Best and Worst Broadway Theatres

[TheThreadMaster]

Posted: 4/20/17 at 11:21pm

Overall, what are some of you guys' favorite and least favorite theatres on broadway?

[brdway411]

Posted: 4/20/17 at 11:27pm

I like them all. They each have their own character and there are pros and cons in all of them. To single one out as best or worst is very hard for me. 

[10086sunset]

Posted: 4/20/17 at 11:29pm

The Palace is the worst.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 4/20/17 at 11:32pm

By what metric? Comfiest seats? Most legroom? Best sight-lines? What?

[loveinnewyorkcity]

Posted: 4/20/17 at 11:40pm

10086sunset said: "The Palace is the worst.

 

"

Really? I've only had box seats there (which were fantastic). I liked it based on those seats. Is it crammed?

 

[Butter Broadway]

Posted: 4/20/17 at 11:53pm

I always loved the Winter Garden and St James. 

Worst: Cort, Lyceum and Walter Kerr

[JBroadway]

Posted: 4/20/17 at 11:57pm

My favorite is probably the American Airlines (minus the name). Very intimate, and I love the night-sky painted on the ceiling. 

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 1:39am

Of course, this is a silly topic - if for no other reason than there are so many ways to judge. But I'll bite.

Best theatre for a play - Booth. Perhaps the best small theatre.
Most beautiful restoration (medium house) - Belasco. I love this theatre
Most beautiful restoration (flagship) - New Amsterdam
Favorite Musical house - Imperial (Not outstanding in particular, but a perfect size NY musical house for my tastes) Music Box is a likely contender, but the capacity makes it a tougher house to make a profit.
Best for an audience member (AKA leg room) Stephen Sondheim or Marquis (tie)
Most all-around Broadway theatre - Schoenfield.

 

[devonian.t]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 2:54am

I love the decor of the Al Hirschfeld.  I find the Gershwin impersonal and lacking soul.

[BroadwayRox3588]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 3:42am

Favorite: St. James

Least favorite: Richard Rodgers. Nice to look at from the stage, but that's about it.

[Midnight Radio]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 6:25am

The August Wilson has got to be the ugliest. 

[Melissa25]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 6:27am

I love Circle in the Square.  Even bad shows are memorable for me when I get to see them in the round.  And I always love the escalator ride down looking at all the photographs from previous productions.

i love the Vivian Beaumont because you don't have to deal with the Times Square madness and there's something very majestic about walking through the Lincoln Center campus to get there.  Also, one of the best run rest rooms going and they offer a free locker for your coat!

i love the Schoenfeld for it's intimacy and great sight lines.  Also, they have a large modern restroom that's easy to get in and out of.  

The Booth is my favorite for plays and I really love their corner entrance topped by that iconic lit "name up in lights' sign.  So classic.



Least favorites:  Studio 54 - comfort and sound always seem compromised.  

Lyceum - cramped seating and "lobby merge" almost causes a panic attack.

 

[broadwaygirl10]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 6:58am

Best Overall: Kerr

Worst Overall: Rodgers 

Best Legroom: Hudson

Worst Legroom: Hirschfeld

Best Sightlines: Imperial

Worst sightlines: palace

[bandit964]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 8:57am

I think the Friedman is most comfy.

 

What do people think of the newly renovated Hudson?  I haven't been there yet.

[AC126748]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 9:04am

Best: I know people value the Booth for its intimacy, but it's never been my favorite. The sightlines are terrible unless you're sitting dead-center, and there always seems to be a lot of street noise. The Music Box and the Belasco have the best combination of everything as far as I'm concerned.

Worst: Studio 54. Terrible acoustics, horribly uncomfortable seats, and anything past the sixth or seventh row of the orchestra feels very far away from the stage. Sitting in the rear mezz is akin to trying to watch television through the window of the apartment across the street.

[mailhandler777]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 10:05am

I find the Gershwin to be the most comfortable. Plenty of leg room. Good sight lines and comfortable seats. It might be the ugliest of them all though. I also find the Circle in the Square comfortable too.

Least uncomfortable was the Nederlander when I saw Rent there. Side orchestra seats were tilted so you were basically leaning on the person to your right or left depending on what side you were on.

[10086sunset]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 10:11am

loveinnewyorkcity said: "10086sunset said: "The Palace is the worst.

"Really? I've only had box seats there (which were fantastic). I liked it based on those seats. Is it crammed?"

 

Apologies for not being more specific with my reply.

The sight lines are pretty bad. The Mezz and Balcony also feel very far away.

[Broadway Joe]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 10:12am

JBroadway said: "My favorite is probably the American Airlines (minus the name). Very intimate, and I love the night-sky painted on the ceiling. 

 

"

I really like that theatre as well except for the mezzanine having so many seats across without any breaks put in between. It's a real pain to climb over so many people just to get your seat, plus it feels like a horrible idea if there was ever an emergency. 

I really like the new Hudson theatre, the seats seem wider than other places and the leg room was fantastic. 

[10086sunset]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 10:15am

Love the seats at the Friedman.

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 11:54am

Can we talk more about marquees? I think the Walter Kerr, Cort, Winter Garden, Hudson, and Shubert are some of my favorites. Their exterior lights and font are really appealing to me.

[Rainah]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 12:02pm

I will give a point to the Richard Rodgers because I like how staggered the seats are - I find that even in non premium seats I have a great view and never have to worry about heads. Meanwhile in the music box I felt like I could hardly see the stage from a comparable seat

[theatregeek6]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 12:09pm

Been to all by the Lyceum, Beaumont and Hudson

 

Based on aesthetics only, my favorites:

The Broadway (the chandelier is my favorite!)

The Belasco

The Hirschfeld

The Music Box

 

 

 

My least favorites -

The Marquis, Gershwin and Minskoff - all are just BLAND

The Golden and Palace are in need of TLC (I presume the Palace will be restored next year)