Shubert will renovate & expand the Imperial Theatre

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 12/20/24 at 11:16am

Similar to the Cort/JEJ Theatre renovation, this will build an “annex” to the west of the theatre (currently a vacant lot owned by Shubert).

The annex will vastly expand lobby spaces and theater entrances to reduce bottlenecking, add restrooms, storage, and more. There will also be added lounge space and office space. As with other Shubert renovations, they will also meticulously restore some details within the auditorium — though it appears that most of this work will not impact the backstage areas, unlike the JEJ.

If you scroll through this doc, there are some interior and exterior renderings starting on page 57.

https://www.nyc.gov/assets/lpc/downloads/pdf/presentation-materials/20241217/249-West-45th-Street.pdf?ref=broadwaynews.com

As with all these things, I can’t imagine work will happen in the immediate future…this stuff takes time. But it all seems like a logical and necessary renovation that will be a big win for audiences!

Updated On: 12/20/24 at 11:16 AM

[Kad]

Posted: 12/20/24 at 11:41am

This seems like it would require the theater to be out of commission for at least an entire season, wouldn’t it? 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 12/20/24 at 11:55am

It’s a shame the Imperial’s facade was not landmarked.

[Huss417]

Posted: 12/20/24 at 12:00pm

Maybe I am reading the article incorrectly but I saw they filed an application but don't see where it has been approved.

"No decision nor timeline is announced for the proposal, but as with any capital improvements, these processes for approval (let alone actual construction) can take time."

 

The Shubert Organization has filed an application with the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission for a renovation and expansion of Broadway’s Imperial Theatre. Located on West 45th Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues, the Imperial is one of Shubert’s 17 Broadway houses. The Imperial’s application was included on the agenda for a Dec. 17 public hearing.

https://www.broadwaynews.com/shubert-organization-files-application-for-renovation-of-broadways-imperial-theatre/#:~:text=The%20proposed%20lobby%20expansion%20would,space%20and%20a%20rooftop%20terrace.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 12/20/24 at 12:39pm

If the Shuberts are in the renovating mood, maybe they can finally gut the Broadhurst and redo the seating so it's not actually painful to see a show there.

[Bwaygurl2]

Posted: 12/20/24 at 12:41pm

Jordan Catalano said: "If the Shuberts are in the renovating mood, maybe they can finally gut the Broadhurst and redo the seating so it's not actually painful to see a show there."

THIS. The St. James is a joy to sit in compared to the Broadhurst mezzanine. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 12/20/24 at 12:47pm

I was so sad when "Mamma Mia" closed there after only 2 years. I wanted it to run forever so I'd never have to see another show in that theater.

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 12/20/24 at 1:46pm

Fantastic, it’s definitely time to renovate that dusty and musty room.

Thanks for the document Ermengarde, a shame to lose the facade (such that it was) for another mall-like entrance a la The Palace. 

I also hadn’t realized they were sending the W4E audience outside into a toilet trailer.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 12/20/24 at 2:09pm

Is the 46th Street side of the exterior landmarked?

You’re right that this has not yet been approved, but I think it’s safe to assume that it WILL be, as they’re not trying to do something crazy here.

How long did the Cort reno take? That might be a good comparison, tho maybe this one would take even less time. Wonder how much of the annex can be built before they have to start on the existing structure.

[sinister teashop]

Posted: 12/20/24 at 2:55pm

The recent renovations of the Ethyl Barrymore Theater and The Majestic are major events (at least in terms of the house). Herbert Krapp is turning into one of my favorite American architects. It's American Beaux Arts hodge-podge but it all fits together in a harmonious way.

The Schubert Org. is hiring good firms. I still haven't been able to find out who did the renovations for the Majestic.

I'm not as crazy about the design of the annex that Kostow/Greenwood did at The Cort/James Earl Jones but I understand that this is mostly about functionality. Still, I think they could have used a bit more of an imagination and a bit less of a corporate cookie cutter.

Updated On: 12/20/24 at 02:55 PM

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 12/20/24 at 3:07pm

Herbert Krapp was an absolute master.

I feel like the Cort/Jones took 18 months or two years.

Updated On: 12/20/24 at 03:07 PM

[sinister teashop]

Posted: 12/20/24 at 3:47pm

I think the renovations are revealing a method to his madness, a decorative unity of the seemingly unrelated bric-a-brac... and a surprising amount of thematic wit which gives the spaces a gayety, in the old sense of the word. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 12/20/24 at 5:17pm

Jordan Catalano said: "If the Shuberts are in the renovating mood, maybe they can finally gut the Broadhurst and redo the seating so it's not actually painful to see a show there."

Problem with the Broadhurst is it has the perfect number of seats for a lot of shows (it’s a little bigger than the average playhouse, but you don’t need to fill 1400 seats like at the Shubert or Imperial or WG). I haven’t sat upstairs there in a number of years.

The choice to renovate the Imperial feels like a function of the lot being available and they might as well do something with it instead of letting it sit empty. I recall at one point they were discussing a new theatre being built there, and then a hotel.  

[BJR]

Posted: 12/20/24 at 6:33pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "I recall at one point they were discussing a new theatre being built there, and then a hotel."

Such a shame they couldn't get the new theatre in there. Am I making it up it was going to be a flexible space?

[CJRochester]

Posted: 12/20/24 at 6:43pm

BJR said: "ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "I recall at one point they were discussing a new theatre being built there, and then a hotel."

Such a shame they couldn't get the new theatre in there. Am I making it up it was going to be a flexible space?"

You are correct. It was announced then retracted back in 2017.

https://variety.com/2017/legit/news/new-broadway-theater-not-happening-shubert-1202554123/

 

[THDavis]

Posted: 12/20/24 at 7:35pm

I’ve only had to endure this venue twice, and both were not for validating reasons. The traffic and crowds getting in and out are a nightmare, and the legroom from every seat I’ve been in has been absolutely dismal - especially in the side orchestra. 

I’m looking forward to seeing what they do with the renovations. I think it will bring better traffic control inside the venue, but I didn’t see anything regarding changes to the seating area aside from restoring some of the “end caps” on the rows. 

[Wick3]

Posted: 12/21/24 at 2:34am

From looking at the plans it looks like they'll have an elevator and escalators (or maybe I mistook them for stairs) in the added 'annex'. Back in 2014 I recall that empty lot was a tent called the Kazino that hosted the off-Bway show Natasha Pierre & Great Comet of 1812.

I'm glad they are renovating the Imperial and I hope they soundproof it too so we won't hear noise from the street outside.

[willep]

Posted: 12/21/24 at 7:47am

What a bummer to lose another nice marquee.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 12/21/24 at 10:12am

It also looks like the 2nd floor event space can be accessible from a separate entrance from the theatre. I wonder if they could be aiming for a Shubert-owned equivalent of Bar Centrale?

[DiscoCrows]

Posted: 12/21/24 at 12:10pm

This is great news. I will be a bit sad to see the 45th street marquee go, but I guess everything has its time.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 12/21/24 at 12:23pm

willep said: "What a bummer to lose another nice marquee."

...Who says the new marquee won't be nice? We haven't seen more than a drawing yet! In theory, I like the idea of Shubert switching all their signs to vertical on 45th.

Of all the theatre exteriors, the Imperial has never been my fave.

If the windows are your issue, the existing facade already has a lot of large, modern-looking windows.



Hopefully this can also improve the 46th Street side, which has always looked forgotten to me.

Updated On: 12/21/24 at 12:23 PM

[saxpower]

Posted: 12/21/24 at 3:20pm

BorisTomashevsky said: 

"I feel like the Cort/Jones took 18 months or two years."  

 

Though I think that may have been affected by COVID. 

 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 12/22/24 at 6:07pm

I think this is great.  I have always wanted to like the Imperial, because have seen a lot of great shows in it, starting with Zero Mostel in Fiddler in early 1966.  But it must be one of the worst theatres when it comes to public spaces, rest rooms, etc.  That men's room on the second floor must be among the 2 or 3 worst in the entire theatre district). 

After they do this one, they should figure out how to improve the rest rooms in the Winter Garden; the stairs down to the men's room on the first level are just awful, almost dangerous.  

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 12/23/24 at 8:30am

The one thing I didn't like (or didn't get) about the JEJ extension is at least the couple of times I was there, they closed the original internal stairs and basement bathrooms. So really they just redirected the bottleneck to the annex, instead of adding it as an option.

The proposed Imperial I think is much improved in terms of flow. The plans look incredible. The only real thing I worry about is soundbleeding through the house right and especially house left doors, which are both losing a set of doors to block sound. As it is, you can still hear through them so perhaps there's some space age technology they'll be using to block street noise with one set of doors now.

Updated On: 12/23/24 at 08:30 AM

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 12/23/24 at 9:25am

@everythingtaboo - At the JEJ, what's in place of the original basement bathrooms now? I recall there are also bathrooms on multiple levels now, right?