Most uncomfortable theater..on Broadway

[Pammylicious]

Posted: 5/5/11 at 4:46pm

My son is 6'3" he says the Helen Hayes was the worst he had - leg room.

My husband 6'4" says the Nederlander is, was all crunched up like a pretzel.

I personally hate the seats in Town Hall and wish they would get new ones.

What theater seating do you dislike and why?

[tking001]

Posted: 5/5/11 at 4:51pm

I was just at La Cage at the Longacre in the balcony I'm 6'1 and my knee's were touching the seat infront of me.
SO uncomforable, not to mention my friend and I both felt Dizzy when we got up to the balcony (we assumed it was due to the height, after the evaltor ride)

The St. James Balcony is pretty tight as well

[quizking101]

Posted: 5/5/11 at 4:53pm

Very few of these theatres have had modern updates for the large theatregoer...

That being said, I'm 6'6" and the Helen Hayes wasn't really bad at all (and my legs are 38").

The worst was the Broadhurst. I was in the "Spread 'Em" position for all of BABY IT'S YOU (and the mezzanine overhang sucks if you are tall).

[tking001]

Posted: 5/5/11 at 4:55pm

What are some theatres with good leg room?

[Mark_E]

Posted: 5/5/11 at 4:57pm

Richard Rodgers, Row E central stalls. That was TIGHT!

[quizking101]

Posted: 5/5/11 at 4:58pm

The Marquis has the best leg room since it's the most modern...I loved the leg room when I saw 9 TO 5. The Stephen Sondheim Theatre (which was still Henry Miller's when I went) also has AMAZING leg room.

[Pammylicious]

Posted: 5/5/11 at 5:00pm

American Airlines and Studio 54 are fine (I guess Roundabout has some tall contributors)

[frankiec]

Posted: 5/5/11 at 6:06pm

The rear mess at Studio 54 is awful.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 5/5/11 at 6:14pm

The Hilton/Foxwoods legroom is great. The worst legroom is definitely the Broadhurst or the Music Box.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 5/5/11 at 7:29pm

I'm 5'10" and sitting in the Broadhurst KILLS me. It's by far the most uncomfortable theater in NYC.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 5/5/11 at 7:57pm

The only time I can remember being very uncomfortable on Broadway was first row mezz at the St James for Gypsy. I forgot once the show started, but that's another story. Strangely, I had no issue at the same theatre for The Producers and American Idiot.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 5/5/11 at 8:29pm

My vote would go to Studio 54 -- horrible. Inconvenient location to start with and just plain awful -- and I've sat in every section of that theatre.

Updated On: 5/5/11 at 08:29 PM

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 5/5/11 at 8:29pm

My vote would go to Studio 54 -- horrible. Inconvenient location to start with and just plain awful -- and I've sat in every section of that theatre.

[Pammylicious]

Posted: 5/5/11 at 8:37pm

I think that many of these theaters have a few rows that are bad. e.g. at the Helen Hayes we were sitting in a row, that had different amounts of leg space in each seat. There was also a huge bump in the middle of the row. Right Orch.....Row N or so........I am 5'9" and there was no leg room for me. I also have noticed that in some theaters the seats are just damn small....what gives. Isn't $130 enough of a price to get decent seating.

[Okayfine]

Posted: 5/5/11 at 10:01pm

The Imperial. I'm 5'5" & have to shove my knees to the sides.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 5/5/11 at 11:31pm

A slightly different take on the topic, but when I saw In The Heights, the theater was ridiculously hot.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/5/11 at 11:32pm

I'm 5' 1" and the mezz at Studio 54 was terrible. My knees were up to my chest.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 5/5/11 at 11:44pm

I don't like the American Airlines because it doesn't have a center aisle. That's just poor planning.

[wicked1492]

Posted: 5/5/11 at 11:44pm

I'm 6'4' and I agree with the St. James and Longacre mezz. Very tight squeeze. The Walter Kerr isn't too bad in orch.

[PitPro2004]

Posted: 5/5/11 at 11:56pm

My vote goes to the theater Lion King is in.

I'm 5'10 and a half inches tall. Mezz, front row, farthest seat to the left. Not only is there NO legroom whatsoever, the seat is on a tilt at about 25 degrees. I was cramped while sitting in the middle of a see-saw!! Horrible!!

[trentsketch]

Posted: 5/6/11 at 8:57am

My mother is 5'1" on a tall day. The rear mezzanine at the New Amsterdam theater made it so that she had to walk out of the first act of Mary Poppins because she was in so much pain. The seats were tall and she had nowhere to put her legs but right in front of her. I had my body twisted in such an angle at 5'6" tall to fit in my seat that it took me a few minutes to actually stand up and join her for a discussion about switching seats for act II with the house manager. We were mercifully moved to freestanding chairs next to the mixing board in the rear orchestra.

[SonofMammaMiaSam]

Posted: 5/6/11 at 9:22am

I am 6'4" and I have NEVER been comfortable in ANY Broadway theater seat. My knees hit in every one of them. If I had to choose, I was in severe pain for days after sitting in a seat stage left, rear orchestra at the Kerr.

[uncageg]

Posted: 5/6/11 at 11:13am

Rear Mezz at Studio 54 is the worst. The last two times I was there my foot and leg fell asleep. Upstairs at the Walter Kerr comes in second for me.

[Vespertine1228]

Posted: 5/6/11 at 12:31pm

No one has mentioned how comfortable the Friedman is. That and the American Airlines are probably my favorites on Broadway.

I'm 6'4" and a normal weight for my height. Still, I find the biggest issue is seats that are too small, not leg room. The Helen Hayes is a big offender. So is the Kerr and the mezzanine at the Sondheim.

As for the most uncomfortable theater Off-Broadway, the winner is clearly the gallery at the BAM Harvey Theater.

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 5/6/11 at 12:42pm

When I saw EARNEST at the American Airlines, I was astonished at how much leg room I had.