Best Theatre (house) on Broadway- Page 2

[TheatreGal614]

Posted: 12/2/07 at 12:00am

i like the nederlander because it is so personal

plentitude of bathrooms? on the second floor, the bathrooms at Gershwin have three stalls. i almost cried while waiting in the hour long line

[Clarinetbiter135]

Posted: 12/2/07 at 12:17am

Which theatre is on the book cover? St. James?

I'm fond of the O'Neill myself. Walter Kerr has the best bathrooms. I despise the majestic.

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 12/2/07 at 12:20am

The Mark Hellinger is so beautiful.

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

Posted: 12/2/07 at 12:21am

Faves:

Majestic
New Amsterdam
Barrymore

Least favorite:
Marquis - It's just a big black boring box, no character at all.
Gershwin - It's a huge barn.
Belasco - I wish they would renovate this one. It's gorgeous but looks like it's falling apart and the women's rest room has only 2 or 3 stalls!
Palace - I'm not a fan of the Palace. The stage is way too high to sit anywhere near the front and the balcony feels like you're a mile up.

[AKDPerformer]

Posted: 12/2/07 at 12:56am

Faves:
The Majestic
The New AM
The Imperial (is STUNNING! when you walk in) I saw DRS there and I was in awe of the crystal chandeliers and the immaculate floors and mirrors.

[henrybutler]

Posted: 12/2/07 at 1:13am

i agree, the mark hellinger (times square non-denominational church) is BEAUTIFUL, it is large and stunning down to every detail, with huge gold pillars and deep red drapes and murals. And the public spaces are breathtaking, it has a gorgeous two-leveled lobby with mirrors and gold and marble...And i love old details like the old exit signs above the doors.
Twice when i've been in town, i've gone to the church entrance on broadway (on like a tuesday morning) and told a worker there that i was doing research on broadway houses, and i was really interested in this theatre and thought that the renovation work the church organization put into it was great (a little white lie followed by some sweettalkin...)and asked if i could look in the theatre. and both times, someone has been really nice and offered to take me on a personal tour of the theatre and let me take photos.

[henrybutler]

Posted: 12/2/07 at 1:21am

oops the photos wouldnt load. ah well

Updated On: 12/2/07 at 01:21 AM

[allofmylife]

Posted: 12/2/07 at 2:17am

The Shubert. Ohmygod, the history.

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 12/2/07 at 2:31am

I have some pictures of the Hellinger in my fan photos.

It is absolutely stunning!

[TheatreGal614]

Posted: 12/2/07 at 2:42am

LOL a huge barn so true

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 12/2/07 at 2:53am

Ooh, I have to add Studio 54. I was shocked by how beautiful it was, considering its past.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 12/2/07 at 8:15am

My faves:

The Music Box
The American Arilines
Studio 54
The Imperial

[Zeitoujo]

Posted: 12/2/07 at 8:59am

Faves:
Lunt- Fontanne
O'Neil
Scoenfeld

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 12/2/07 at 9:39am

I agree with Copeman's views on the Winter Garden. It was the site of my first Broadway show, Mary Martin in PETER PAN back in 1954. Its width gives every seat good sightlines. The last time I was in the theatre was for the 1980 production of 42Nd STREET and the theatre had just been renovated and was in beautiful shape. The Winter Garden will always remain special to me. Other shows I saw there are WEST SIDE STORY(original production), THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN with Tammy Grimes, FUNNY GIRL with Barbra Streisand, and MAME when it starred Ann Miller(Jerry Herman wrote a special tap dance number for her).

I also love the Shubert, although the lighting bridge obscures some of the murals on the ceiling. I love the wooden beams on the underside of the mezzanine, visible from the orchestra level. I have seen countless shows there over the years.

The Mark Hellinger may be the most beautiful and also has great sight lines. Shows I saw there include the original production of MY FAIR LADY in 1956, FADE OUT, FADE IN with Carol Burnett, TIMBUKTU-- the re-make of KISMET, and SUGAR BABIES with Mickey Rooney and the fabulous Ann Miller.

I always make it my business to look around every theatre I am in to note the beautiful architecture including the murals and glittering chandeliers. Almost every theatre has a special look, with the exception of the Gershwin and the Marquis.

[broadwayrules]

Posted: 12/2/07 at 9:52am

I like Circle in the Square, it is a very unique space.

[Runner1B]

Posted: 12/2/07 at 11:32am

I've always liked the Ethel Barrymore and the Cort, as well as the Belasco. I don't like the Barrymore's new salmon color scheme, though. I think scarlet is better for it, as it was for many years, including its 1979 renovation.

[jagfkb]

Posted: 12/2/07 at 2:11pm

Palace: Because this was the place where I saw my first show, it will always remain special to me. though the balcony is painful to sit it, almost everywhere else in the theatre is beautiful and luxurious.

New Amsterdam- This is another theatre which is high on my list of special theatres. Because of it's stunning beauty, not to mention it's amazing sightlines which Disney continues to take into considerration, this theatre ranks high on my list of favorite theatres.

Lunt Fontanne- Once again, the best sightlines EVER! I love how wide this theatre is and how almost every seat is amazingly great.

Other Notable Mentions:
Hilton (I know, you'll all kill me)
Al Hirshfeld
Gershwin (Simply because of it's vast area for sets)
Niel Simon
Broadhurst
Marquis
August Wilson

WORST THEATRES:
Helen Hayes- I HATE how whenever lights shine on that stage, it makes you feel that the house lights are even on.

St James: It has the orchestra of the Lunt, the Mezzanine of the Palace, and the balcony of the Walter Kerr. What did the desginers want when they built this theatre? A large/medium/small house? Overall I hate hate hate this theatre

[bandit964]

Posted: 8/3/08 at 12:55am

It's strange to read how varied everyone's answers are. I guess each theatre means something different to everyone.

For me, I thought Studio 54 would have been a lot cleaner since Roundabout got it in like , the late ninties. Instead, it could use some fixing up. However, I was shocked at how beautiful the American Airlines was. Plus the balcony is close to the stage, but kind of high up. The Gerwishwin was boring. The Helen Hays feels like youre in someone's two story livingroom. The New Amsterdam is a jewel. Broadhurst is average. As is the Shoenfeld (sp?). Theyre like the same. The belasco is a fixer upper, but could be stunning. I thought the Biltmore was very classy, and all the seats are awsome. Etc

[gypsy4]

Posted: 8/3/08 at 1:18am

The New amsterdam.

[lesmis]

Posted: 8/3/08 at 7:21am

i love the Winter Garden

[DefyGravity777]

Posted: 8/3/08 at 8:01am

The Gershwin is the most comfortable to me. I can fully stretch out no matter where I'm sitting. I'm not a big person but I'm not small either(5'10" 165lbs.). The only thing I don't like is the lack of bathrooms. I mean come on 12 stalls in orch and 6 in mezz. That's CRAZY.

The Broadhurst is one of my favorites since it's so small. From the mezz I felt like I was onstage with them. It's very uncomfortable for me though. I had to take my coat and sweater off just to fit in the seat.

I like the Palace. I don't like the extremely high stage or the balcony. I thought I was gonna need oxygen up there but those seats are cheap...LOL

[James885]

Posted: 8/3/08 at 10:00am

Favorites:

New Amsterdam
Lunt-Fontanne
Shubert
Neil Simon

Least Favorites:

Gershwin - a huge barn of a theater with zero charm or personality

Helen Hayes

Palace - When I saw Aida in the balcony, it felt like I was watching the show from another theatre.

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 8/3/08 at 1:55pm

Maybe I just missed it, but it's possible no one has mentioned it. The Vivian Beaumont?? I know it's part of Lincoln Center, but it IS still a Broadway Theater. Such an interesting space to see a show. Especially on the scale of Piazza or SP or even Cymbeline.

I also think the O'Neill is gorgeous. Spring Awakening has kind of encroached upon that, but when I saw Sweeney there, you could tell how stunning it was.

[GIZMO2]

Posted: 8/3/08 at 2:48pm

How come no one has mentioned the VIVIAN BEAUMONT?

Sure, it's a huge space (too many seats in the audience). But the depth of that stage, and that moving thrust, and how they choose to use both. . . .

I've been blown away at both SOUTH PACIFIC and COAST OF UTOPIA. When actors walk upstage, they literally look as if they're a mile away. And for both of these shows (and the design of the shows), that's exactly what was needed, given that all the main action was happening just a few feet in front of you.

And hey, what about the newly restored LONGACRE? It's beautiful!

As for no room seating, the HELEN HAYES gets my vote. Maybe it was just the curve of the seats we were sitting in on that particular night, but my god, we could not fit in those damned seats. It made the experience unbearable. . . sniff, sniff . . . and I LOVE XANADU.

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 8/3/08 at 3:03pm

THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING THE VIVIAN BEAUMONT AS WELL!!