Mark Hellinger Theatre/Times Square Church question

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 11:43am

I was walking by this theatre on New Year's Eve and noticed that the marquee was covered and the doors and photo windows were boarded up...anyone know why?

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 12:00pm

ahhh, the Mark Hellinger...the shrine of wonderful shows such as Dear World, Coco, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, A Doll's Life, Merlin, Rags and Legs Diamond. I hope it is reopened because we need another Broadway theater! There are way too many hits lately.

[daredevil]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 12:59pm

The Mark Hellinger was a great theater for musicals, one balcony with a mezzanine and balcony section---terrific sightlines from anywhere---better than the Neil Simon and a little better than the Imperial. A lot of flops played there, but so did My Fair Lady. The Church bought it somewhere in the early eighties, when there was no theater shortage. It would be great to have it back, but I have no idea how long their lease is, or the terms of the lease.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 1:06pm

Legs Diamond, the theatre's last tenant, closed in '89, so you mean that the church bought it outright in the early '90s.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 1:16pm

I won't even look at it when I walk by. I miss the Hellinger.

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 1:19pm

I would LOVE to see the inside of that theatre! It looks gorgeous. But I refuse to walk inside a church. They tend to scare me.

[Glebb]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 1:32pm

I got to perform there for a month with Nureyev in the late seventies. It was a great theatre for dance.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 1:33pm

I've been to church there many times. It is beautiful inside. Hanging over the stage is a huge crown flanked by angels. Beautiful architecture. I think one of the best interiors of the Broadway houses.

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 1:47pm

It is beautiful, but it is a theatre and should go back to being a theatre.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 1:50pm

The only show I saw there was Sugar Babies with Ann Miller and Mickey Rooney in 1982. I remember it being a gorgeous theatre. A while back, someone posted pictures of the interior of this theatre.

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 2:03pm

Did someone buy the property and wants to convert it back? Or is the TSC just doing renovations of its own?

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 2:07pm

It housed the very first Broadway show I worked on. It was a beautiful theater, and like meffie, I cannot look at it when I walk by.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 2:08pm

Cookie, I was thinking the same thing (that's why I asked). It would be wonderful if it housed shows again. Shame on the Nederlander's for selling it in the first place.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 2:32pm

A little interior look.
Hellinger

[Smaxie]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 2:47pm

More...

Updated On: 1/4/06 at 02:47 PM

[Smaxie]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 2:49pm

and the lobby...

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 2:49pm

looks like the house was too large for a show like Dear World...absolutely gorgeous though!
Updated On: 1/4/06 at 02:49 PM

[Smaxie]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 2:52pm

Happily, the church has kept it in excellent condition. It looks better now than it did when I was last there, to see Grind.

[sweeneyfan]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 3:11pm

If you want to see what it looks like in color, watch the film version of A Chorus Line. All of the theatre interior shots were filmed there...

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 4:20pm

This topic came up a few years ago and a member of the church's congregation logged in with comments that the TSC was out-growing the Hellinger and was looking for new and larger space. I hope that's true.

I saw DEAR WOELD, SEESAW, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR and TIMBUKTU in that house. Wonderful memories.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 4:25pm

Is there any guarantee that if the church moved that it would revert to a Broadway house? The way NYC is treating their theaters these days, I'm not so sure. It could become a Citibank branch.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 5:50pm

Or possibly a Mac Donalds

The theater was designed by noted theater architect Thomas Lamb who did , among other things, the Loew's Capitol, Mark Strand, & Rivoli - all long since gone. He also did the little theater which is now the visitors & convention bureau

The Nederlanders made a business decision to sell it . It was empty & they could not sit with an empty theater. Hopefully, it will revert back to being a theater



Some shows that played there:

My Fair Lady
Sugar Babies
I'm Solomon
The Utter Glory of Morrisey Hall.

I hope they paint it over as the color scheme the church used ( the last time I was in it ) was hideous

Updated On: 1/4/06 at 05:50 PM

[Gothampc]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 5:54pm

Don't forget:

Shenandoah moved there(my first Broadway show)
Rags
Oliver (revival with Patti LuPone)

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 5:55pm

I forgot Rags as it was only there for a blink of an eye

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 11:07pm

I saw so many shows there. My first was Katharine Hepburn in COCO. The most beautiful Broadway Theatre I've ever been in. I miss it. Those pics brought back lovely memories.