Cape Cod Melody Tent is a South Shore Playhouse Associates-owned tent theater located in Hyannis, Massachusetts

Hyannis, Massachusetts

Hyannis is the largest of seven villages in Barnstable, Massachusetts. Also it is the commercial and transportation hub of Cape Cod and was designated an urban area as a result of the 1990 census. Because of this, many refer to Hyannis as the "Capital of the Cape"...

, in the city of Barnstable

Barnstable, Massachusetts

Barnstable is a city, referred to as the Town of Barnstable, in the U.S. state of Massachusetts and the county seat of Barnstable County. Barnstable is the largest community, both in land area and population, on Cape Cod. The town contains seven villages within its boundaries...

. Affiliated with the Cohasset Music Circus, these are the only two continuously-operated tent theaters in the round in the United States. The Music Circus and Melody Tent are owned and operated by the South Shore Playhouse Associates, a not-for-profit organization. The seating capacity

Seating capacity

Seating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, both in terms of the physical space available, and in terms of limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that seats two to a stadium that seats...

 is approximately 2,250. It was originally known as Cape Cod Music Circus from 1950-1951.

David M. Holtzmann, a theatrical attorney who represented actress Gertrude Lawrence

Gertrude Lawrence

Gertrude Lawrence was an English actress, singer and musical comedy performer known for her stage appearances in the West End theatre district of London and on Broadway.-Early life:...

, owned both theaters from the late 1950s until his death in 1965, after which they were operated by his widow, Sondra.