Broadway News
Five Famous Broadway Theaters
Jazz hands, everyone – it’s showtime! New York City is famous for many sights and sounds, but one of the Big Apple’s main attractions is Broadway – that stretch of streets located in the Theater District of Manhattan, near Times Square, where live stage performances are put on in dozens of theaters.
Some of the theaters on Broadway are almost as famous as the actors they have housed over the years, and their facades have become landmarks of the Theater District. Here are five of the most famous Broadway theaters:
The Circle in the Square Theatre
Opened in 1970, Circle in the Square Theater is famous for the production of "A Streetcar Named Desire." The Circle in the Square, when it first opened, did not have a theater license. After obtaining a cabaret license, the producers and the staff of the theater doubled as waiters and served food to the theater patrons. After years passed, the theater was moved into an old movie house, which was then converted to a theater. That theater was eventually demolished and the Circle in the Square moved to its existing location. The current theater is below street level and can seat 650 people.
Currently playing at Circle in the Square Theatre: Godspell.
The Eugene O’Neill Theatre
The Eugene O’Neill Theatre opened in 1925, with "Mayflowers" as its premiere production. It was designed by architect Herbert. J. Krapp. Though renamed the Coronet in 1945, it was brought back to its original name to honor the playwright. Notable productions that had runs in this theater include the current "The Book of Mormon," "The Odd Couple" (1966), "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead" (1968), and "Yentl" (1975).
Currently playing at Eugene O’Neill Theater: The Book of Mormon
The Gershwin Theatre
This theater was named after musically-adept brothers George and Ira Gershwin, the famed composer and lyricist, respectively. It is housed in the Paramount Plaza building. Out of all the theaters on Broadway, the Gershwin Theatre has the largest capacity, having nearly 2,000 seats for patrons. The Gershwin has been designed in the Art Nouveau style, and opened as the Uris Theater. Its very first performance was a musical called "Via Galactica," which starred actor Raul Julia.
Currently playing at Gershwin Theater: Wicked
The Imperial Theatre
The Imperial Theatre opened in 1923, and it has since hosted 10 Tony Award-winning shows. It was built to replace the Lyric Theatre, which had become outdated. The Imperial Theatre was designed specifically to be able to house and show musical theater productions. Many notable lyricists walked the boards at the Imperial Theatre, including Cole Porter, Irving Berlin and Stephen Sondheim. It has hosted many notable musicals, including "Dreamgirls," "Annie Get Your Gun" and "Fiddler on the Roof."
Currently playing the Imperial Theatre: Billy Elliot
The Ambassador Theatre
This theater was designed by architect Henry B. Herts with a Venetian-Renaissance-styled façade. It is an odd building; the theater is actually situated diagonally on the lot in order to accommodate the number of seats needed inside the building. The Ambassador Theatre also enjoys New York City landmark status.
Currently playing the Ambassador Theatre: Chicago: The Musical
The popularity of Broadway has grown dramatically over the past decade and is expected to continue to do so. Those who love Broadway say that there is nothing quite like watching a live performance, because it gives a more real and immediate experience than a movie or television can possibly present. See for yourself how true that is by attending a Broadway show.
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