Nicest or favorite Broadway Theater. — Page 2

The restored vintage houses are probably my favs: New Amsterdam & Belasco. Friedman is comfortable but interesting decor is lacking.

I def. miss the beauty & grandness of the old Mark Hellinger.

I like the Ambassador for it's totally original position of the house & stage that angles into a corner.

Anytime I get directed to unusual exits, I love seeing a different aspect of a theatre.

Richard Rodgers/46th & Majestic have those unusual orchestra sections that start to incline after like the first 12/15 rows, so that the back of the orch. can feel like you are in a mezz.

The side front mezz of St. James is a fav.

The Palace's side elevated orch. sections are fun & the mezz is great.

Hirschfeld boxes have some of the most frightening drop-offs for those sitting on the edge looking down. I love that theatre's stained glass doors in the back of the orch. & the 2nd fl. gallery space.

I'd like to learn about the various theatre's dressing rooms access to stage, esp. after seeing 'Birdman.' Imperial has neat stair layout from what I've seen.

New Amsterdam
Lyceum
Belasco

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I totally forgot about the old Mark Hellinger. It started life as Warners Hollywood an old vaudeville theater. The original entrance was on 7th Avenue next to a huge Playland.

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The worst theatre leg-room wise is the balcony at the Geary theatre here in San Francisco. I physically could not fit into the seat all the way (and I'm only 6'1")

What? No mention of the Vivian Beaumont?

"The worst theatre leg-room wise is the balcony at the Geary theatre here in San Francisco. I physically could not fit into the seat all the way (and I'm only 6'1")"

I'm sure you're right, but this is a thread about Broadway theaters.

I love the New Amsterdam!

Faves
Booth - perfect jewelbox
Belasco - wonderful details in recent renovation
New Amsterdam - astonishing terra cotta

Also appreciate:
The 44/45th St Shubert houses: Shubert, Broadhurst, Shoenfeld, Jacobs, Imperial
The comfort at the Sondheim & Marquis
The old beauty of the Lyceum, Nederlander & Richard Rodgers

Still to see (so can't evaluate)
Winter Garden, Music Box, Majestic, American Airlines, Ambassador, Gershwin, Minskoff

Updated On: 6/24/15 at 12:41 AM

My experience is limited, as I've only been in 5 Broadway theaters, but the Schoenfeld was the worst for me in the balcony, because the small leg room space mixed with the hight of the seats in front of me = torture. The top of the seat in front of me hit right at my knee, and just cut into me the whole show, it was so hard to get my legs in a way that they weren't pressed into that edge.

My favorite of the 5 though was The Broadway, by far, I found it really comfortable, and beautiful, and there was kind of a warm fuzzy feeling I got while I was there. (But that part could have had to do with me being there for Cinderella/seeing Laura live for the first time.)

The Belasco is absolutely breathtaking now that it has been restored. I would also say that it's become more comfortable, as well. I sat in the balcony for both of the Shakespeare plays and for HEDWIG and did not feel horribly cramped.

Maybe we can offer the Times Square church the Lyric and cash & and offer they cannot refuse in exchange for the Hellinger. We could than have another theater to rename & a real theater instead of a barn on 42 nd street.

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I'm definitely partial to the Booth, the Shubert, and the Music Box.