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   The Alberto Maranhão Theatre
   Garden-Theatres
   (1898 - 1904) Natal, RN

esigned by the engineer José de Berredo, the Carlos Gomes Theatre - a name kept until 1957 - kept its original chalet form until 1910, when it was rebuilt by Herculano Ramos. Ramos had worked on the José de Alencar Theatre in Fortaleza; he used little of the previous structure, but added aspects in accordance with late 19th century architectural tendencies.
In a position characteristic of its time, the Theatre stands alone facing a square. Its façade is a provincial version of eclectic style. Its architectural layout is similar to that of the José de Alencar Theatre, with an internal courtyard and a metal structure independent of the external stone walls.
Five iron gates, cast in Paris, lead to a vestibule preceding the courtyard. High on the façade, figures of a gorgon and a clown take the place of the traditional masks of Tragedy and Comedy respectively. Within the pediment is a lyre, symbolizing music, and above it "Art", a sculpture in bronze by Mathurin Moreau, which dates back to the inauguration of the Theatre in 1904. The building was heavily rebuilt in 1959-1960, when the metal structure was reinforced with concrete beams. The interior was rebuilt at the same time, with plaster mouldings for illumination, a new plaster ceiling, and numerous other modifications which substantially changed the inside appearance.

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Theatres in the Historical Center of Rio