Originally a cinema that opened its doors in 1940, by the 1980s, under the artistic direction of Gianmario Longoni, Teatro Ventaglio Smeraldo moved to an all-theatrical program. Initially its popularity as a theater was the fruit of traditional Italian performances, but as the seasons went by the focus became more and more oriented toward international theater and music.
Today, Milano’s Teatro Ventaglio Smeraldo is a mandatory stop on the tours of important Italian and international productions. An ideal and privileged setting for musicals in original language, such as Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar, West Side Story, The Phantom of the Opera, The Rocky Horror Show, Cats, and performances by world-class music acts, from Astor Piazzolla to Buena Vista Social Club, from David Bowie to Bruce Springsteen, from Fabrizio De Andrè to Paolo Conte). Without forgetting dance and more recent grand international events, including David Copperfield, Joaquin Cortez, Queen Esther Marrow, and innovative companies like Tap Dogs and Stomp.