Favorite Broadway Theater?

[A_Boy_From_Oz]

Posted: 11/13/03 at 10:42pm

[A_Boy_From_Oz]

Posted: 11/13/03 at 10:44pm

Oops, sorry about posting nothing. Anywho, which theater on Broadway is your favorite? Mine has to be the Ford, because it's large, beautiful and most seats have excellent sightlines.

[Horsey]

Posted: 11/13/03 at 10:49pm

IMPERIAL

[BillFinn]

Posted: 11/13/03 at 10:52pm

Al Hirschfield seats are soooooo comfy and it's just so beautiful.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 11/14/03 at 12:03am

Mark Hellinger

Posted: 11/14/03 at 2:17am

I do like the Ford very much.
When I saw RAGTIME there is was so comfortable.
I also like THE MECHANIC here in Baltimore. The seats are very close to the stage and nicely seperated.

[Horsey]

Posted: 11/14/03 at 2:36am

Gothampc,

Yeah...I also love the MARK HELLINGER.
It's sort of wacked that it's been a Chruch for the past decade (longer.)

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/14/03 at 6:21am

The Hellinger started out as an old movie palace called the Warners Hollywood. It was part of the Warner Brothers chain of theaters used to play their pictures. It was designed by noted architech Thomas Lamb (Capitol, Rivoli etc ) . What is now the entrance used to be the side entrance. The main entrance was on Broadway through what is now a walkway. It was totally different in style than the theater. The rent being paid for it (separate from the theater) was crazy so eventually the owners abndonded that entrance & it was stripped & redesigned. It is french baroque in style. The theater, when last I was in it, had a hideous paint job

Updated On: 11/14/03 at 06:21 AM

[Cadriel]

Posted: 11/14/03 at 7:22am

Hmm...I've been in a dozen now, so I guess I can judge somewhat.

First, I'm a big guy and I have to say - the Gershwin seats are the roomiest I've ever been in. It's classy, but far too large; still, I like the Gershwin and I hope to be back another few times for Wicked.

The Broadway was the first Broadway theatre I sat in, but the Imperial was really my first true love, as was the show that played in it for more than a dozen years. It has a wonderful ambiance, seats that are comfy if not terribly room-providing, and I just genuinely loved being there. So I'll go with the Imperial.

The Al Hirschfeld and the Majestic get style points, though.

-Wayne

[sheekala]

Posted: 11/14/03 at 8:36am

Well my favorite street is W44th because it houses my two favorites, the St. James and the Majestic.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 11/14/03 at 8:47am

Horsey, since I go to the church that occupies the Mark Hellinger, I don't think it's "wacked" at all.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 11/14/03 at 11:33am

My favorite is the St. James. It's where the original run of TWHM played. I spent many happy hours in that theater.

My sister and I used to climb up the fire escape and "crash" the "Third Act" of the show when Pearl Bailey and Cab Calloway were playing the leads.

...yes, many happy hours in that theater.

[lc1965]

Posted: 11/14/03 at 11:41am

and this is something you boast about? rock on.

[Hank]

Posted: 11/14/03 at 11:55am

St. James. For a big theatre, there are no bad seats here, even from the balcony where I saw The Producers. I once got cheap, up close but obstructed view seats for The Who's Tommy, and even they wern't that bad. Also, it's on the 200 block of W 44th St., the greatest block in the greatest city in the world!

[robyn525600]

Posted: 11/14/03 at 12:20pm

The Amsterdam and Palace are the most beautiful. The Gershwin is the comfiest. : )

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 11/14/03 at 1:19pm

I like the Gershwin b/c their seats are very comfortable and there is a lot of leg room, but that's the only thing I like about it. Other than that, it's too big.

I do like the Ford theater. It's very clean and big (but not too big), and you can see from pretty much anywhere.

[Deena Jones2]

Posted: 11/14/03 at 1:47pm

The most beautiful are the New Amsterdam and The Walter Kerr and the Palace. The ugliest are the Gershwin and the Minskoff and the Marquis.

[ChristineDaae]

Posted: 11/14/03 at 3:46pm

MAJESTIC!! I thought the Minskoff theatre was cool!!

[Belasco07]

Posted: 11/14/03 at 3:56pm

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the Winter Garden. The history of that place makes it sparkle! Imagine...Al Jolson!

[lc1965]

Posted: 11/14/03 at 5:06pm

It's much more beautiful now, since they scraped out 17 years of kitty litter! Even better, there are more bathroom stalls. We all have our priorities....

[nyctopone]

Posted: 11/14/03 at 8:20pm

Wow, I dont think I've ever heard anyone refer to the Mechanic in Baltimore as a good theatre. Personally I think its a horrendous barn. The only nice thing about the Mechanic is that it isn't the Lyric (The other theatre for roadshows in Baltimore). A friend of mine who worked backstage at both theatres referred to the Mechanic as a "toilet" and the Lyric as a "toilet with no running water". Having worked both theatres I agree.

As for the original question, my favorite thatres were the ones that were demolished to put up the Marriot Marquis Hotel. The sterile theatre they put in the hotel doesn't even come close to the charms of the morosco or the old Helen Hayes.

Updated On: 11/14/03 at 08:20 PM

[Phantom05]

Posted: 11/14/03 at 8:35pm

I LOVE the Minskoff Theatre! I know that it is one of the newest Broadway theatres, but it is still cool. The seats ar sooooo comfortable, and there isn't a bad seat in the house. It has exceptional acoustic capability, and it's massive stage is a technical masterpeice in itself. The Majestic theatre is also neat too!!!

See Ya!

Phantom05

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 11/14/03 at 8:54pm

I LOVE the Gershwin theater. You can see from almost anywhere, the seats are extremely comfortable, and it's just a really beautiful looking theater. I'm suprised no one has mentioned the Marquis. The seats are nice- and the theater itself is gorgeous!

[erniesgirl96]

Posted: 11/14/03 at 9:04pm

I would have to say it's The Minskoff. It has really good seats, and the sound is great.

[BrdwyThtr]

Posted: 11/15/03 at 8:55am

I love the Neil Simon and the Circle in the Square.