Teatro Presidente (President Theater), San Salvador

Opened on December 1, 1971, during the administration of President Fidel Sánchez Hernández, President Theater was initially designed for state functions-such as presidential inaugurations, government gatherings, and legislative events. Over the following decade, it evolved into a versatile performance space, hosting films, theater productions, and civic ceremonies.

The theater reflects Art Nouveau styling, appreciated for its elegance, dynamic forms, and ornamental richness. Inside, the auditorium seats approximately 1,400 to 1,429 patrons and includes an orchestra pit near the stage. In the lobby, visitors encounter a Popol Vuh mural, composed of 216 gypsum pieces molded using Kaolin and sand, arranged on a metal framework, and painted in acrylic-a visual homage to the sacred Maya text painted by Salvadoran artists Roberto Huezo and Roberto Galicia. The venue is also flanked by busts honoring cultural icons like painter Valero Lecha, composer Agustín Pío Barrios, poet Claudia Lars, and musician Pancho Lara.

Managed today by the National Arts Directorate under the country’s Ministry of Culture, the theater is a center for concerts, ballet, opera, theater, lectures, and community gatherings. It also serves as the official rehearsal venue for the El Salvador Symphony Orchestra. Notable recent performances include Elf the Musical, The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Don Quixote, and others that continue bringing international artistry to Salvadoran audiences.