As a theatre space, Charles Playhouse had its origins as The Charles Street Playhouse at 54 Charles Street, at the base of Beacon Hill. It was started as the Actor's Company, a group of Boston University graduates who included among their performers, Olympia Dukakis. The company then moved to the (current) Warrenton Street location, and with that inaugural (1958) season, the era of the Charles Playhouse began.