The Klein Memorial Auditorium is a 1400-seat proscenium theater located at 910 Fairfield Avenue in

Bridgeport, Connecticut Bridgeport is the List of municipalities in Connecticut, most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut and the List of cities in New England by population, fifth-most populous city in New England, with a population of 148,654 in 2020. Loc ...

, United States. The venue was built with funds willed to the city by Bridgeport native Jacob Klein (1862 – 1932), a lawyer and active supporter of Bridgeport community organizations. The auditorium, designed by local architect Leonard Asheim, was built in the Art Deco style and features bronze doors, a marble lobby, inlaid wood and geometric motifs. After opening its doors in 1940, the Klein hosted such acts as Leonard Bernstein, Arthur Fiedler, Eleanor Roosevelt, Martin Luther King Jr.,

Paul Robeson Paul Leroy Robeson ( ; April 9, 1898 – January 23, 1976) was an American bass-baritone concert artist, actor, professional American football, football player, and activist who became famous both for his cultural accomplishments and for h ...

, Milton Berle, Victor Borge and Bill Cosby. More recently The Klein has hosted such diverse musical acts as Alice Cooper, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Boz Scaggs, Herbie Hancock, Ziggy Marley, George Carlin, Peter Frampton, Boyz II Men, the B-52s, and the Parris Island Marine Band. In addition to its history as a concert venue, local dance recitals, graduations, and union meetings occur regularly at the Klein, and the theater has been the home of the Greater Bridgeport Symphony Orchestra for the past 60 years. Other companies currently in residence include the New England Ballet Company, Greater Bridgeport Youth Orchestras, ConnectUs, and the Fairfield County Children's Choir.

List of notable performers and speakers

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Leonard Bernstein Leonard Bernstein ( ; born Louis Bernstein; August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, pianist, music educator, author, and humanitarian. Considered to be one of the most important conductors of his time, he was th ...

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* Jimmy Hoffa * B. B. King *

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* Jose Iturbi * David Bar-Illan *

Wynton Marsalis Wynton Learson Marsalis (born October 18, 1961) is an American trumpeter, composer, and music instructor, who is currently the artistic director of Jazz at Lincoln Center. He has been active in promoting classical and jazz music, often to young ...

and Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra *

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References

* https://web.archive.org/web/20111124142354/http://www.theklein.org/about/index.html * https://web.archive.org/web/20120425022149/http://www.hwhct.org/newsletters/HwH%20Newsletter%20Summer%202009.pdf * http://www.americantowns.com/ct/bridgeport/organization/the_klein_memorial_auditorium/articles * https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_sZIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hAENAAAAIBAJ&pg=987,1467115&dq=klein+auditorium+bridgeport&hl=en {{Coord, 41.1745, N, 73.2021, W, type:landmark_region:US-CT, display=title Buildings and structures in Bridgeport, Connecticut Music venues in Connecticut Theatres in Connecticut Tourist attractions in Bridgeport, Connecticut Theatres completed in 1940 1940 establishments in Connecticut