth century, the theater served as one of the principal cultural gathering places on Boston’s North Shore. The venue was acquired by the E. M. Loew theater chain in 1960 and renamed the Cabot Cinema. In the 1970s, it entered a distinctive second phase when it was purchased by Le Grand David. Beginning in February 1977, the building became the home of Le Grand David and His Own Spectacular Magic Company, a theatrical magic production founded and led by Cesareo Pelaez. The show ran continuously until May 2012 and gained national and international recognition for its unusually long run. During this period, the theater also continued to present feature films, preserving its connection to cinema while functioning as a specialized live-entertainment venue. Following the end of the magic show after Pelaez’s death in March 2012, the cinema operation closed during the winter of 2012–2013. The owners announced the property for sale in May 2013. Local entrepreneur and philanthropist Henry Bertolon purchased the theater in October 2014, and it reopened the following month under the Cabot Performing Arts Center name. In 2015, Casey Soward became executive director, and the building was subsequently acquired by Cabot Performing Arts Center, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established by local community members. The modern Cabot operates as a multidisciplinary performing arts center rather than a conventional cinema. Its program includes concerts, comedy, film screenings, community events, and other stage presentations. The organization’s operating model combines ticketed programming, fundraising, donations, grants, and capital campaigns. Its positioning rests on the combination of a preserved 1920s movie-palace environment and contemporary entertainment infrastructure. Since 2015, restoration work has addressed both historic preservation and modern venue requirements. Projects have included digital projection and sound systems, seating replacement, fire-safety improvements, marquee restoration, HVAC and sprinkler upgrades, balcony seating, opera-box reconstruction, lighting, lobby rehabilitation, and accessibility improvements. Streetside at The Cabot, a bar and smaller music space near the entrance, opened in 2017. A lobby project completed in 2021 restored original architectural features while expanding public-facing facilities, and accessibility work completed in 2023 brought the venue into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Cabot’s Big Night, an annual spring fundraising event introduced in 2022, supports restoration and capital needs. The theater closed in June 2025 for a major renovation focused on the exterior, backstage and artist facilities, audience improvements, and historically appropriate signage, with completion expected in early 2026.
History
The Cabot was built by Marblehead brothers Harris and Glover Ware, former vaudeville musicians who had already opened the Larcom Theatre in Beverly. Their second Beverly venue opened in 1920 as the Ware Theatre. Designed by Funk and Wilcox, it was intended to function as a versatile entertainment palace, with a stage for live acts, an orchestra pit for silent-film accompaniment, a balcony, and elaborate decorative features including frescoes, filigree, a golden dome, and ornate interior architectural work. Its opening promotion highlighted a $50,000 Austin pipe organ. The building quickly became Beverly’s most prominent playhouse and an important cultural venue for the North Shore. In 1960, the E. M. Loew theater chain acquired the property and changed its name to the Cabot Cinema. The building retained a cinema function while continuing the broader tradition of live entertainment associated with movie palaces. In 1976, it was purchased by Le Grand David. Beginning in February 1977, the venue hosted Le Grand David and His Own Spectacular Magic Company, led by Cesareo Pelaez. The production continued for more than three decades and became recognized as the world’s longest-running magic show. Performances ended in 2012, shortly after Pelaez died in March of that year. The theater continued showing films for a time but closed during the winter of 2012–2013. The owners placed it on the market in May 2013. Henry Bertolon purchased the theater in October 2014. It reopened the next month as the Cabot Performing Arts Center, a nonprofit organization presenting concerts, comedy, film, and community programming. In 2015, Cabot Performing Arts Center, Inc. was established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit by local community members including Thad Siemasko, Henry Bertolon, Bill Howard, Rich Marino, and Paul Van Ness, and the organization acquired the building. Casey Soward was named executive director that year. The nonprofit era has combined programming expansion with preservation work. Initial upgrades completed in January 2016 included digital projection, new sound equipment, seating improvements, fire-safety work, and restoration of the historic marquee. Streetside at The Cabot opened in December 2017 as a bar and smaller performance space. HVAC, fire-alarm, and sprinkler improvements followed in January 2018 with support from grants and private donations. In 2019, the organization replaced balcony seating, rebuilt opera boxes, and improved theatrical lighting. A lobby restoration completed in 2021 repaired and highlighted the original rose window and vaulted ceilings, while also adding public space, a new box office, and concessions facilities. The Cabot launched The Cabot’s Big Night in 2022 as an annual spring fundraising program supporting restoration and capital work. Accessibility upgrades completed in 2023 brought the venue into ADA compliance. In 2025, Brian Ridolfo became president and chief executive officer. That June, The Cabot closed for a major renovation intended to restore the original 1920s exterior, improve dressing rooms and backstage areas, add a green room, update signage, and make further audience-facing improvements. Completion was projected for early 2026.
- 2025
Major renovation begins
[1]The Cabot closes for exterior restoration and improvements to backstage, artist, signage, and audience facilities.
- 2023
Accessibility upgrades completed
[1]Improvements bring the venue into compliance with ADA accessibility requirements.
- 2021
Lobby restoration completed
[1]The lobby is restored while receiving a new box office, concessions area, and expanded public space.
- 2016
Initial modernization and restoration completed
[1]Sound, projection, seating, fire-safety, and marquee work is completed.
- 2014
Nonprofit performing-arts era begins
[1]Henry Bertolon purchases the theater and reopens it as the Cabot Performing Arts Center.
- 2013
The property is offered for sale
[1]After the cinema closes during the winter, the owners announce the theater for sale in May.
- 2012
Magic production ends
[1]The resident magic show ends shortly after the death of founder and lead magician Cesareo Pelaez.
- 1977
Long-running magic show begins
[1]Le Grand David and His Own Spectacular Magic Company begins its continuous run at the venue.
- 1976
Le Grand David purchases the theater
[1]The theater enters the ownership period associated with Le Grand David and its resident magic production.
- 1960
Acquisition by E. M. Loew
[1]The E. M. Loew theater chain purchases the property and renames it the Cabot Cinema.
Products and positioning
A nonprofit North Shore cultural institution that combines historic movie-palace architecture with contemporary concerts, comedy, film, and community programming.
Live entertainment · 2014
Main-stage performing arts program
The Cabot’s principal offering is a ticketed program of live entertainment presented in its historic auditorium. It includes concerts, comedy, theatrical presentations, and other stage events. The program uses the venue’s restored movie-palace setting while relying on modern sound, lighting, projection, safety, and accessibility systems.
Cinema · 1920
Film presentations
Film remains part of The Cabot’s programming heritage and contemporary cultural offer. The venue originally opened for silent-film presentation and later operated as the Cabot Cinema. Modernization work added digital projection and sound capabilities, allowing the nonprofit venue to continue presenting selected film programming alongside live events.
Small venue and hospitality · 2017
Streetside at The Cabot
Streetside at The Cabot is a bar and smaller music venue located near the main entrance. Opened in 2017, it extends the organization’s programming footprint beyond the main auditorium and supports more intimate performances and social events.
Fundraising event · 2022
The Cabot’s Big Night
The Cabot’s Big Night is an annual spring fundraising event introduced to support ongoing restoration, capital improvements, and preservation of the historic venue.
Resident live production · 1977
Le Grand David and His Own Spectacular Magic Company
This resident magic production ran continuously at the theater from February 1977 until 2012. Founded and led by Cesareo Pelaez, it became internationally recognized for its extraordinary duration and was a defining part of the building’s late twentieth-century identity.
Marketing campaigns
- 2022The Cabot’s Big Night
Beverly · Boston North Shore · United States
The Cabot introduced a recurring spring fundraising event to engage supporters and raise money for restoration and capital projects at the historic theater.
Outcome. The event became an annual fundraising initiative; specific proceeds are not provided in the reference material.
Brand decisions
2025
Major preservation and venue-improvement renovationOtherBackground
After several phases of restoration and infrastructure modernization, the organization initiated a larger project addressing the exterior and artist-support areas.
Action taken
The Cabot closed in June 2025 for exterior restoration, dressing-room and backstage renovations, a new green room, signage work, and audience-facing improvements.
Aftermath
Construction was expected to finish in early 2026; final results and project costs are not specified in the reference material.
2015
Formation of the nonprofit operating organizationStrategyBackground
Local community members sought to establish a durable nonprofit structure for the theater’s operation and preservation.
Action taken
Cabot Performing Arts Center, Inc. was established as a 501(c)(3) organization and acquired the building.
Aftermath
The Cabot’s preservation and programming work continued under community-based nonprofit governance.
2015
Expansion from cinema into multidisciplinary programmingStrategyBackground
The reopened venue needed to serve a broader audience than a conventional movie theater.
Action taken
The Cabot developed programming across live music, comedy, film, and community events.
Aftermath
The organization established a contemporary performing-arts identity while retaining its cinema and historic-theater heritage.
2014
Repositioning as a nonprofit performing arts centerStrategyBackground
After the cinema closed and the resident magic show ended, the theater required a new operating model.
Action taken
Henry Bertolon purchased the building and reopened it as the Cabot Performing Arts Center, presenting film, music, comedy, and community programming.
Aftermath
The venue returned to active cultural use with a broader multidisciplinary program.
1977
Adoption of a resident magic-production modelStrategyBackground
Following Le Grand David’s purchase of the theater, the venue was selected as the permanent home for a large-scale magic production.
Action taken
Le Grand David and His Own Spectacular Magic Company began a continuous run at the theater.
Aftermath
The production became the world’s longest-running magic show and shaped the theater’s identity for more than three decades.
1960
Transition to E. M. Loew ownershipM&ABackground
The historic Ware Theatre was acquired by the E. M. Loew theater chain during a period when movie-palace venues were increasingly operated through larger cinema organizations.
Action taken
The chain purchased the theater and renamed it the Cabot Cinema.
Aftermath
The venue continued its cinema-centered identity under the Cabot name.
Sources2 sources
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