Exploring the Theatre before you take your seat (unique things)

[CapnHook]

Posted: 7/13/15 at 9:40pm

What are some unique things to explore inside certain theatres before the show starts?

For example, at the New Amsterdam, you can stand on the sweet spot by the steps that lead up to the mezzanine and whisper to your friend standing on the stairwell.

At the Gershwin you can visit the Theater Hall of Fame exhibits as well as some set pieces cut from WICKED'S tryout.

At the American Airlines there is a unique lounge on the mezzanine level with a patio that faces 43rd street. There are also plaques and a Tony Award on display.

Not Broadway, but outside Stage 1 at New World Stages there is a wall of fan signatures from the RENT production.

[mattporter17]

Posted: 7/13/15 at 9:46pm

I think the Gershwin is the coolest theatre on Broadway for stuff like this. There's so much to do before you even enter the theater, with the Hall of Fame, the merchandise, the set pieces and the photo op! I loved walking around the theater before I saw Wicked in March!

Cool idea for a post! Any other thoughts?

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 7/13/15 at 9:49pm

I always look at the architecture especially all the little decorations that most theatergoers do not even notice.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 7/13/15 at 9:51pm

Great thread!

The lobby of the Gershwin is amazing. 

The Fox Theatre in St. Louis: well, the lobby's like you landed in Liberace's music box.

At the Geary (American Conservatory) Theatre in San Francisco, there's a lounge downstairs with a lot of photos of ACT's past, and there's also a Tony Award in a display case next to the stairwell. This is also where the restrooms are, so maybe it's not that secret.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 7/13/15 at 10:17pm

A couple others I like are the gallery of Hirschfeld's work at the Hirschfeld and the Louis Comfort Tiffany panels and fixtures and the Everett Shinn murals that adorn the Belasco.

[ggersten]

Posted: 7/13/15 at 10:22pm

Several London theatres have playbills and show posters going way way way back.

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

Posted: 7/13/15 at 10:23pm

I remember seeing Wicked at age 13 and being mesmerized by the fact that Billie Burke's picture was on the wall and she was the original Glinda.

The York Theatre has a wall of posters from almost every show they've ever done. It is fascinating to look at and spot big name stars, especially when a lot of them were just starting their careers.

As far as architecture goes, I can't stop staring at the ceiling of NY City Center whenever I go there...Lol.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 7/13/15 at 10:26pm

The Fox Theater in St Louis has a twin in Detroit. Same exact theater with one small exception. The St Louis Fox's is free standing where as the Detroit Fox is in an office building.  The lobby looks like a huge train station with massive red columns on either side. The decorations in the auditorium are eye popping. The chandelier weighs about 2 and a half tons. It is cranked down so workers can go into to clean it and replace any lights that burn out.

Either theater is worth a trip to either city just to see the theater.The theater was designed by the same architect who designed the long gone Brooklyn Fox. He was C. Howard Crane. You look at the 2 Fox behemoths and it is hard to accept he designed the little shoebox in NY known as the Music Box.

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 7/14/15 at 12:44am

Agreed abt. the Belasco. In SF, next door to ACT's Geary Theatre, the Curran supposedly has a ghost who sometimes appears in the large lobby mirror. Unfortunately, I noticed last year that it was covered by a lighted promotional poster.  The theatre is closed right now with promised remodeling. I hope they restore the mirror (and do something about the bathrooms).

Updated On: 7/14/15 at 12:44 AM

[RippedMan]

Posted: 7/14/15 at 1:09am

I love seeing all the little details. Wasn't it the Belasco where they have the little door where he use to wave to his wife performing below? Or something? 

[uncageg]

Posted: 7/14/15 at 1:49am

Capn, the CREATE wall at New World Stages is gone. It was painted over about a month ago.

I like the gallery in the mezz of the Hirschfeld theater with sketches he did of some of the show's that have played there.

Updated On: 7/14/15 at 01:49 AM

[artscallion]

Posted: 7/14/15 at 8:06am

There used to be a poster here named Jay who would travel around to different theatres.  He created a thread in which he'd post photo essays of all the amazing things he found. Anyone remember that?  I'll try and find it.

 

eta: found one of the threads...

Jaystarr's theatre tour

Updated On: 7/14/15 at 08:06 AM

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 7/14/15 at 9:25am

"I love seeing all the little details. Wasn't it the Belasco where they have the little door where he use to wave to his wife performing below? Or something? "

David Belasco's office and private apartment was at the top of the theatre. I'm not sure precisely how it's situated within the architecture up there, but I would assume that at least his office, if not his apartment, had a window into the auditorium so he could keep an eye on what was happening down there.

The apartment is still there, and though officially closed and off-limits (and with a huge chunk taken up the HVAC system), most cast and crew members working on shows at the Belasco have reportedly made their way into it at least once.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 7/14/15 at 9:32am

The Belasco was extensively used in the Rod Steiger film " No Way To Treat A Lady".

[Emmaloucbway]

Posted: 7/14/15 at 9:33pm

"I love seeing all the little details. Wasn't it the Belasco where they have the little door where he use to wave to his wife performing below? Or something? "

 RippedMan- Maybe it's at the Belasco as well, but I think there is also a little door at the Lyceum. 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 7/14/15 at 10:07pm

I don't think many of them survive but I believe most old theatres had such a door (or really window). As hard as it is to believe, there was no CCTV when these places were built.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 7/14/15 at 10:13pm

For here in Chicago I just like to walk around the theatre and just take in the gorgeous architecture. Especially for the auditorium and oriental Theatres.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 7/14/15 at 10:30pm

The Fox in Atlanta is gorgeous with its painted stars and clouds projected on the ceiling. 

The Lunt-Fontaine is pretty awesome too. It's oddly laid out, but I like it. It feels so dark and moody.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 7/14/15 at 10:30pm

I was in the Oriental a few times. The Avalon is great as is the Uptown.Ditto for the Chicago theater as well. I visited Chicago many times when I was with THS.

[karen24]

Posted: 7/15/15 at 2:05pm

I love looking at the old theaters and am always a little disappointed if my companion just wants to rush to the seats I love the Lyceum and still haven't gotten a chance to really look at all the old photographs they have there.

I go to the Stratford Festival quite often, and only discovered recently that they have a chair,  which allegedly belonged to Shakespeare, tucked away in the Festival Theatre lobby. That was fun to find!

I also remember seeing a few old costumes on display at the Met, such as one from Enrico Caruso. Not sure if they're still there.

 

 

[GreasedLightning]

Posted: 7/15/15 at 2:23pm

When I saw The Realistic Joneses last year  I came across a small cabin-looking lounge in the lower lobby of the Lyceum near the restrooms. It was very cool. Anyone have any other information about this?