New World Stages

Dollypop said: "I always feel that attending a show at New World is like watching a play at Costco"



HA! That made me laugh. I never though of it like that, but it's totally true!

Actually there have been changes. There are now credit card machines at box office along with monitors displaying the shows and prices next to the box office windows. They also put carpeting down in the upstairs and ticketing areas. I noticed the stairs also have non skid like carpeting strips on each step. Hard to miss that huge mosaic like screen on the wall in the box office area. They also put screens outside of each theater with the show posters displayed to make it easier to find your show. So I would say some changes have been made. I would suspect that as big as that place is and the logistics, changes are not going to happen overnight. JMO

I'd completely forgotten about any renovations that were going to happen. I can't say I've had a bad experience here, but yeah, it IS a weird venue for live theatre.

Kad said: "Although I like the actual theatre spaces themselves, that complex feels like I'm about to queue up for a ride at a theme park. It's such a strange venue, especially for theatre."

Well remember, it used to be a multiplex movie theater.

I have to ask what the expectation is. A gut renovation and reconfiguration into a plastered space reflective of a classic broadway house?

The aesthetic has ways been industrial and urban, lending itself to the flexible stage and event spaces.

Since the Shuberts purchased it, there have been MANY changes in the venue and its programming, from very visible changes to the lobby bar and the elimination of nearly all its cabaret programing, to drastic changes in signage and ticketing processes, to new paint and carpeting in the lobby, to changes in security and how the staff interacts with patrons.

Short of closing their profitable shows and gut renovating all of their lobby spaces to be opulant and warm and in stark contrast to the theatre soaces themselves, I'm not sure the choice.

As far as being a multi theatre venue, shall we compare it to the Signature's space on w42nd? Yes, Signature is decidely warmer and the staff is decidely more casual compared to NWS, and it is lovely to have the public space lobby there, but hands down, as a theatre patron, I find New World Stages to be far as easier to navigate between venues and seating / sightlines / theatre spaces themselves to be a more positive experience.

I agree with Kad: there's nothing wrong with the individual theaters, but the entire place feels weird. Although to disagree with PThespian, I think the 59E59 complex is much nicer, although that could just be neighborhood bias, as I lived a stone's throw from it for many years.

I enjoy the bar area at 59E59 too. They keep it open after the shows and sometimes have live music, which is nice. It's also convenient if you and your group want a place to stop and discuss what you've seen. Perhaps I also have tended to like what I've seen at 59E59 more than at NWS.

Sorry. I don't get the Costco comparison. I've been to New World Stages a dozen times and not once:

has anyone offered me free samples of food

have I had to stand in line to pay

did the place smell like rotisserie chickens

did they refuse to sell me a single ticket, saying I'd have to buy a pack of 50 of them instead

did they demand I show my receipt to get out the door.

Broadway Joe said: "I really like new world stages, the seats are comfortable and it has better leg room then most Broadway theatres. Plus that one resturant outside has amazing frozen margaritas lol"



Otherwise known as the best place on earth when you can actually get a table...

Liza's Headband said: "Otherwise known as the best place on earth when you can actually get a table...



"

Little known trivia: it's named after certain denizens of BWW

OK. "They got rid of the programming at the bar & they increased the drink prices" is not the same as changing the programming of the venue.

I personally like NWS, a little cold and austere, but the theatres are all solid with great stadium seating and sight lines. They could add some artwork or something, but I like the industrial feel. I did like the shows at the bar with Marty Thomas and Marti Cummings, but I understand why they phased them out.