Main Theater

The Teatro Principal is a theater in the city of Puebla , Mexico . It is the oldest active theater in America . It dates from the 18th century and was formerly known as Corral de Comedias, later as Ancient Coliseum and finally as Main Theater. It was inaugurated in 1761 and in its facilities are realized works of theater, opera, dance, concerts, varieties, festivals, children’s shows, conferences, assemblies and government reports.

At the beginning of the 17th century, a carpenter by the name of Juan Gómez Melgarejo, a theater buff, made his own staging at home and was so successful that he built the first theater in the city, which he called “Corral de Comedias”. On June 19, 1613, Nicolas de Villanueva y Guzman, mayor of Puebla, ordered the suspension of the comedies and works of Melgarejo, as well as the destruction of his theater.

Prominent people who attended the comedies of Melgarejo complained to the viceroy of the arrangement. On October 30, 1626, Rodrigo Pacheco y Osorio , Marqués de Cerralbo and Viceroy of New Spain , granted the license and authorized the construction of a corral of comedies with the condition of contributing 6 pesos for each representation for the Hospital de Indios Of San Roque. The construction was postponed by different mayors who argued lack of resources, epidemics, droughts and other calamities.