The facade of Lisner Auditorium from the outside corner.

Lisner Auditorium opened its doors in the fall of 1946 and, for many years, was the only sizable theater in Washington. It opened with 1,550 seats and a 59-foot stage, reportedly the largest south of New York City. Ingrid Bergman performed here in 1949. Before the Kennedy Center was built, Lisner Auditorium was Washington?s focal point for music and dramatic performances.