Built in 1839, the Charles Playhouse was originally a speakeasy, later a jazz club and finally a theater. With its backstreet location and underground ambience, it has always been home to offbeat and unusual performances. Nowadays, that means the ever-popular, indefinable Blue Man Group (www.blueman.com) and the long-running improv comedy show Shear Madness (www.shearmadness.com).
Charles Playhouse
South End & Chinatown
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
1.63 MILES
Home of the Boston Red Sox since 1912, Fenway Park is the oldest operating baseball park in the country. As such, the park has many quirks that make for a…
3.07 MILES
America's oldest college, Harvard University is one of the country's most prestigious universities. It was originally founded in Harvard Yard in 1636 by…
1.25 MILES
The educational playground that is the Museum of Science has more than 600 interactive exhibits. Favorites include the world’s largest lightning-bolt…
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Minute Man National Historic Park
12.44 MILES
The route that British troops followed to Concord has been designated the Minute Man National Historic Park. The visitor center at the eastern end of the…
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14.66 MILES
If you walk south on Lafayette from Derby St, you'll find yourself on the other side of the tracks (or river, in this case). Welcome to El Punto, or ‘The…
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3.1 MILES
Harvard University was originally founded here in 1636, and Harvard Yard remains the historic and geographic heart of the university campus. Flanked by…
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DeCordova Sculpture Park & Museum
13.72 MILES
The magical DeCordova Sculpture Park encompasses 35 acres of green hills, providing a spectacular natural environment for a constantly changing exhibit of…
1.2 MILES
Boston has become a focal point for contemporary art in the 21st century, with the Institute of Contemporary Art leading the way. The building is a work…
Nearby South End & Chinatown attractions
0.2 MILES
The Central Burying Ground is one of the city's oldest cemeteries, but it was a less prestigious resting place, used for Catholics, outsiders and British…
0.3 MILES
The first public building erected in Back Bay in 1861, this graceful church features extraordinary Tiffany windows and 16 bells in its steeple. The church…
0.31 MILES
Dating to 1912, Parkman Bandstand is now used for concerts, rallies and other events.
0.31 MILES
Paying tribute to the five victims of the Boston Massacre, this 25ft memorial replicates Paul Revere’s famous engraving of the tragic event.
0.33 MILES
After years of fruitful cooperation, Barbara Krakow and Andrew Witkin finally renamed their venerable gallery – previously the Barbara Krakow Gallery – to…
0.34 MILES
The official entrance to Chinatown is the decorative gate (paifong), a gift from the city of Taipei. It is symbolic – not only as an entryway for guests…
0.35 MILES
America's oldest public park, Boston Common has a long and storied history, serving as a campground for British troops during the Revolutionary War and as…
8. Statue of George Washington
0.37 MILES
At the main (Arlington St) entrance to the Public Garden, visitors are met by a statue of George Washington mounted nobly on his horse.