Belasco renovation

Passing by the Belasco this afternoon, I saw that the inner glass doors to the box office are now covered over in brown paper, which would seem to confirm the reports around here that a renovation has begun.

The Belasco is one of Broadway's most unique and atmospheric playhouses, even if it has been a disfigured shadow of itself since the original Rocky Horror Show ruined so much of the interior in 1975. I am hoping that it is getting a full-scale renovation, similar to the beautiful job the Shubert Organization did for the Longacre.

Perhaps - like the Nederlander Theatre thread - we can keep a thread going with news and photos as the Belasco gets its makeover? (Speaking of the Nederlander, I've heard that not all of the work for the renovation was completed prior to Guys and Dolls, and some additional work will be finished before the Neil Simon shows move in).

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As it currently stands - notice the missing lower boxes, the uncovered light fixtures, the blank, blandly painted walls:


Facing the other way, but here's what it looked like with the lower boxes, the distinctive coverings for the mezzanine and balcony overhang light fixtures and the pastoral murals in the mezzanine level:

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The lower boxes were removed at the time of Rocky Horror to create a cabaret setting with tables and chairs in the orchestra level. The boxes have no bearing on the theatre's pit. (It does have a small orchestra pit - as well as one of the largest, deepest trap areas of any theatre, which were used for amazing set changes and special effects in Belasco's day.)

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In recent years, the theatre also had a stagnant pond of rain water in its basement, which bred the most aggressive, blood thirsty mosquitoes I've ever encountered.

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"The lower boxes were removed at the time of Rocky Horror to create a cabaret setting with tables and chairs in the orchestra level. The boxes have no bearing on the theatre's pit. (It does have a small orchestra pit - as well as one of the largest, deepest trap areas of any theatre, which were used for amazing set changes and special effects in Belasco's day.)"

Thanks for posting all this btw Smaxxie...

The Belasco was PERFECT for DRACULA, the musical. Maybe that's why F Wildhorn & Co. did the whole horrible synthed (+ 1 woodwind & drum) orchestra?, not enough space?

Remember the jumbo Baby/skull statue? Must have some big fly space too with all the Sails/masts / flying effects too!

The Belasco desperately needs a renovation. I worked there during Joe Turner and was absolutely disgusted at the condition of the theatre. I can't imagine doing a show there. How people didn't get sick from mold is beyond me.

I was in the Belasco with a friend some 20 years plus ago or so -- I think I was one of the times that the Randall group was using the house. Both John and I marveled at the beauty of the fixtures, the tiffany lamps, etc., etc. Since the theatre was such a beauty in its original form, it seems criminal that it can't be restored to its full glory with the TLC that was used on the Amsterman.

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Updated On: 7/14/09 at 10:10 PM

I am curious to know what exactly they will be doing. Like, for instance, will they change the marquee? It's horrible. It's just a big ugly metal box a la all those theaters on like W 45th street. I loved it though when I saw Joe Turner. It was such a perfectly moody theater.

The crappo metal marquee was in place as least as of 1959, when A Raisin in the Sun played there.

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So glad to hear that this wonderful space is finally getting a much needed make over. I also agree that this was the perfect spot for Dracula.

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This is very interesting! I wonder if anything will be done to the "Belasco apartment" space on the upper level? I've always been fascinated by the fact that it existed. Last I heard it was just sitting up there empty and deteriorating.
A Broadway Haunt

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karen24, thank you for that article! Reading it actually gave me the creeps a little bit!

It would be cool if they could restore it!

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Thanks for the article! I love reading about spooky, hidden places like that.

I remember the first time I walked past the Belasco. At the time, I knew NOTHING about it, though I was a little familiar with David Belasco.

Well, I was wandering around the general Times Square area one afternoon to kill some time between the end of a matinee and my bus departure. I walked past this old theatre and, for some reason, I just looked up it and said, "That place is haunted."