Question about facade of the Broadway Theatre

[Islander_fan]

Posted: 7/25/15 at 11:27am

Is there anyone here who has knowledge of the history of the facade of the Broadway Theatre? I know that around the time that Les Miserables played there, it's marquee was in the same vein as The Wintergarden. But, by the time Miss Saigon came in, and Les Miserables moved to the Imperial, the facade changed to what it is today, virtually identical to the office building adjacent to it. I guess I am trying to wrap my head around how this happened, and how they were able to not only have one show going while this was going on, but load out and load in another, and begin performances too. Anyone with any info?  

[Sant]

Posted: 7/25/15 at 11:46am

I found this from Shubert Org's own website about The Broadway Theatre (originally named B.S.Moss Colony Theatre) www.shubert.nyc/theatres/broadway :

 

"ARCHITECTURE

B. S. Moss commissioned architect Eugene DeRosa to design the Colony as part of his chain of movie theatres, many of which also housed vaudeville. The large size of the theatre (1,765 seats) made it ideal for musical comedies, and its large stage, originally built to accommodate an orchestra to accompany silent films, proved large enough for aircraft. The original façade (like the interior) was built in the Italian Renaissance style, and then resurfaced in polished granite when a skyscraper was constructed above the theatre in 1991."

 

 

Updated On: 7/25/15 at 11:46 AM

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 7/26/15 at 4:05am

[Phillypinto]

Posted: 7/26/15 at 5:37am

http://www.spotlightonbroadway.com/theater/broadway