Criterion Center Stage Right

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 7/13/10 at 12:59am

Criterion Center Stage Right was a theatre in the 1990's. I was wondering since on IBDB, it is listed as having 499 seats, it was considered "on Broadway", and what was the theatre like inside and out. I can't seem to find and pictures of it.

[newintown]

Posted: 7/13/10 at 9:27am

It was the home of the Roundabout for a while, where they did that terrible revival of Company as well as a swell revival of The Play's the Thing. I remember seeing a ridiculous jukebox musical (before the term was invented) called Suds there, about a depressed laundromat attendant who attempts suicide by tying a towel around her throat and the spinner on a washing machine, but then is saved by a trio of angels, all sung to pop hits of the 60s. The acoustics in the theatre were the worst I've ever seen in New York. I think it became the Virgin Megastore later.

You don't need pictures - there was absolutely nothing interesting about it, just a big unadorned barn, like a movie theatre in a mall.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/13/10 at 10:30am

It did look like a movie theater complex inside, I remember. If memory serves, when you walked in, there was a lobby and stairs you had to walk up in order to get to either of the theaters which were side by side, I think? You entered them from the top just like at the Vineyard, but the theaters were a bit wider than that. I just seem to remember the entire complex being very gray colored.

[MissAnneThrop]

Posted: 7/13/10 at 11:16am

it became toys r us.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 7/13/10 at 11:51am

Half of that block was a BOND'S Men's store for years, than it became BOND'S Disco which was huge, it was closed a few years after that before it was taken over by the Roundabout. In the lobby of all three was a beautiful circular white marble staircase which led to a large reception area during the Roundabout years, there was a lareg bar, a VIP room and several seatung sections, one that looked out over Times Square. The Rounabout used it for their parties and even sitzprobes. The Laura Pels was added later. As stated the Theatre itself was just a large semi circular auditorium with no character.
And it sometimes leaked when it rained.

[MissAnneThrop]

Posted: 7/13/10 at 11:54am

ah yes, i remember the impromptu perfs of "110 in the shade" at that theatre.

[mallardo]

Posted: 7/13/10 at 12:10pm

Didn't the last (Martin Short) revival of Little Me play there?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/13/10 at 12:17pm

Yep it was at that theater.

[tourboi]

Posted: 7/13/10 at 1:44pm

STARMITES also played there, yes?

[MissAnneThrop]

Posted: 7/13/10 at 1:46pm

yes

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 7/13/10 at 3:24pm

Here's the link for all the productions at the theatre from IBDB:
http://ibdb.com/venue.php?id=1129