215-784: The Lyric Theatre (previously known as the Ford Center for the Performing Arts , the Hilton Theatre , and the Foxwoods Theatre ) is a Broadway theater at 214 West 43rd Street in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City . Opened in 1998, the theater was designed by Richard Lewis Blinder of Beyer Blinder Belle , in collaboration with Peter Kofman, for Garth Drabinsky and his company Livent . The Lyric Theatre
430-472: A 7:00 p.m. or 8:00 p.m. "curtain". The afternoon " matinée " performances are at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays and at 3:00 p.m. on Sundays. This makes for an eight-performance week. On this schedule, most shows do not play on Monday and the shows and theatres are said to be "dark" on that day. The actors and the crew in these shows tend to regard Sunday evening through Monday evening as their weekend. The Tony award presentation ceremony
645-699: A 93 percent stake in Jujamcyn's five theaters, including the St. James Theatre, to ATG and Providence Equity . New York, New York , Kander and Ebb 's musical adaptation of the film New York, New York , opened at the theater in April 2023 and ran for three months. A revival of Spamalot , transferring from the Kennedy Center , opened at the theater in November 2023 and closed after 164 performances. The musical Illinoise
860-827: A Theater Advisory Council, which included Papp. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City , Broadway theaters closed on March 12, 2020, shuttering 16 shows that were playing or were in the process of opening. The Broadway League shutdown was extended first to April, then to May, then June, then September 2020 and January 2021, and later to June 1, 2021. Then-governor Andrew Cuomo announced that most sectors of New York would have their restrictions lifted on May 19, 2021, but he stated that Broadway theatres would not be able to immediately resume performances on this date due to logistical reasons. In May 2021, Cuomo announced that Broadway theaters would be allowed to reopen on September 14, and
1075-449: A booming economy and abundant creative talent kept Broadway hopping. To this day, the shows of the 1950s form the core of the musical theatre repertory." Kenrick notes that "the late 1960s marked a time of cultural upheaval. All those changes would prove painful for many, including those behind the scenes, as well as those in the audience." Of the 1970s, Kenrick writes: "Just when it seemed that traditional book musicals were back in style,
1290-663: A cast. There are still, however, performers who are primarily stage actors, spending most of their time "on the boards", and appearing in screen roles only secondarily. As Patrick Healy of The New York Times noted: Broadway once had many homegrown stars who committed to working on a show for a year, as Nathan Lane has for The Addams Family . In 2010, some theater heavyweights like Mr. Lane were not even nominated; instead, several Tony Awards were given for productions that were always intended to be short-timers on Broadway, given that many of their film-star performers had to move on to other commitments. According to Mark Shenton, "One of
1505-450: A ceiling dome that was surrounded by moldings of lyres and Greek masks. This theater also had 18 boxes. The Apollo, constructed by the Selwyn brothers to a design by Eugene De Rosa , was originally a film and vaudeville theater. The Apollo was briefly a burlesque venue in the mid-1930s before turning into a movie theater in the late 1930s. The Apollo's facade on 42nd Street was built as part of
1720-434: A challenge to the stage. At first, films were silent and presented only limited competition. By the end of the 1920s, films like The Jazz Singer were presented with synchronized sound, and critics wondered if cinema would replace live theatre altogether. While live vaudeville could not compete with these inexpensive films that featured vaudeville stars and major comedians of the day, other theatres survived. The musicals of
1935-526: A company of twelve actors from Britain to the colonies with his brother Lewis as their manager. They established a theatre in Williamsburg, Virginia , and opened with The Merchant of Venice and The Anatomist . The company moved to New York in 1753, performing ballad operas and ballad-farces like Damon and Phillida . During the Revolutionary War , theatre was suspended in New York City. But after
2150-473: A comparatively large capacity as the theater was primarily meant to host musicals. The presence of two balconies ran counter to most other theatrical designs of the time, which only had one balcony. Unlike similar Broadway theaters, the St. James's interior was designed in a simple style without much plasterwork. One contemporary publication described the auditorium as having a "residential rather than theatrical" character. The lack of plasterwork contrasts with
2365-522: A continuation of Stern's late-1980s plan for the site, would be the second-largest Broadway venue behind the Gershwin Theatre . The combined sites provided a large amount of space, with entrances from both 42nd and 43rd Streets. Ron Delsener, who was leasing the Apollo for rock concerts, objected that Livent could "kick us out when they feel like it" after New 42nd Street refused to renew his lease. Meanwhile,
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#17328509954072580-552: A discount of 20 to 50%. The TKTS booths are located in Times Square , in Lower Manhattan , and at Lincoln Center . This service is run by Theatre Development Fund . Many Broadway theatres also offer special student rates, same-day "rush" or "lottery" tickets, or standing-room tickets to help ensure that their theatres are as full—and their grosses as high—as possible. According to The Broadway League , total Broadway attendance
2795-427: A domed rotunda , with a basement lounge underneath it. The auditorium contains elements from the old Lyric's and the Apollo's interiors, including a ceiling dome, boxes , and a proscenium arch, which were modified to fit the new theater's dimensions. The large stage and the accompanying stage house were designed to accommodate major musicals. The old Lyric and Apollo theaters had been proposed for redevelopment since
3010-512: A dozen theaters in the U.S., including three in New York City. Erlanger proposed his first new theater in New York City in 1921, when he hired Warren and Wetmore to draw up plans for a 1,200-seat theater on 44th Street, named the Model Theatre. The venue would have been a single-story structure at 246–256 West 46th Street (the current site of the St. James), which would have cost $ 300,000. The plans were delayed due to Erlanger's disputes with
3225-896: A few exceptions, compared with London runs, until World War I . A few very successful British musicals continued to achieve great success in New York, including Florodora in 1900–01. In the early years of the twentieth century, translations of popular late-nineteenth century continental operettas were joined by the "Princess Theatre" shows of the 1910s, by writers such as P. G. Wodehouse , Guy Bolton , and Harry B. Smith . Victor Herbert , whose work included some intimate musical plays with modern settings as well as his string of famous operettas ( The Fortune Teller (1898), Babes in Toyland (1903), Mlle. Modiste (1905), The Red Mill (1906), and Naughty Marietta (1910)). Beginning with The Red Mill , Broadway shows installed electric signs outside
3440-438: A gold color, while the seats themselves contain crimson- velour upholstery. Axminster designed lattice-patterned carpets for the auditorium's aisles. Damask wall coverings on the side walls were originally colored blue-and-green. The upper sections of the walls are decorated with 50 ft-wide (15 m) murals painted by EverGreene Architectural Arts . EverGreene also painted multicolored, glazed Adam-style decorations onto
3655-430: A gray-green color scheme and was indirectly lit by lamps hidden behind silk curtains. The lounge was 50 feet (15 m) long and was connected with restrooms, telephone booths, and a writing room via a gray-green corridor. Additionally, a men's club room was placed in the basement and was decorated in a Tudor style, with a large fireplace and plaster walls. Backstage, the dressing rooms could accommodate 150 cast members;
3870-410: A green-and-white marble table, which were the only furnishings in the room. The inner lobby had black-and-white terrazzo marble tiles surrounded by a band of black marble and black-and-white squares. The room also had gray-stone walls with black-and-gold marble decorations, as well as a polychrome-and-gold ceiling with lights. Three black-and-gold marble doorways led to the auditorium. The south portion of
4085-416: A hanging chandelier. The centerpiece is surrounded by grilles, which originally served as ventilation openings. The lobby, to the west of the orchestra promenade, extends across the width of the auditorium. The lobby is divided into outer and inner sections, with the box office in the lobby's outer section. The lobby's inner section originally contained a 17th-century Flemish tapestry on the west wall and
4300-527: A larger theatre. Other productions are first developed through workshops and then out-of-town tryouts before transferring to Broadway. Merrily We Roll Along famously skipped an out-of-town tryout and attempted to do an in-town tryout—actually preview performances —on Broadway before its official opening, with disastrous results. After, or even during, successful runs in Broadway theatres, producers often remount their productions with new casts and crew for
4515-521: A more experimental, challenging, and intimate performance than is possible in the larger Broadway theatres. Some Broadway shows, however, such as the musicals Hair , Little Shop of Horrors , Spring Awakening , Next to Normal , Rent , Avenue Q , In the Heights , Fun Home , A Chorus Line , Dear Evan Hansen , and Hamilton , began their runs Off-Broadway and later transferred to Broadway, seeking to replicate their intimate experience in
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#17328509954074730-417: A musical instrument. The rest of the sounding board's rear section is filled with squares containing rosettes. These squares are laid diagonally in a diamond pattern, which is intended to simulate a coffered ceiling . The ceiling itself is flat, curving downward toward the rear of the second balcony. The center of the ceiling has a plasterwork centerpiece, containing motifs of instruments and swags, as well as
4945-539: A negative COVID-19 test (PCR within 72 hours or antigen within six hours of the performance start time). Beginning November 8, those ages 5–11 also had the option to provide proof of at least one vaccination shot. Effective December 14, in accordance with NYC's vaccination mandate, guests ages 5–11 were required to have at least one vaccination shot until January 29, 2022, where they had to be fully vaccinated. The vaccine mandate lasted until April 30, and attendees were also required to wear face masks until July 1. During
5160-579: A net loss; the musical ended at the beginning of 2014 with 1,066 performances. In March 2014, ATG renamed the venue the Lyric Theatre. The musical King Kong had been slated to open at the Lyric, but On the Town was booked there instead after the name change was announced. The theater reopened that October with a revival of the musical On the Town , which only ran at the theater through September 2015. After On
5375-520: A new Broadway theater for his company. That September, MTV took an option on the Apollo, Lyric, and Times Square theaters, which it planned to convert into a production studio. However, the negotiations with MTV fell through. Livent signed a long-term lease for the Apollo and Lyric theaters in July 1995. Livent planned to combine the theaters into a single 1,850-seat house for large musicals, using architectural elements of both theaters. The proposed large theater,
5590-1128: A new age of American playwright with the emergence of Eugene O'Neill , whose plays Beyond the Horizon , Anna Christie , The Hairy Ape , Strange Interlude , and Mourning Becomes Electra proved that there was an audience for serious drama on Broadway, and O'Neill's success paved the way for major dramatists like Elmer Rice , Maxwell Anderson , Robert E. Sherwood , Clifford Odets , Tennessee Williams , and Arthur Miller , as well as writers of comedy like George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart . Classical revivals also proved popular with Broadway theatre-goers, notably John Barrymore in Hamlet and Richard III , John Gielgud in Hamlet , The Importance of Being Earnest and Much Ado About Nothing , Walter Hampden and José Ferrer in Cyrano de Bergerac , Paul Robeson and Ferrer in Othello , Maurice Evans in Richard II and
5805-503: A new marquee, seats, draperies, and carpets, as well as a repainted auditorium and new electrical wiring. Due to the relatively small budget and the project's eighteen-week schedule, the lighting was not changed; additionally, some of the original details could not be restored. The theater reopened in December 1985 with the revue Jerry's Girls , which lasted four months. Afterward, the long-running musical 42nd Street transferred from
6020-508: A new theater that looks as good as an old one". Conversely, Herbert Muschamp of the Times said the Ford Center "offers an architectural glimpse through the rearview mirror". The theater's first performance was on December 26, 1997, when previews opened for the musical version of E.L. Doctorow 's Ragtime . The musical officially opened on January 26, 1998. By that November, less than a year after
6235-552: A performance and during intermission . The lounge also contained coat and parcel checks, dedicated restrooms and telephones, and a snack area. When the theater opened in 1998, architectural critic Herbert Muschamp wrote of the lounge: "Bad paintings hang on walls covered with tasteful vanilla moire". Above the lobby is a 1,200 sq ft (110 m) space for choreography and a 3,000 sq ft (280 m) space for rehearsals. There are also three box offices. The new Lyric Theatre contains an orchestra level and two balconies;
6450-500: A rate acceptable to the producers, they may continue to run in the expectation that, eventually, they will pay back their initial costs and become profitable. In some borderline situations, producers may ask that royalties be temporarily reduced or waived, or even that performers—with the permission of their unions—take reduced salaries, to prevent a show from closing. Theatre owners, who are not generally profit participants in most productions, may waive or reduce rents, or even lend money to
6665-582: A relatively simple facade, in contrast to nearby theaters like the Hayes or Shubert, but similar to the Majestic and Broadhurst. This led The New York Times to call it "probably the least ornate of all the theatres recently added to the Times Square district". The ground story has numerous recessed doorways. The doorway at the far west (on the right, as viewed from the front) is a metal stage door. The entrance to
Lyric Theatre (New York City, 1998) - Misplaced Pages Continue
6880-431: A run of 253 performances. The first theatre piece that conforms to the modern conception of a musical, adding dance and original music that helped to tell the story, is considered to be The Black Crook , which premiered in New York on September 12, 1866. The production was five-and-a-half hours long, but despite its length, it ran for a record-breaking 474 performances. The same year, The Black Domino/Between You, Me and
7095-465: A short run of the musical The Civil War and a year-long run of the dance revue Swing! . Swing! closed in January 2001 and was replaced by Mel Brooks 's musical The Producers , which broke a ticket-sale record when it opened in April 2001. Due to high demand, The Producers ' producers started reserving premium seat tickets at the theatre in a will call system to prevent scalping ,
7310-481: A show to keep it running. Some Broadway shows are produced by non-commercial organizations as part of a regular subscription season— Lincoln Center Theatre , Roundabout Theatre Company , Manhattan Theatre Club , and Second Stage Theater are the four non-profit theatre companies that currently have permanent Broadway venues. Some other productions are produced on Broadway with "limited engagement runs" for several reasons, including financial issues, prior engagements of
7525-433: A sloped tile roof on 43rd Street, as well as a marquee in front of the entrance. The old Lyric's narrow three-story facade, an arch on 42nd Street, was preserved in the new theater's construction. The first story of this arch contained a portico with a column on either side, above which was a frieze with the words "The Lyric". The second story contained the actual archway, which was decorated with terracotta. The narrowness of
7740-529: A study on the Apollo, Lyric, Selwyn (later American Airlines), Times Square, and Victory theaters on the north side of 42nd Street. Stern devised three alternatives for the five theaters. City and state officials announced plans for the five theaters, along with the Liberty Theatre on the south side of 42nd Street, in September 1988. Stern presented a model of his plan the next month. The plan called for restoring
7955-632: A third proposal: a two-balcony, 1,600-seat venue named Erlanger's Theatre, which would cost $ 1 million and be comparable in size to the New Amsterdam Theatre. Warren and Wetmore were still associated with the project. By May 1927, the theater was reportedly ready for A. L. Erlanger to inspect. That July, Erlanger announced that he had booked George M. Cohan 's The Merry Malones as the inaugural production. The theater opened on September 26, 1927, with The Merry Malones , which ultimately ran for 192 performances. Erlanger assumed full control of
8170-563: A transfer of the long-running play Claudia , as well as the Theatre Guild comedy Without Love with Audrey Christie , Katharine Hepburn , and Elliott Nugent . The Theater Guild, which had seen little success with their shows to date, premiered Rodgers and Hammerstein 's first musical, Oklahoma! , at the St. James in March 1943. Vincent Astor sold the theater to the Shuberts later
8385-565: A venue for plays under the name Burton's Theatre. The Astor Opera House opened in 1847. A riot broke out in 1849 when the lower-class patrons of the Bowery Theatre objected to what they perceived as snobbery by the upper-class audiences at Astor Place: "After the Astor Place Riot of 1849, entertainment in New York City was divided along class lines: opera was chiefly for the upper-middle and upper classes, minstrel shows and melodramas for
8600-498: Is $ 2,718,487 over eight performances for the week ending December 31, 2023. Broadway theatre Broadway theatre , or Broadway , is a theatre genre that consists of the theatrical performances presented in 41 professional theaters , each with 500 or more seats, in the Theater District and Lincoln Center along Broadway , in Midtown Manhattan , New York City . Broadway and London 's West End together represent
8815-405: Is 94 ft (29 m) from the proscenium at the front of the auditorium. The side walls are slightly curved to disperse the sound throughout the auditorium, and the rear wall is built as a concave curve for a similar reason. Two box seats on either side are taken from the original Apollo Theatre. Generally, the color scheme is in gold and red. The ends of each row of seating are decorated in
Lyric Theatre (New York City, 1998) - Misplaced Pages Continue
9030-409: Is a Broadway theater at 246 West 44th Street in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City . Opened in 1927, it was designed by Warren and Wetmore in a neo-Georgian style and was constructed for A. L. Erlanger . It has 1,709 seats across three levels and is operated by ATG Entertainment . Both the facade and the auditorium interior are New York City landmarks . The facade
9245-470: Is an internationally prominent tourist attraction in New York City . According to The Broadway League , shows on Broadway sold approximately US$ 1.54 billion worth of tickets in both the 2022-2023 and the 2023–2024 seasons. Both seasons featured theater attendance of approximately 12.3 million each. Most Broadway shows are musicals . Historian Martin Shefter argues that "Broadway musicals, culminating in
9460-514: Is decorated largely with murals and ornamental plasterwork. The theater has a sloped orchestra level, two balcony levels, and a flat ceiling with a carved sounding board . The first balcony level contains box seats near the front of the auditorium, above which are murals. In addition, there are several lounges and passageways throughout the theater. Erlanger had proposed a theater on the site as early as 1921, but two proposals failed to materialize. Erlanger's Theatre opened on September 26, 1927, with
9675-401: Is made largely of stucco , except for the ground story, which is clad in cast stone above a granite water table . The ground story has several recessed openings to the lobby, auditorium, and upper-story offices. Above that are two marquees and a double-story cast-iron loggia , masking the fire escapes from the auditorium. The top story contains windows from the offices there. The auditorium
9890-461: Is nearly rectangular, with a protrusion on the eastern end. The lot covers 12,858 square feet (1,194.5 m ), with a frontage of 124.5 feet (37.9 m) on 44th Street and a depth of 100.42 feet (31 m). The St. James Theatre shares the city block with the Hayes Theater , Sardi's restaurant, and 1501 Broadway to the east, as well as 255 West 43rd Street and 229 West 43rd Street to
10105-421: Is surrounded by an ovolo molding. A mural is placed above the flat-arched opening, beneath the elliptical arch. It shows cupids playing golf while Satan stands amid a "ruined temple of love". The proscenium's original curtain was made of asbestos and was designed by Smeraldi. On either side of the flat arch, there are depictions of court jesters pulling the curtains open. A sounding board curves onto
10320-420: Is suspended above the western and central sections of the facade. A stone band course runs above the base. The 44th Street facade has quoins at the extreme west and east ends on the upper stories. The center of the facade has a projecting double-height loggia of wrought iron , which conceals the fire escape. The bottom of the loggia contains stone panels, beneath which is a metal base that curves onto
10535-567: Is usually held on a Sunday evening in June to fit this schedule. In recent years, some shows have moved their Tuesday show time an hour earlier to 7:00 pm. The rationale for this move was that since fewer tourists take in shows midweek, Tuesday attendance depends more on local patrons. The earlier curtain makes it possible for suburban patrons to get home by a reasonable hour after the show. Some shows, especially those produced by Disney , change their performance schedules fairly frequently depending on
10750-597: The American Theatre Wing , a service organization. While the League and the theatrical unions are sometimes at loggerheads during those periods when new contracts are being negotiated, they also cooperate on many projects and events designed to promote professional theatre in New York. Of the four non-profit theatre companies with Broadway theatres, all four ( Lincoln Center Theater , Manhattan Theatre Club , Roundabout Theatre Company , and Second Stage Theatre ) belong to
10965-466: The Betty Comden / Adolph Green / Jule Styne musical Do Re Mi , with Nancy Walker and Phil Silvers . Another Comden/Green/Styne musical arrived in 1961: Subways Are for Sleeping , featuring Orson Bean , Sydney Chaplin , Carol Lawrence , and Phyllis Newman . Further modifications to the St. James were made in 1962. The same year, the theater hosted the musical Mr. President , which
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#173285099540711180-491: The COVID-19 pandemic , and Frozen was canceled as a result. The St. James was the first Broadway house to reopen after the pandemic-related closure, with a limited run of Bruce Springsteen 's Springsteen on Broadway shows opening on June 26, 2021. As part of a settlement with the United States Department of Justice in 2021, Jujamcyn agreed to improve disabled access at its five Broadway theaters, including
11395-563: The Imperial Theatre . This was followed by yet another set of Gilbert and Sullivan shows, this time performed by the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company . Later that year, the St. James premiered the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The King and I , which ran for 1,246 performances over three years. George Abbott 's The Pajama Game was the next show to premiere at the St. James, opening in 1954 and running for 1,061 performances. In 1956,
11610-563: The Johnny Mercer musical Li'l Abner opened, and ran for 693 performances. By the 1950s, the Shuberts operated nearly half of all legitimate theaters in New York City, prompting the U.S. federal government to file an antitrust suit against the family. As part of a settlement made in February 1956, the Shuberts had to sell off some of their theaters. If the Shuberts did not sell the St. James within two years, they had to lease out either
11825-567: The League of Resident Theatres and have contracts with the theatrical unions which are negotiated separately from the other Broadway theatre and producers. ( Disney also negotiates apart from the League, as did Livent before it closed down its operations.) The majority of Broadway theatres are owned or managed by three organizations: the Shubert Organization , a for-profit arm of the non-profit Shubert Foundation, which owns seventeen theatres;
12040-468: The Majestic in 1987, extending its run for two years. The St. James's last shows of the decade were Bill Irwin 's play Largely New York and a revival of the musical Gypsy with Tyne Daly in 1989. The latter ran for more than a year. The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) had started to consider protecting the St. James as a landmark in 1982, with discussions continuing over
12255-493: The Nederlander Organization , which controls nine theatres; and ATG Entertainment , which owns seven Broadway houses. Both musicals and straight plays on Broadway often rely on casting well-known performers in leading roles to draw larger audiences or bring in new audience members to the theatre. Actors from film and television are frequently cast for the revivals of Broadway shows or are used to replace actors leaving
12470-468: The Roaring Twenties , borrowing from vaudeville, music hall , and other light entertainment, tended to ignore plot in favor of emphasizing star actors and actresses, big dance routines, and popular songs. Florenz Ziegfeld produced annual spectacular song-and-dance revues on Broadway featuring extravagant sets and elaborate costumes, but there was little to tie the various numbers together. Typical of
12685-508: The Shubert brothers , another major theatrical syndicate, and with Klaw. At the time, the Shubert brothers' theaters were generally designed by Herbert J. Krapp , while Klaw's were designed by Eugene De Rosa ; both Krapp and De Rosa were experienced theater architects. By contrast, while Warren and Wetmore were well known for designing houses, hotels, and office buildings, as well as collaborating on
12900-538: The Theatrical Syndicate , and he worked with Marc Klaw to run Klaw and Erlanger , the predominant theatrical booking agency in the United States. They developed two major theaters on nearby 42nd Street : the still-extant New Amsterdam Theatre and the no-longer-operational Liberty Theatre . Klaw and Erlanger continued to work together until a dispute in 1919. Soon after the breakup, Erlanger began planning
13115-409: The 1920s were lighthearted productions such as Sally ; Lady Be Good ; Sunny ; No, No, Nanette ; Harlem ; Oh, Kay! ; and Funny Face . Their books may have been forgettable, but they produced enduring standards from George Gershwin , Cole Porter , Jerome Kern , Vincent Youmans , and Rodgers and Hart , among others, and Noël Coward , Sigmund Romberg , and Rudolf Friml continued in
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#173285099540713330-495: The 1970s, and New 42nd Street took over the theaters in 1990. Livent leased the theaters in 1995, razing them to make way for an 1,821-seat facility named after sponsor Ford Motor Company . The Ford Center was dedicated in December 1997 and officially opened the next month. Livent filed for bankruptcy in late 1998, and the theater subsequently passed to SFX Entertainment and then Clear Channel Entertainment , which renamed it for sponsor Hilton Hotels & Resorts in 2005. The venue
13545-548: The 1970s; the Brandts renovated both venues as part of a plan to reopen both as legitimate houses. Only the Apollo ultimately reopened, in 1979; it reverted to movies in 1983. The Apollo was then renamed the Academy Theatre and became a nightclub. The current Lyric Theatre was designed by Beyer Blinder Belle (BBB) and Peter H. Kofman for Garth Drabinsky ; it opened as the Ford Center in 1998. According to Richard Blinder of BBB,
13760-401: The 2000s was a revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber 's Jesus Christ Superstar , which opened in April 2000. Superstar ran for 161 performances through that September. Despite the high demand for Broadway theaters, the Ford Center was not immediately booked after Superstar closed; the theater had been scheduled to host a revival of Oklahoma! , which was canceled. The problem was in part due to
13975-401: The 42nd Street entrance arises from the fact that, when the original theater was built, there were brownstone houses next to the theater, and land values on 42nd Street were high. The auditorium and stage house facades, built in 1997, are to the west of the old Lyric Theatre's facade. The auditorium structure, measuring 94 ft (29 m) long and 70 ft (21 m) tall, is just west of
14190-460: The Apollo Theatre as a legitimate venue and converting the Lyric Theatre's heavily modified interior to a 2,500-seat auditorium. The UDC opened a request for proposals for six of the theaters that October. The Liberty and Victory were to be converted into performing-arts venues for nonprofit organizations, while the Selwyn, Apollo, Lyric, and Times Square were to be converted to commercial use. By
14405-427: The Apollo and Lyric. It subsequently announced plans to renovate the eight theaters in February 1990. The New York state government acquired the theater sites that April via eminent domain . The city had planned to buy out the theaters' leases but withdrew after the 42nd Street Company indicated it would lease the theaters to another developer. Although Durst protested the move, a New York Supreme Court judge ruled that
14620-502: The Apollo's proscenium arch, box seats, and ceiling dome. The architects also preserved a medallion of Zeus from the Lyric's proscenium and three small domes from the Apollo, though they were not required to do so. The larger decorations were cut into several sections using masonry blades, while the smaller decorations were removed intact. These decorations were stored in New Jersey. A team led by Jean-Francois Furieri then restored and cleaned
14835-536: The Broadway national tour, which travels to theatres in major cities across the country. Sometimes when a show closes on Broadway, the entire production, with most if not all of the original cast intact, is relaunched as a touring company, hence the name "Broadway national tour". Some shows may even have several touring companies out at a time, whether the show is still running in New York or not, with many companies "sitting down" in other major cities for their own extended runs. For Broadway national tours of top-tier cities,
15050-603: The Broadway orchestra is governed by an agreement with the musicians' union (Local 802, American Federation of Musicians) and The Broadway League. For example, the agreement specifies the minimum size of the orchestra at the Minskoff Theatre to be eighteen, while at the Music Box Theatre it is nine. Most Broadway shows are commercial productions intended to make a profit for the producers and investors ("backers" or "angels"), and therefore have open-ended runs (duration that
15265-656: The COVID-19 shutdown, the Shubert Organization, the Nederlander Organization, and Jujamcyn had pledged to increase racial and cultural diversity in their theaters, including naming at least one theater for a Black theatrical personality. The August Wilson Theatre , owned by Jujamcyn, had been renamed after Black playwright August Wilson in 2005. The Shuberts announced in March 2022 that the Cort Theatre , which
15480-564: The Cakewalk (1898), and the highly successful In Dahomey (1902). Hundreds of musical comedies were staged on Broadway in the 1890s and early 1900s made up of songs written in New York's Tin Pan Alley involving composers such as Gus Edwards , John Walter Bratton , and George M. Cohan ( Little Johnny Jones (1904), 45 Minutes From Broadway (1906), and George Washington Jr. (1906)). Still, New York runs continued to be relatively short, with
15695-574: The Cursed Child , the run time of which had been shortened during the theater's closure. ATG and Jujamcyn Theaters agreed to merge in early 2023; the combined company would operate seven Broadway theaters, including the Lyric. Productions are listed by the year of their first performance. In 2012, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark achieved the box office record for the Foxwoods Theatre (and the record for
15910-570: The Erlanger for the next year, presenting a variety of operettas from Gilbert and Sullivan and from other writers. After A. L. Erlanger's estate failed to pay rent, ownership of the theater reverted to the Astor family , the owners of the underlying land. In July 1932, Gilbert Miller 's former manager Lodewick Vroom announced that he had acquired the Erlanger from the Astors. Shortly afterward, Vroom renamed
16125-400: The Erlanger syndicate. During this time, the play Lightnin' by Winchell Smith and Frank Bacon became the first Broadway show to reach 700 performances. From then, it would go on to become the first show to reach 1,000 performances. Lightnin' was the longest-running Broadway show until being overtaken in performance totals by Abie's Irish Rose in 1925. The motion picture mounted
16340-417: The Ford Center as "a nearly universally praised building that, with musical theater houses in short supply, Broadway and New York City needed". The editorial board of Architecture magazine said the Ford Center was one of several "glorious recent examples of preservation's virtues". A critic for The Journal News wrote that the Ford Center "shows that you can not only open a new theater, but you can also open
16555-582: The Ford Center opened, Livent had filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Broadway producers attributed the bankruptcy proceedings in part to the costs of the Ford Center's construction and of Livent's frequent full-page advertisements in The New York Times . As a result of the bankruptcy proceedings, Livent faced the prospect of selling its assets , such as the Ford Center; subsequently, several firms sought to buy Livent or its theaters. In August 1999, SFX Entertainment bought Livent's assets, including
16770-451: The Ford Center. The theater also hosted events such as a 52nd-birthday fundraiser for Hillary Clinton , then the First Lady of the United States , in 1999. Ragtime closed in early 2000, after 861 performances, due to extremely high operating costs. SFX, and with it the Ford Center, was subsequently acquired by Clear Channel Entertainment in 2000. The Ford Center's first new production of
16985-576: The Ford's large size, which made it unsuitable for small musicals, as well as the Ford's high operating costs and its difficulty in obtaining additional corporate sponsorships. Ultimately, the musical 42nd Street was revived at the Ford in May 2001. Though 42nd Street was profitable during its run at the Ford, the show's producers announced in October 2004 that the show would close due a lack of money. The musical ended at
17200-513: The Grinch Stole Christmas! was profitable during its short run, both Hot Feet and The Pirate Queen closed at a net loss, leading theatrical executives to label the theater as "cursed". Among the complaints were that the costs of renting the theater, as well as its large size, which some producers characterized as "barnlike". Young Frankenstein opened at the Hilton in November 2007; it
17415-646: The Hilton unused for an entire year. This delay was because the Hilton required extensive renovations for Spider-Man . Further issues arose in August 2009 when Spider-Man ran out of money, causing work at the Hilton to be halted, though construction quickly resumed. The opening of Spider-Man was postponed further by financing and technical issues, as well as the need to rewrite the show. The Hilton Theatre ultimately remained dark for nearly two years due to continued complications with Spider-Man . In August 2010, under an agreement with Foxwoods Resort Casino and Live Nation ,
17630-421: The Hilton's poor sight lines as a reason for his show's failure. The musical Hot Feet next opened at the Hilton in April 2006, but it closed after three months, losing money in the process. That November, Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! had a limited engagement at the Hilton. It was followed by the musical The Pirate Queen , which opened in April 2007 and ran for only 85 performances. While How
17845-529: The Jujamcyn Corporation, an entity formed to operate the theater. Li'l Abner continued to run during this time. McKnight spent $ 600,000 to restore the St. James during three months in 1958. The interior was extensively modified, while the exterior remained relatively intact. Under designer Frederick Fox, the exterior was painted green and gold, while the interior was decorated in gold and charcoal gray. The curtains, carpets, and seats were replaced;
18060-516: The Jury . A. L. Erlanger died in March 1930, and his estate continued to operate the theater. In that year, Erlanger's Theatre hosted a revival of The Rivals , followed by the popular musical Fine and Dandy , the latter of which had 246 performances. In 1931, the Civic Light Opera Company leased the Erlanger for Gilbert and Sullivan productions. The theatrical company occupied
18275-454: The League confirmed that performances would begin to resume in the fall season. Springsteen on Broadway became the first full-length show to resume performances, opening on June 26, 2021, to 1,721 vaccinated patrons at the St. James Theatre . Pass Over then had its first preview on August 4, and opened on August 22, 2021, becoming the first new play to open. Hadestown and Waitress were
18490-562: The New York state government, then proposed redeveloping the area around a portion of West 42nd Street in 1981. The plan centered around four towers that were to be built at 42nd Street's intersections with Broadway and Seventh Avenue, developed by Park Tower Realty and the Prudential Insurance Company of America . It was delayed for several years due to lawsuits and disputes concerning the towers. From 1987 to 1989, Park Tower and Prudential hired Robert A. M. Stern to conduct
18705-592: The Opera at the Majestic Theatre became the longest-running Broadway musical, with 7,486 performances, overtaking Cats . The Phantom of the Opera closed on Broadway on April 16, 2023, soon after celebrating its 35th anniversary, after a total of 13,981 performances. Attending a Broadway show is a common tourist activity in New York. The TKTS booths sell same-day tickets (and in certain cases, next-day matinee tickets) for many Broadway and Off-Broadway shows at
18920-531: The Post was the first show to call itself a "musical comedy". Tony Pastor opened the first vaudeville theatre one block east of Union Square in 1881, where Lillian Russell performed. Comedians Edward Harrigan and Tony Hart produced and starred in musicals on Broadway between 1878 ( The Mulligan Guard Picnic ) and 1890, with book and lyrics by Harrigan and music by his father-in-law David Braham . These musical comedies featured characters and situations taken from
19135-533: The St. James in December 1933, staying through April 1934 with performers including Irina Baronova , Léonide Massine , and Tamara Toumanova . This was the Ballets Russes' last performance in the U.S. for fifty years. Clark and McCullough reappeared in the 1935 revue Thumbs Up! , which had 156 performances. Also successful was the operetta May Wine in 1935, which stayed for 212 performances. The Works Progress Administration (WPA), an agency of
19350-541: The St. James in July 1941 and immediately booked the play Anne of England . From January to March 1942, the St. James hosted the Boston Comic Opera Company and the Jooss Ballet Dance Theatre in repertory. The Boston Opera Company presented Gilbert and Sullivan works, which were performed simultaneously with dance shows such as Kurt Jooss 's The Green Table . The same year, the theater hosted
19565-467: The St. James or the Imperial. In May 1956, a group headed by businessman Jerome S. Jennings offered the Shuberts $ 2.1 million for the St. James Theatre. The sale was finalized that July, when Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing president William L. McKnight and theatrical executive Samuel H. Schwartz agreed to buy the St. James for $ 1.75 million in cash. Schwartz was subsequently appointed president of
19780-473: The St. James. David Byrne's American Utopia opened later the same year and ran until early 2022. This was followed in July 2022 by a limited run of the musical Into the Woods , which was extended through January 2023. Jujamcyn and Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) agreed to merge in early 2023; the combined company would operate seven Broadway theaters, including the St. James. In July 2023, Jordan Roth sold
19995-534: The Times Square Theater's facade. The old Apollo, decorated in a rose, tan, and blue color scheme with flat decorations, contained 1,194 seats on two levels. There were also four boxes, placed within ornate Palladian arches , as well as an Adam-style proscenium arch that measured 41 feet (12 m) wide and 25 feet (7.6 m) high. Both the Lyric and the Apollo were owned by the Brandt Theatres chain by
20210-561: The Town 's closure was announced, circus producer Cirque du Soleil announced that it would bring the Paramour musical-theater show to the Lyric in mid-2016. The dance-and-musical production Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games had a limited run during late 2015, after which Paramour opened in May 2016. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child was booked for the Lyric in December 2016, and ATG asked Cirque du Soleil to relocate so
20425-409: The U.S. The Hamlet revival ran for 96 performances and was followed in early 1939 by King Henry IV, Part 1 with Evans and Edmond O'Brien , which stayed for 74 performances. In January 1940, the St. James hosted that year's version of Earl Carroll's Vanities ; reviewers criticized the show's short run because it used microphones for amplification. Evans returned that April, reviving
20640-437: The U.S. government, held interviews in the St. James for its Federal Theatre Project during 1936. Next were two Shakespeare revivals in 1937: Hamlet with John Gielgud and Richard II with Maurice Evans . The latter was one of several Shakespeare productions that Margaret Webster directed at the St. James. Later that year, the St. James showed Father Malachy's Miracle for 125 performances. The WPA leased
20855-503: The Way to the Forum was revived in 1996 and ultimately ran for 715 performances. This was followed by a limited engagement by singer Patti LaBelle in January 1998, as well as a 98-performance run of the musical High Society the same year. The St. James underwent a $ 3 million, eight-month renovation, conducted by EverGreene Architectural Arts . When the theater reopened in 1999, it hosted
21070-492: The adjacent alley was converted to a smoking area; and new electronic systems were installed. The first show at the renovated theater was Rodgers and Hammerstein's Flower Drum Song , which opened in December 1958 and ran for 600 performances. The St. James next hosted a transfer of the off-Broadway hit Once Upon a Mattress with Carol Burnett in 1960. This was followed the same year by Jean Anouilh 's play Becket , with Laurence Olivier and Anthony Quinn , and
21285-422: The air rights above them. Jordan Roth joined Jujamcyn as a resident producer the same year. The Producers ultimately lasted until 2007, with 2,502 performances. It was followed the same year by a limited run of Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! , which opened one day before the start of the 2007 Broadway stagehand strike ; a New York Supreme Court judge ruled that forced to keep operating during
21500-411: The ancient gods Apollo , Athena , and Hermes . Lampposts, topped by spheres, flank the oculi. On the second story, the outer bays contain rectangular windows flanked by pilasters, above which are entablatures with carved masks of comedy and tragedy. The top of the facade has a copper cornice with medallions. There is also a wrought-iron balustrade with decorations of lyres . The original theater had
21715-509: The auditorium was inspired by the old Apollo. BBB initially planned to use a modern decorative scheme that contrasted with the historical design elements, but Richard Blinder said this proposal was "too diagrammatic". Lyres are used as decorative motifs throughout the interior of the new Lyric Theatre. The auditorium also includes furnishings that were constructed specifically for the new theater but were inspired by early-20th-century theaters' decorations. Drabinsky involved himself in many aspects of
21930-488: The authors and also in numerous unlicensed productions). They were imitated in New York by American productions such as Reginald Dekoven 's Robin Hood (1891) and John Philip Sousa 's El Capitan (1896), along with operas, ballets, and other British and European hits. Charles H. Hoyt 's A Trip to Chinatown (1891) became Broadway's long-run champion when it surpassed Adonis and its 603 total performances in 1893, holding
22145-497: The balcony level. The orchestra level is raked , sloping down toward an orchestra pit in front of the stage, which can fit 40 people. The orchestra's side walls were originally designed to resemble ashlar blocks. The current configuration of the orchestra level dates to a renovation in 1958, during which the orchestra's rear wall was relocated, enlarging the lobby and shrinking the promenade. The balcony levels can only be accessed by steps. The first balcony level (also known as
22360-515: The beginning of 2005 with 1,524 performances. In November 2004, Clear Channel announced that it had made a ten-year sponsorship agreement with Hilton Hotels & Resorts , with the Ford Center being renamed the Hilton Theatre. The name change happened in advance of the U.S. premiere of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang , which opened in April 2005. Chitty only lasted through the end of the year, with 285 performances; its director Frederick Zollo cited
22575-435: The beginning of the nineteenth century, the area that now comprises the Theater District was owned by a handful of families and comprised a few farms. In 1836, Mayor Cornelius Lawrence opened 42nd Street and invited Manhattanites to "enjoy the pure clean air." Close to 60 years later, theatrical entrepreneur Oscar Hammerstein I built the iconic Victoria Theater on West 42nd Street. Broadway's first "long-run" musical
22790-476: The biggest changes to the commercial theatrical landscape—on both sides of the Atlantic—over the past decade or so is that sightings of big star names turning out to do plays has [sic] gone up; but the runs they are prepared to commit to has gone down. Time was that a producer would require a minimum commitment from his star of six months, and perhaps a year; now, the 13-week run is the norm." The minimum size of
23005-537: The bill was not passed. The Save the Theatres campaign then turned their efforts to supporting the establishment of the Theater District as a registered historic district . In December 1983, Save the Theatres prepared "The Broadway Theater District, a Preservation Development and Management Plan", and demanded that each theater in the district receive landmark designation. Mayor Ed Koch ultimately reacted by creating
23220-403: The bottom and eared at the top; they alternate with the other two windows, which have no surrounds. The two circular windows contain surrounds with foliate ornament. The attic is topped by a frieze with circular bellflower decorations, vertical niches, and masks depicting comedy and tragedy. Above that is the cornice , which is simple in design. The cornice, frieze, and quoins are also visible on
23435-543: The box office lobby is immediately adjacent to the stage door. The lobby entrance consists of three aluminum and glass double doors, above which is a transom panel with signs. East of the lobby entrance is a sign board, as well as a service door accessed by two granite steps. The center of the ground-story facade has four metal doors from the auditorium. The eastern section has a glass-and-metal double door to Jujamcyn's upper-story offices, as well as additional service doors. A pair of marquees , with signs facing west and east,
23650-407: The boxes, next to the mezzanine seating. Draperies were originally hung above the boxes, but they were removed in subsequent renovations. Also above the boxes are lunettes with murals. Next to the boxes is the proscenium, which contains a flat-arched opening surrounded by an elliptical arch. The top corners of the proscenium opening are concave, protruding slightly inward. The proscenium opening
23865-418: The ceiling above the boxes, in front of the proscenium arch. The sounding board contains molded bands of interlocked leaves and ribbons, which divide it into two sections. The front section (nearer the proscenium) is divided into rectangular-paneled sections with urn, leaf, and swag motifs. The rear section (nearer the balconies) rises from the lunettes above each arch, with a panel at the center, which depicts
24080-420: The chairs had coral tapestries with gold and blue highlights. After a 1958 renovation, the interior was decorated in charcoal and gold. The orchestra level is wheelchair-accessible via the main doors, and it contains the theater's wheelchair-accessible restrooms. The rear or western end of the orchestra contains a shallow promenade. A stair with ornate metal railings leads up from the orchestra promenade to
24295-405: The current theater's design had to conform with preservation guidelines because it was part of a city-owned district controlled by New 42nd Street . As such, the theater incorporates major architectural elements and structures from both the old Lyric's facade and the Apollo's interior. The interior of the old Lyric was too badly deteriorated for most of the individual elements to be restored. Both of
24510-422: The decade ended with critics and audiences giving mixed signals." Ken Bloom observed that "The 1960s and 1970s saw a worsening of the area [Times Square] and a drop in the number of legitimate shows produced on Broadway." By way of comparison, in the 1950 to 1951 season (May to May) 94 productions opened on Broadway; in the 1969 to 1970 season (June to May) there were 59 productions (fifteen were revivals). In
24725-536: The design of Grand Central Terminal and the surrounding Terminal City building complex, they had never previously designed a theater. It is unknown why Erlanger hired the firm to design his theater. The plans were completed in 1922. Erlanger made an agreement that December to instead develop the theater for revues , specifically for vaudeville duo Bernard and Collier; in exchange, the pair would not perform outside New York City. That plan also failed for unknown reasons. Finally, in February 1926, Erlanger announced
24940-457: The early 1980s. The LPC started to consider protecting theaters, including the Apollo and Lyric theaters, as landmarks in 1982, with discussions continuing over the next several years. While the LPC granted landmark status to many Broadway theaters starting in 1987, it deferred decisions on the exterior and interior of the Lyric Theatre, as well as the interior of the Apollo Theatre. Further discussion of
25155-408: The early 2010s, the St. James hosted musicals along with limited-engagement concerts. These included American Idiot in 2010; Hair and On a Clear Day You Can See Forever in 2011; Leap of Faith and Bring It On: The Musical in 2012; Barry Manilow 's concert and Let It Be in 2013; and Bullets Over Broadway and Side Show in 2014. Part of the stage-left portion of the theater
25370-567: The east. Other nearby buildings include the St. James Theatre and Hayes Theater to the northwest; 229 West 43rd Street and 1501 Broadway to the north; 1500 Broadway to the northeast; One Times Square to the east; the Times Square Tower and 5 Times Square to the southeast, and the New Amsterdam Theatre to the south. The surrounding area is part of Manhattan 's Theater District and contains many Broadway theaters . In
25585-473: The eastern wall (facing the Hayes Theater). The auditorium has an orchestra level, two balconies, boxes , and a stage behind the proscenium arch . The space is designed with plaster decorations in relief , as well as paintings designed to resemble reliefs. Playbill cites the theater as having 1,684 seats, while The Broadway League cites 1,709 seats. Originally, Erlanger's Theatre had 1,600 seats,
25800-609: The effort. At Papp's behest, in July 1982, a bill was introduced in the 97th Congress , entitled "H.R.6885, A bill to designate the Broadway/Times Square Theatre District in the City of New York as a national historic site". The legislation would have provided certain U.S. government resources and assistance to help the city preserve the district. Faced with strong opposition and lobbying by Mayor Ed Koch's Administration and corporate Manhattan development interests,
26015-522: The end of the year, the plans were threatened by a lack of money. In early 1989, several dozen nonprofit theater companies submitted plans to the UDC for the takeover of six theaters. Most of the bids were for the Liberty and Victory, but the Selwyn, Apollo, Lyric, and Times Square theaters received 13 bids between them. That year, The Durst Organization acquired the leases to eight theaters in Times Square, including
26230-478: The entire Broadway production is transplanted almost entirely intact and may run for many months (or years) at each stop. For example, the first U.S. tour of The Phantom of the Opera required 26 53-foot-long (16.1 m) semi-trailers to transport all its sets, equipment, and costumes, and it took almost 10 days to properly unload all those trucks and install everything into a theater. St. James Theatre The St. James Theatre , originally Erlanger's Theatre ,
26445-437: The entrance. There is also a stage house at the far west end of the site, measuring 100 ft (30 m) tall. Originally, a sign measuring 40 ft (12 m) tall was placed atop the stage house. Both the auditorium and the stage house contain prefabricated concrete panels on their exteriors, each measuring 12 by 20 ft (3.7 by 6.1 m). The panels used on the auditorium are covered in brick, while those in front of
26660-456: The everyday life of New York's lower classes and represented a significant step forward from vaudeville and burlesque, towards a more literate form. They starred high-quality professional singers ( Lillian Russell , Vivienne Segal , and Fay Templeton ), instead of the amateurs, often sex workers, who had starred in earlier musical forms. As transportation improved, poverty in New York diminished, and street lighting made for safer travel at night,
26875-463: The first musicals to resume performances on September 2, 2021. The 74th Tony Awards were also postponed; the Tony nominations were announced on October 15, 2020, and took place on September 26, 2021. On July 30, 2021, it was announced that all Broadway theaters required attendees to provide proof of full COVID-19 vaccination . The rule applied to guests ages 12+. Those under age 12 were required to provide
27090-501: The first previews of Spider-Man "an eon in a Broadway timetable"; the preview period was itself the longest in Broadway history. In May 2013, during the run of Spider-Man , British theater operator Ambassador Theatre Group (now ATG Entertainment ) paid $ 60 million to lease the Foxwoods from New 42nd Street for up to 60 years. The transaction marked ATG's first United States acquisition. That November, Spider-Man announced it would close at
27305-408: The first time any Broadway show had done this. Prior to the implementation of this policy, brokers would buy tickets for $ 100 and resell them for as much as $ 742.50; though such markups were illegal in New York state, the tickets were sold on websites that were based in other states. After Binger died in 2004, Rocco Landesman bought the St. James and Jujamcyn's four other theaters in 2005, along with
27520-458: The first two decades of the 20th century, eleven venues for Legitimate theatre were built within one block of West 42nd Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues. These venues were mostly converted to movie theaters by the 1930s, and many of them had been relegated to showing pornography by the 1970s. The current Lyric Theatre occupies the sites of the Lyric Theatre , built on the eastern half of
27735-456: The former theaters' lobbies to 42nd Street were retained when the Ford Center was built. While the Apollo's lobby to the west kept its bas-relief sculptures and black-and-white marble decorations, the old Lyric's lobby to the east had lost all of its decoration. Under the lobby is a lounge intended for premium-ticket holders. The lounge, covering 850 sq ft (79 m), was originally monitored by three attendants and could be used before
27950-776: The highest commercial level of live theater in the English-speaking world . While the Broadway thoroughfare is eponymous with the district, it is closely identified with Times Square . Only three theaters are located on Broadway itself: Broadway Theatre , Palace Theatre , and Winter Garden Theatre . The rest are located on the numbered cross streets, extending from the Nederlander Theatre one block south of Times Square on West 41st Street, north along either side of Broadway to 53rd Street , and Vivian Beaumont Theater , at Lincoln Center on West 65th Street. While exceptions exist,
28165-494: The highest single-week gross of any show in Broadway history, at that time). The production grossed $ 2,941,794 over nine performances at 100.03% capacity for the week ending January 1, 2012. On its third week of previews, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child had the highest single-week gross reported by a non-musical play in Broadway history, grossing $ 2,138,859 over eight performances for the week ending April 8, 2018. As of January 2024, Cursed Child 's largest single gross
28380-450: The inner lobby had a gray marble staircase with a polychrome-and-gold balustrade and an ebony-wood railing. The lobby was enlarged and modified during a 1958 renovation. The theater was designed with a ladies' lounge in the basement and a men's lounge on the mezzanine. The ladies' lounge had Adam style decorations and a rose-and-gold color scheme; it included a marble shelf with a mirror, as well as ceiling vents. The mezzanine lounge had
28595-549: The interior would be modified. Mayor Ed Koch wavered in his support of the plan, criticizing it as a "Disneyland on 42nd Street". Subsequently, Hugh Hardy conducted a report on 42nd Street's theaters in 1980. His report, in conjunction with a movement opposing the demolition of the nearby Helen Hayes and Morosco theaters, motivated the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) to survey fifty of Midtown Manhattan's extant theaters in
28810-601: The landmark designations of 22 theaters, including the St. James, on the merit that the designations severely limited the extent to which the theaters could be modified. The lawsuit was escalated to the New York Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of the United States , but these designations were ultimately upheld in 1992. The musical The Secret Garden , starring Daisy Eagan and Mandy Patinkin , opened in 1991 and ran for 706 performances over two years. This
29025-405: The landmark designations was delayed for several decades. In late 2015, the LPC hosted public hearings on whether to designate the Apollo, the Lyric, and five other theaters as landmarks. The LPC rejected the designations in February 2016 because the theaters were already subject to historic-preservation regulations set by the state government. The Urban Development Corporation (UDC), an agency of
29240-453: The lengthened proscenium, as well as for damaged sections of plasterwork throughout the theater; plaster was then poured over the armatures. Thirty-six holes were drilled into the ceiling so trusses could be hung for productions. The rigging system consists of 90 line sets perpendicular to the proscenium. The stage is designed to accommodate large musicals, measuring about 55 ft (17 m) deep and about 100 ft (30 m) wide. When
29455-453: The loggia are two vertical signs with the letters "St. James", which face west and east. These signs have corbels at their bottoms and lanterns on top. At the time of the theater's construction, one observer said that the blank facade was "most appropriate" for the backdrop of an electric sign. The attic has five rectangular windows between two circular windows. Three of the rectangular windows have decorative surrounds that are scrolled at
29670-406: The lower balcony is labeled the dress circle. The orchestra level is slightly raked and is composed of concrete over a corrugated metal deck. Both of the balconies are eight rows deep and are slightly raked. The Lyric's seats are larger and deeper than in typical Broadway theaters; each seat is up to 22 in (560 mm) wide and the rows are spaced 34.5 in (880 mm) apart. The rear wall
29885-402: The marquee below it. The loggia has three arches are separated by Ionic -style columns. The arches contain wrought-iron grilles, above which are cartouches flanked by foliate decoration. The spandrels above the arches' corners contain wrought-iron foliate decoration and winged animals. A wrought-iron frieze runs above the loggia, and finials are placed on the loggia's roof. On either side of
30100-434: The mezzanine) is raked and is divided into front and rear sections by an aisle halfway across its depth. The first balcony is much deeper than in similar theaters, reaching over what originally was the tenth row of orchestra seats. The second balcony is also raked but is recessed. The front of the mezzanine level is curved outward, with molded decorations, and connects with the boxes on either side. An entablature runs near
30315-499: The mezzanine. At the top of the stair is a medallion of the Greek god Zeus . The rotunda's walls are covered with canvas panels, designed to imitate the look of cut stone. Mariuca Brancoveanu designed the rotunda's mosaic floor, which contains depictions of the masks on the original Lyric's facade, surrounded by a mosaic border. The mosaic decoration is composed of 172,800 marble pieces covering 650 sq ft (60 m). The capitals of
30530-544: The middle-class, variety shows in concert saloons for men of the working class and the slumming middle-class." The plays of William Shakespeare were frequently performed on the Broadway stage during the period, most notably by American actor Edwin Booth who was internationally known for his performance as Hamlet . Booth played the role for a famous 100 consecutive performances at the Winter Garden Theatre in 1865 (with
30745-471: The musical The Merry Malones . Erlanger died in 1930, and control of the theater was transferred in 1932 to Lodewick Vroom, who renamed it after St James's Theatre in London. The Shubert family acquired the St. James in 1941 but were forced to sell it in 1956 following an antitrust suit. William L. McKnight bought the theater and renovated it in 1958, with Jujamcyn taking over the venue's operation. The theater
30960-418: The new Lyric's design when it was built. The lobby of the new Lyric Theatre is on the east side of the theater, extending from 42nd to 43rd Street, with an elliptical rotunda on 43rd Street. The floor, dome, columns, and staircases of the rotunda were brand-new elements constructed for the Ford Center. The Italian-marble staircase rises from one side of the rotunda and splits into two flights, wrapping around to
31175-510: The next several years. The LPC designated the St. James's facade and interior as a landmark on December 15, 1987. This was part of the commission's wide-ranging effort in 1987 to grant landmark status to Broadway theaters. The New York City Board of Estimate ratified the designations in March 1988. Jujamcyn, the Nederlanders , and the Shuberts collectively sued the LPC in June 1988 to overturn
31390-420: The next sixteen years. However, smaller vaudeville and variety houses proliferated, and Off-Broadway was well established by the end of the nineteenth century. A Trip to Coontown (1898) was the first musical comedy entirely produced and performed by African Americans in a Broadway theatre (inspired largely by the routines of the minstrel shows ), followed by the ragtime -tinged Clorindy: The Origin of
31605-461: The next two years. The next show was the 1982 revue Rock 'N Roll! The First 5,000 Years , which flopped after a week. Following this was another long run, the musical My One and Only , which opened in 1983 and ran for 767 performances. The stage floor and traps were replaced after My One and Only 's run ended. In July 1985, Jujamcyn announced a $ 1.5 million renovation for the theater. The changes, executed by Total Concept, included
31820-552: The number of potential patrons for the growing number of theatres increased enormously. Plays could run longer and still draw in the audiences, leading to better profits and improved production values. As in England, during the latter half of the century, the theatre began to be cleaned up, with less prostitution hindering the attendance of the theatre by women. Gilbert and Sullivan 's family-friendly comic opera hits, beginning with H.M.S. Pinafore in 1878, were imported to New York (by
32035-457: The old theaters' interiors were dismantled to make way for the current theater, but an office wing on 42nd Street was preserved. The new Lyric Theatre retains the ornate facades of Koehler's original Lyric Theatre on 42nd and 43rd Street. The 43rd Street facade is divided vertically into five bays . At the center of the facade are three arched doorways topped by corbels . These are flanked by two additional doorways, which are topped by panels with
32250-526: The original Lyric Theatre's marquee on 42nd Street was removed in 1995 during the reconstruction of the New Victory Theater. Even though the LPC had not designated the Apollo or Lyric theaters as landmarks, parts of the buildings were still subject to preservation guidelines. In conformance with these guidelines, Drabinsky and architect Peter H. Kofman presented their proposal for the new theater in December 1995. The plans called for preserving much more of
32465-467: The ornate plaster decorations in theaters developed by the Shubert family , as well as those designed by Herbert J. Krapp . Instead, Warren and Wetmore placed emphasis on the interior layout and color scheme. As designed, the theater had coral-colored surfaces with antique gold highlights. The interior design scheme was overseen by John B. Smeraldi . One source described the walls as being "marble and plaster finished in coral lacquer and gold", while
32680-556: The performers, or temporary availability of a theatre between the end of one production and the beginning of another. However, some shows with planned limited engagement runs may, after critical acclaim or box office success, extend their engagements or convert to open-ended runs. This was the case with 2007's August: Osage County , 2009's God of Carnage , 2012's Newsies , and 2022's Take Me Out . Historically, musicals on Broadway tend to have longer runs than "straight" (i.e., non-musical) plays. On January 9, 2006, The Phantom of
32895-542: The plaster decorations off-site. By December 1996, the four-story facade of the old Lyric Theatre was the only portion of the two old theaters that was left in place. The facade was shored up using scaffolding and a steel framework. The next month, the Ford Motor Company announced it would sponsor the theater, which would become the Ford Center for the Performing Arts. According to the New York Daily News , this
33110-431: The plaster. The ceiling contains the Apollo Theatre's original dome, which is surrounded by a newer plaster ring to make it appear larger. The ceiling contains six chandeliers, four over the orchestra and two over the boxes; their design is inspired by the old Apollo's chandeliers. Above the second balcony are three smaller domes, salvaged from the old Apollo Theatre and painted in gold leaf. The new Lyric's interior retains
33325-464: The plays of George Bernard Shaw , and Katharine Cornell in such plays as Romeo and Juliet , Antony and Cleopatra , and Candida . In 1930, Theatre Guild 's production of Roar, China! was Broadway's first play with a majority Asian cast. As World War II approached, a dozen Broadway dramas addressed the rise of Nazism in Europe and the issue of American non-intervention. The most successful
33540-468: The previous theaters were being installed by that August. Upon its completion, the Ford Center had 1,821 seats, making it Broadway's second-largest venue after the Gershwin Theatre . Drabinsky, New York governor George Pataki , mayor Rudy Giuliani , and several theatrical personalities dedicated the Ford Center for the Performing Arts on December 12, 1997. Summarizing the reactions from architectural and theatrical critics, The New York Times characterized
33755-434: The production of Richard II from three years earlier. That November, the St. James hosted another Shakespeare production: Twelfth Night with Evans, Wesley Addy , Helen Hayes , Sophie Stewart , and June Walker . This was followed the next March by Paul Green and Richard Wright 's Native Son , which was not as successful as previous shows, with 114 performances. The Shubert Organization started operating
33970-423: The production plays), meaning that the length of their presentation is not set beforehand, but depends on critical response, word of mouth, and the effectiveness of the show's advertising, all of which determine ticket sales. Investing in a commercial production carries a varied degree of financial risk. Shows need not make a profit immediately; should they make their "nut" (weekly operating expenses), or lose money at
34185-640: The productions of Rodgers and Hammerstein , became enormously influential forms of American popular culture " and contributed to making New York City the cultural capital of the world . New York City's first significant theatre was established in the mid-18th century, around 1750, when actor-managers Walter Murray and Thomas Kean established a resident theatre company at the Theatre on Nassau Street in Lower Manhattan , which held about 280 people. They presented William Shakespeare 's plays and ballad operas such as The Beggar's Opera . In 1752, William Hallam sent
34400-508: The proscenium arch from the Apollo, which was expanded significantly when the new theater was built. The proscenium opening in the new theater is 50 ft (15 m) wide, compared to 30 ft (9.1 m) in the old Apollo. The new theater's proscenium measures around 31 ft (9 m) high. To accommodate this, the top of the proscenium arch was widened by about 8 ft (2.4 m), while its sides were lengthened by 4 to 5 ft (1.2 to 1.5 m). New steel armatures were built for
34615-437: The rotunda's columns are decorated with gilded guilloche reliefs that depict light bulbs. The dome of the rotunda was taken from the Apollo Theatre and measures 39 by 28 ft (11.9 by 8.5 m). The mezzanine level, overlooking the lobby, contains wrought-iron railings with depictions of lyres. The lobby and auditorium are separated by vestibules with doors at each end, with 2 in-thick (5.1 cm) fabric panels. This
34830-531: The run ending just a few months before Booth's brother John Wilkes Booth assassinated Abraham Lincoln ), and would later revive the role at his own Booth's Theatre (which was managed for a time by his brother Junius Brutus Booth Jr. ). Other renowned Shakespeareans who appeared in New York in this era were Henry Irving , Tommaso Salvini , Fanny Davenport , and Charles Fechter . Theatre in New York moved from Downtown gradually to Midtown Manhattan , beginning around 1850, seeking less expensive real estate. At
35045-466: The same name as one of its predecessor theaters, the current Lyric Theatre was built almost entirely from scratch, though many parts of the old theaters were preserved to comply with government regulations. The current theater retains the original Lyric facade on 43rd Street, as well as a smaller arched facade on 42nd Street . The auditorium and stage house are placed within an entirely new structure covered with concrete and brick panels. The lobby contains
35260-473: The same year. With over 2,200 performances through 1948, Oklahoma! saved the Theatre Guild from bankruptcy and became known as a Rodgers and Hammerstein masterpiece. Frank Loesser 's Where's Charley? opened at the St. James in 1948, ultimately seeing 762 performances over two years. Where's Charley? closed to make way for another musical, Peter Pan , which had been forced to relocate from
35475-467: The season. This is done in order to maximize access to their target audience. Most Broadway producers and theatre owners are members of The Broadway League (formerly "The League of American Theatres and Producers"), a trade organization that promotes Broadway theatre as a whole, negotiates contracts with the various theatrical unions and agreements with the guilds, and co-administers the Tony Awards with
35690-560: The site in 1903, and the Apollo Theatre , built to the west in 1920. The Lyric was designed in the Beaux-Arts style, while the Apollo had decorations in the Adam style . Both theaters had entrances from 42nd Street, flanking the Times Square Theater, although their auditoriums were on 43rd Street. When the theaters were built, 42nd Street was generally considered an upscale address. The old Lyric
35905-411: The sites could be acquired by condemnation . A nonprofit organization, New 42nd Street , was formed in September 1990 to restore six of the theaters and find uses for them. Government officials hoped that development of the theaters would finally allow the construction of the four towers around 42nd Street, Broadway, and Seventh Avenue. In 1992, New 42nd Street received a $ 18.2 million grant for restoring
36120-399: The six theaters. By the next year, there were proposals to open an information center in either the Apollo or the Lyric. After Disney committed to restoring the New Amsterdam Theatre in 1994, most of the other theaters around 42nd Street were quickly leased. Garth Drabinsky , president of Canadian company Livent , toured the Apollo and Lyric in January 1994. At the time, he was looking for
36335-550: The south. The St. James was developed on the site of several old three-story row houses . There were six residences, each with a brownstone front. The original Sardi's restaurant was one of the buildings that was razed to make way for the St. James. The St. James Theatre was designed by Warren and Wetmore in the Georgian Revival style , with Beaux-Arts inspirations. It was built for producer Abraham L. Erlanger and opened in 1927 as Erlanger's Theatre. The theater
36550-569: The south. Across 44th Street are the Row NYC Hotel to the northwest, the Majestic and Broadhurst theaters to the north, and the Shubert Theatre and One Astor Plaza to the northeast. Other nearby structures include the John Golden , Bernard B. Jacobs , Gerald Schoenfeld , and Booth theaters to the north, as well as the former Hotel Carter , Todd Haimes Theatre , and Lyric Theatre to
36765-447: The southern sidewalk between Eighth Avenue and Seventh Avenue , at the southern end of Times Square in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City . The land lot has an area of 24,176 sq ft (2,246.0 m) and a frontage of 219 ft 4 in (66.85 m) on 43rd Street. Most of the theater is on a 100 ft-deep (30 m) site on 43rd Street, but the theater has wings extending to 42nd Street , making
36980-399: The stage for 657 performances. Chinatown itself was surpassed by the musical Irene (1919) in 1921 as the longest-running Broadway musical, and even earlier, in March 1920, by Lightnin' (1918) as the longest-running Broadway show. In 1896, theatre owners Marc Klaw and A. L. Erlanger formed the Theatrical Syndicate , which controlled almost every legitimate theatre in the U.S. for
37195-417: The stage house are left exposed. These panels do not contain any windows and are mounted directly onto the theater's steel superstructure . Behind the panels are noise-reducing rubber pads. Roger Morgan Studio was responsible for the interior design of the new Lyric Theatre. The modern theater's new design elements blend with its historical elements; the design of the lobby was inspired by the old Lyric, while
37410-435: The stage house. The dressing rooms, as well as various backstage areas, are placed in the basement to free up space for the stage. The City at 42nd Street plan was announced in December 1979 as part of a proposal to restore West 42nd Street around Times Square. Under the plan, the old Apollo Theatre would continue to be used as a legitimate theater, operated by Brandt Theatres. The Lyric Theatre's facade would be restored, but
37625-469: The stars had their own suites with baths. The musicians had their own quarters, which connected to the orchestra pit. Jujamcyn Theaters' corporate offices are also at 246 West 44th Street, the St. James Theatre building. Times Square became the epicenter for large-scale theater productions between 1900 and the Great Depression . At the beginning of the 20th century, Erlanger was a founding member of
37840-736: The strike. The St. James then hosted a revival of Gypsy in 2008, featuring Patti LuPone , Laura Benanti , and Boyd Gaines . In 2009, Roth acquired a 50 percent stake in Jujamcyn and assumed full operation of the firm when Landesman joined the National Endowments of the Arts. The same year, the St. James staged the Goodman Theatre 's revival of Desire Under the Elms and the City Center Encores production of Finian's Rainbow . In
38055-434: The term "Broadway theatre" is used predominantly to describe venues with seating capacities of at least 500 people. Smaller theaters in New York City are referred to as off-Broadway , regardless of location, while very small venues with fewer than 100 seats are called off-off-Broadway , a term that can also apply to non-commercial, avant-garde , or productions held outside of traditional theater venues. The Theater District
38270-404: The theater could be renovated. When Paramour closed in April 2017, it had run for 366 performances. During 2017 and early 2018, in preparation for Cursed Child 's opening, the theater was renovated for $ 33 million. The changes included the relocation of the main entrance from 42nd to 43rd Street. A large black wing was added on the 43rd Street facade, while a depiction of a child in a nest
38485-619: The theater hosted a revival of My Fair Lady , which relocated at the end of 1976 to make way for George Abbott's musical Music Is . The next hit was Comden and Green's musical On the Twentieth Century , which opened in 1978 and had over 450 performances. Four short runs followed in 1979 and 1980: Carmelina , Broadway Opry '79 , The 1940's Radio Hour , and Filumena . The musical Barnum premiered in 1980, starring Jim Dale with music by Michael Stewart , Cy Coleman , and Mark Bramble ; it had 854 performances over
38700-403: The theater in April 1938 for its production of Trojan Incident , prompting the League of New York Theatres to complain that the government had an undue advantage over private producers. Evans returned that October in an unabridged version of Hamlet , starring Katherine Locke , Mady Christians , and Alexander Scourby ; this was the first time that the full text of Hamlet was performed in
38915-418: The theater was built, Drabinsky specified that the fly loft had to be 100 ft (30 m) high, and the stage house was to contain dressing rooms for 75 performers. To maximize space within the stage house, its support columns are embedded into the western wall, adjoining the Selwyn (American Airlines) Theatre. Such columns are typically freestanding, but this design added 8 in (200 mm) of depth to
39130-416: The theater was renamed the Foxwoods Theatre for three years. According to the casino's chief marketing officer, the casino had been especially interested in the theater because of the upcoming show. Previews commenced in December 2010, and Spider-Man officially opened on June 14, 2011, after seven months of previews. The New York Times called the two-year delay between the closure of Young Frankenstein and
39345-546: The theater's operation a month after the venue opened. The run of The Merry Malones was interrupted briefly in early 1928 by a flop entitled The Behavior of Mrs. Crane. Cohan's last musical, Billie , opened in 1928 and had 112 performances. The next year, Lew Fields starred in Hello, Daddy , which had transferred from the Mansfield Theatre . The other runs of 1929 included Murray Anderson's Almanac and Ladies of
39560-604: The theater. On either side of the proscenium is a curved wall section with one box at the mezzanine level. Originally, one of the boxes was known as the President's box, while the other was called the Governor's box. The fronts of the boxes curve outward and contain plaster moldings. Beside each box are pilasters , which support the entablature above the boxes. There are oval niches on the walls in front of each box, which have busts depicting women. There are also golden urns behind
39775-438: The theater. While the combined theater was initially advertised as a restoration of the two existing theaters, the former venues were ultimately completely demolished. Beyer Blinder Belle and Peter Kofman were hired to design the new, larger theater, construction of which began in June 1996. About 190 short tons (170 long tons; 170 t) of plaster decorations inside the two former theaters were removed for restoration, including
39990-484: The theaters to Jujamcyn, which extended the St. James's stage 10 feet (3.0 m) eastward into the alley. The stage expansion was completed for the Disney musical Frozen , which opened in March 2018. Frozen achieved the box office record for the St. James Theatre, grossing $ 2,624,495 over eight performances for the week ending December 30, 2018. All Broadway theaters temporarily closed on March 12, 2020 , due to
40205-430: The theaters' original detail than was required. The next month, Drabinsky announced further details of the project, which was to cost $ 22.5 million. Livent's new theater would not require public subsidies, If it was completed before December 1997, the theater would qualify for a tax credit given to new developments in Times Square, which would be worth $ 4–5 million. In addition, Livent would not pay any real-estate taxes on
40420-522: The theatres. Since colored bulbs burned out too quickly, white lights were used, and Broadway was nicknamed "The Great White Way". In August 1919, the Actors' Equity Association demanded a standard contract for all professional productions. After a strike shut down all the theatres, the producers were forced to agree. By the 1920s, the Shubert Brothers had risen to take over the majority of the theatres from
40635-474: The theatrical producer and director who established The Public Theater , led the "Save the Theatres" campaign. It was a not-for-profit group supported by the Actors Equity union to save the theater buildings in the neighborhood from demolition by monied Manhattan development interests. Papp provided resources, recruited a publicist and celebrated actors, and provided audio, lighting, and technical crews for
40850-461: The time, the average age of theatergoers was 40.4; nearly two-thirds of the audience were women; and 29% identified as a racial minority. The classification of theatres is governed by language in Actors' Equity Association contracts. To be eligible for a Tony, a production must be in a house with 500 seats or more and in the Theater District, which are the criteria that define Broadway theatre. Off-Broadway and off-off-Broadway shows often provide
41065-513: The top of the auditorium, starting from the front of the second balcony level and extending above the boxes and proscenium arch. The undersides of the balcony levels are simple in design and made of plaster. The fronts of both balcony levels have light boxes, and the second balcony also has a technical booth on its rear wall. The side walls were originally designed with murals, which were painted by Paul Arndt and depicted romantic themes. The murals were covered up during subsequent modifications to
41280-477: The total depth of the site 200 ft (61 m). The two wings on 42nd Street flank the 94-foot-wide (29 m) Times Square Theater ; the western wing is 11 feet 5 inches (3.48 m) wide, while the eastern wing is 20 feet (6.1 m) wide. The Lyric Theatre is adjacent to the Todd Haimes Theatre to the west, the Times Square and New Victory theaters to the south, and 3 Times Square to
41495-558: The twenties, there were 70–80 theaters, but by 1969, there were 36 left. During this time, many Broadway productions struggled due to low attendance rates, which resulted in perceived mediocrity among such plays. For this reason, the Theatre Development Fund was created with the purpose of assisting productions with high cultural value that likely would struggle without subsidization, by offering tickets to those plays to consumers at reduced prices. In early 1982, Joe Papp ,
41710-560: The vein of Victor Herbert. Live theatre has survived the invention of cinema. Leaving these comparatively frivolous entertainments behind and taking the drama a step forward, Show Boat premiered on December 27, 1927, at the Ziegfeld Theatre . It represented a complete integration of book and score, with dramatic themes, as told through the music, dialogue, setting, and movement, woven together more seamlessly than in previous musicals. It ran for 572 performances. The 1920s also spawned
41925-439: The venue the St. James, after London's St James's Theatre . The revue Walk a Little Faster was the first show at the renamed St. James, opening in December 1932 with Bobby Clark , Paul McCullough , and Bea Lillie ; it ran for 121 performances. The St. James hosted another season of Gilbert and Sullivan productions in 1933, also presented by the Civic Light Opera Company. The Ballets Russes de Monte-Carlo opened at
42140-685: The war's end, theatre resumed in 1798, when the 2,000-seat Park Theatre was built on Chatham Street on present-day Park Row . A second major theatre, Bowery Theatre , opened in 1826, followed by others. By the 1840s, P.T. Barnum was operating an entertainment complex in Lower Manhattan. In 1829, at Broadway and Prince Street, Niblo's Garden opened and soon became one of New York's premier nightspots. The 3,000-seat theatre presented all sorts of musical and non-musical entertainments. In 1844, Palmo's Opera House opened and presented opera for only four seasons before bankruptcy led to its rebranding as
42355-421: The words "Music" and "Drama". On the second floor, the center of the facade contains a balustrade and three arched windows, which are flanked by banded columns. Above these windows are busts of W. S. Gilbert , Arthur Sullivan , and Reginald De Koven . There are three oculi above the arched windows, which are surrounded by floral wreaths and topped by keystones that depict lions' heads. The oculi contain heads of
42570-419: Was Irving Berlin 's last Broadway show and was not popularly received. The next production at the St. James was John Osborne 's Luther , which opened in 1963 and featured Albert Finney . The Jerry Herman and Michael Stewart musical Hello, Dolly! opened at the St. James in January 1964, originally featuring Carol Channing and David Burns . With 2,844 performances through 1970, Hello, Dolly!
42785-507: Was Lillian Hellman 's Watch on the Rhine , which opened in April 1941. After the lean years of the Great Depression , Broadway theatre had entered a golden age with the blockbuster hit Oklahoma! , in 1943, which ran for 2,212 performances. According to John Kenrick 's writings on Broadway musicals, "Every season saw new stage musicals send songs to the top of the charts. Public demand,
43000-539: Was 14.77 million in 2018–2019, compared to 13.79 million in 2017–2018. The average age of the Broadway audience in the 2017–18 theater season was 40, the lowest it had been in nearly two decades. By 2018, about 20% of Broadway tickets were sold to international visitors, although many visitors reported not being able to use their tickets. In 2022–2023, the first full season since the COVID-19 pandemic, Broadway theaters sold 12.3 million tickets, of which 35% were to local residents and 17% to international visitors. At
43215-585: Was a 50-performance hit called The Elves in 1857. In 1870, the heart of Broadway was in Union Square , and by the end of the century, many theatres were near Madison Square . Theatres arrived in the Times Square area in the early 1900s, and the Broadway theatres consolidated there after a large number were built around the square in the 1920s and 1930s. New York runs continued to lag far behind those in London, but Laura Keene 's "musical burletta" The Seven Sisters (1860) shattered previous New York records with
43430-492: Was added on 42nd Street. The Lyric was decorated with motifs from the Harry Potter franchise and was reduced to 1,622 seats, bringing the theater's capacity closer to that of other large Broadway theaters such as the Majestic , St. James , and Broadway . Cursed Child opened on April 22, 2018, and it ran until all Broadway theaters temporarily closed on March 12, 2020 , due to the COVID-19 pandemic . The Lyric reopened on November 12, 2021, with performances of Harry Potter and
43645-435: Was built using parts of two former theaters on the site: the Apollo Theatre , built in 1920 to a design by Eugene De Rosa , and the old Lyric Theatre , built in 1903 to a design by Victor Hugo Koehler. The theater contains 1,622 seats across three levels and is operated by ATG Entertainment . The theater building is owned by the city and state governments of New York and was developed by New 42nd Street . Despite having
43860-413: Was demolished to accommodate the set for Bullets Over Broadway . Something Rotten! opened in 2015 and ran for a year and a half. A revival of the play Present Laughter was then hosted in 2017. After Second Stage Theater bought the adjacent Hayes Theater in 2016, Roth approached Second Stage about the possibility of simultaneously renovating both theaters. Second Stage sold the alley between
44075-449: Was designed by Victor Hugo Koehler and constructed by the Shubert brothers for composer Reginald De Koven . It featured performers such as Fred Astaire , the Marx Brothers , and Douglas Fairbanks until it was converted to a movie theater in 1934. The exterior of the old Lyric still largely survives within the current theater. The interior decorative scheme was relatively plain. The old Lyric contained three levels of seating, topped by
44290-437: Was erected by the Thompson–Starrett Co. The St. James is operated by Jujamcyn Theaters . The facade is symmetrically arranged and is shorter than its width. In general, the facade is plain in design. The facade is made largely of stucco . The ground story is clad in cast stone above a granite water table . Part of the eastern wall is also visible from the street and is clad in stucco over brick. The St. James has
44505-454: Was followed in 1993 by The Who's Tommy , which also ran for two years, accumulating 900 performances. The next production was supposed to be the musical Busker Alley in 1995, for which LeRoy Neiman painted a 40-foot-tall (12 m) mural on the theater's facade. The musical's Broadway run was canceled after its star Tommy Tune broke his foot, and the mural was painted over. The Stephen Sondheim musical A Funny Thing Happened on
44720-472: Was further renovated in 1985, 1999, and 2016. The theater has housed several long-running musicals in its history, including original productions of Oklahoma! , The King and I , Hello, Dolly! , The Who's Tommy , and The Producers . The St. James Theatre is on 246 West 44th Street, on the south sidewalk between Eighth Avenue and Seventh Avenue , near Times Square in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City . The land lot
44935-515: Was intended to minimize disruption from guests who left early or arrived late. In venues where the lobbies and auditoriums are directly connected, light and noise from the lobby could disrupt ongoing performances. The old Lyric's lobby connected both of the entrances, on 42nd and 43rd Streets. The old Apollo's lobby from 42nd Street was divided into two sections: an outer portion with rose-and-red marble walls and an Adam style plaster ceiling, and an inner portion with black-and-white marble walls. Both of
45150-419: Was one of the few shows to continue operating through the 2007 Broadway stagehand strike , which occurred shortly after the opening. The musical, which ran for 485 performances through January 2009, was shuttered amid the financial crisis of 2007–2008 . The musical Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark was booked for the theater shortly afterward, although previews were not expected to start until early 2010, leaving
45365-405: Was renamed after Foxwoods Resort Casino in 2010 as part of a partnership with Live Nation . ATG acquired the theater in 2013 and renamed it the Lyric the following year. The Lyric's capacity was reduced in a 2017 renovation because of complaints about the theater's excessive size, which had caused several of the theater's productions to lose money. The Lyric Theatre is at 214 West 43rd Street, on
45580-503: Was the longest-running Broadway musical when it closed. This was followed in 1971 by Galt MacDermot and John Guare 's version of Shakespeare's Two Gentlemen of Verona , featuring Raul Julia , Clifton Davis , and Jonelle Allen for 613 performances. For much of the mid-1970s, the St. James hosted short-lived revivals. For instance, a 1973 revival of A Streetcar Named Desire , with Alan Feinstein and Lois Nettleton , ended after only 53 performances. An even shorter show
45795-470: Was the 1974 revival of the musical Good News , with Alice Faye and Gene Nelson , which ran 16 times. This was followed in 1975 by the revival of The Misanthrope with Alec McCowen and Diana Rigg , which had 94 performances, as well as the musical revue A Musical Jubilee , which had 92 performances. In 1976, McKnight transferred the St. James and Jujamcyn's other venues to his daughter Virginia and her husband James H. Binger . The same year,
46010-444: Was the first corporate sponsorship of a Broadway theater "in most theatergoers' memory", as Broadway theaters were typically named for actors or theater operators rather than companies. Work progressed quickly so the theater could be finished by the end of 1997. The steel skeleton was being erected by February 1997 and the prefabricated facade panels were shipped from Canada after the roof was installed in June. The decorative details from
46225-458: Was under renovation at the time, would be renamed after actor James Earl Jones . In June 2022, the Nederlanders announced that the Brooks Atkinson Theatre would be renamed after Lena Horne , The James Earl Jones Theatre was rededicated in September 2022, while the Lena Horne Theatre was rededicated that November. Although there are some exceptions, shows with open-ended runs generally have evening performances Tuesday through Saturday, with
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