Charleston was the center of a planter aristocracy which spent half the year in the city living a society life in which theater was considered a suitable part, and a new theater house was therefore regarded necessary after the repeal of the Vagrancy Act of 1787, which had the effect of banning the theater.

Until 1817, the St. Cecilia Society performed their concerts in the building as well as participated in the theatre orchestra.

[4] In 1794, John Sollée opened the Charleston French Theatre or Théâtre Francais, which became a powerful rival, able to offer artists from Saint Domingue, such as Alexander Placide and Suzanne Douvillier.

Under Placide, the theater was the base of the Charleston Company, which performed in Savannah in Georgia (from 1801) and Richmond, Virginia (from 1804) until 1812.

In 1817, the theater was the center of the Charleston Theatre riot, in which the audience sided with the popular star actor James H. Caldwell during his conflict with the management.