Best Theatre (house) on Broadway — Page 2

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.

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.

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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.

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The Shubert. Ohmygod, the history.

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LOL a huge barn so true

My faves:

The Music Box
The American Arilines
Studio 54
The Imperial

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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.

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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.

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

i love the Winter Garden

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.

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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.