On the other side of the coin, I think the Sondheim is the MOST comfortable space -- no problem with leg room, sight lines are fine. Of course, you have to go down two flights of stairs if you have an orchestra seat, but that's a small price to pay for the comfort of the auditorium.
I love the Vivian Beaumont, but can't stand the seating. Because the seats are so highly raised row to row, there is no way to tuck your feet under the seat in front of you, and although I'm just an even 6 foot, the top of the seat in front of me there always cuts into my legs right below my knees. I was thrilled when the people next to me left at the intermission of Light in the Piazza as I was able to turn sideways and get rid of the cramps I had in my legs the entire first act. Sometimes I'm able to turn a little bit to the side, but simply cannot stretch out my legs by going under the seat in front of me at all.
St. James. Nosebleed. Section. Not only tight. The angle virtually looooms over the theatre and stage. Kinda nausea-inducing...regardless of WHAT show you're seeing.
Ugh the Golden Theater. I made the horrible mistake of making my Dad's first B'way experience in 25 years Driving Miss Daisy. I rushed the tickets in the morning and ended up getting Mezz tickets. Not only was the show boring as hell (and i love driving miss daisy!) but i could barely move my legs. Recently went back there to see A Normal Heart and the show was so good I didnt care about my legs lol. Also Studio 54 and Lunt Fontanne have horrible mezz. I saw beauty and the beast when i was 11 and was uncomfortable in those seats.
Being an exceptionally tall theatre lover kinda sucks. Not only does the seating feel cramped half the time, I'm constantly worried that I'm blocking the view for the person behind me. I remember feeling particularly cramped when I saw West Side Story in the Palace mezzanine. I do recall feeling very comfy in the St. James, but then again I was front row watching Patti do Rose's Turn when a small bead of her fabulous diva saliva landed on my hand. Carol Channing could have performed The Circle of Life dressed as Rafiki and it wouldn't have made me uncomfortable at that point. You can imagine my disappointment the next time I had to wash my hands.
I am an even 6-feet and the Walter Kerr mezzanine was excruciating when I saw A Little Night Music. The heat was stifling, the seat in front of me was slammed right up against my knees, and the arm rests were digging into my sides. Granted - I could lose a few pounds - but I am not that overweight. You knew something was wrong when intermission came and no one up there was talking about the show, but how hot they were and how uncomfortable the seats were!
It has been a long time, but the theater that The Lion King was initially in seemed uncomfortable as well. I cannot remember though if it was the seats, the fact that you needed to take a small rickety elevator to the mezzanine, or whether all of the bored kids screaming,crawling all over the floor and under my feet were the cause of this memory. I have seen my share of kids plays on Broadway (including all of the Disney shows), but this experience was enshrined in my memory as THE worst, so that could be coloring my memory of the theater itself. Updated On: 5/8/11 at 02:52 PM
I can't believe no one has mentioned the mezz at the Eugene O'Neil yet. When I saw Book of Mormon back in previews, my entire row was complaining/joking about how tiny the leg room was. At 6'0, it was EXTREMELY uncomfortable.
-There's the muddle in the middle. There's the puddle where the poodle did the piddle."
I found the Palace and the mezz at the Hirschfeld to be very cramped. Although it is off Broadway, I found New World Stages to be the most uncomfortable theater I have ever been in. I was squished like a sardine (and I'm not even that tall).
On the other hand, I think the best/most comfortable seating was the orchestra at the Gershwin. Very roomy. Updated On: 5/8/11 at 05:43 PM
Now im 5'10' and skinny but i felt so cramped and nauseous when i saw Anyone Can Whistle. I think that might have to do from the height (i was pretty far in the back) but i felt bad for the season ticket holder in front of me who i kept kneeing in the head.
i'll agree, the Sondheim theater is great for long legs. Its also just a great theater. Except its kinda of a fire hazard to have to the theater two flights down the stairs....