Ruben Dario National Theatre (Teatro Nacional Ruben Dario)

Nicaragua’s national theater is named after its most famous poet, the father of Modernismo, Rubén Darío. Built in 1969, the Rubén Darío National Theatre is one of the only major buildings in Managua that survived the capital’s devastating 1972 earthquake. Today, the celebrated theater hosts regular performances which range from folklore dances by the national ballet company, to the Miss Nicaragua competition. 
Based in Managua’s historic center by the shores of Lake Managua, the Teatro Nacional Rubén Darío was inspired by the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. You can see the theater’s similarities in its clean and modern design.
Inside, the theater is a grand homage to chandeliers and velvet; a beautiful space where you can dress up for a night out with Nicaragua’s crème de la crème. In the main theater, which fits 1,200, you may even see the president enjoying a performance from the presidential balcony. 
In the aptly named Crystal Room on the second floor, the theater hosts rolling exhibitions which showcase artworks by Nicaragua’s established painters and sculptors. What’s in the room’s glitzy name? Look up at the huge chandeliers, which were donated from the Spanish government in 1969, and it’ll all make sense.

Practical Info

In Managua’s historic district, to get to Rubén Darío National Theatre for an evening performance, it’s best to take a taxi (just ask for ‘Teatro Nacional’), as the area gets pretty deserted at night.