Favorite Broadway Theaters — Page 2

— The Plymouth and Martin Beck, whatever they are called now

— The Winter Garden will always be a favorite because my two favorite musicals ever were there, Mame and Follies.

— The Colonial in Boston...an incredibly beautiful theatre and the theatre in which I first saw Follies, the original production of Promises Promises, Dear World (far superior to the Broadway production), and Moulin Rouge

I’m not a big fan of how limited most Broadway Theaters are for bar/lobby space compared to almost anywhere else - so for this and many other reasons the New Amsterdam definitely wins my vote.

At intermission usually two things have to happen. A good part of the audience has to visit the restroom and the theaters need a good part of the audience to visit the concession stands and buy stuff marked up 500 percent so they can pay their bills.

Not many theaters have figured out how to accomplish both in 15 minutes. People of either sex who go to the restroom seldom have time to hit the concessions. The audience members who don’t need the restroom don’t want to brave the crowds in the lobby and the line at the stand.

Maybe at intermission they should bring the concession stand to the audience. Have people walk up and down the aisles, “Hey get your hot dogs, your popcorn and your $16.00 cocktails right here.”

Over many years, the Longacre has always stood out as well-kept, well-laid-out, and possessing unusually friendly and efficient staff. My most recent visit, this Saturday, solidified all of these points, especially the last one.

I’m smaller so I’m usually more bothered by cramped common areas than cramped seats. On that note, through some combination of efficient staff and sufficient common space, I enjoy the Booth quite a lot, and am always pleased to go to the Golden, Belasco, and Jacobs. The Lyceum, Neil Simon, and Shubert feel as if they have the smallest square footage of common space per patron, and the slowest entry staff.

The Hudson is, of course, the most pleasant visit of any. Now they just need to put something up that’s worth seeing.

Updated On: 8/5/19 at 07:50 PM

Having been to all but 5 of the theatres (Ambassador, Winter Garden, Longacre, Minskoff, Nederlander) here are some thoughts.

I think my favorite is the Friedman. It's the perfect size and the seats are the most comfortable on Broadway, IMO.

CITS & Vivian Beaumont I love also because no seat is very far from the stage.

What Harry Potter has done to the Lyric is remarkable. I know that won't stay after HP leaves, but wow is it stunning.

I don't mind the Marquis at all, as most people do. I like how they're able to hide all of the lighting equipment.

The Belsaco might be my favorite aesthetically, but I was extremely cramped in my balcony seat during Network.

IDK who wrote that they liked the new Hayes layout, but I was also very cramped in my seat in the mezzanine.

Personally, having seen BOM more times than necessary, there is virtually no rake in the orchestra at the O'Neill and the closer you sit, the worse it is. Then the giant pole/pipe at the New Amsterdam balcony... I got over it once the show started, but yeah.

I've been to the Hudson for all of its new productions and it's my favorite by far. Close second would be the Beaumont followed by the Jacobs (I always go for the last row of the orchestra, like it back there).

The Lyric is an achievement. I don't know if I had more fun watching Cursed Child or just taking in the theater.