The Stephen Sondheim Theatre

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 10/31/12 at 12:32am

Does anyone know what is going on with the theatre? Are there any shows lined up? I would have thought Drood would have went in there, but it went to Studio 54.
Updated On: 10/31/12 at 12:32 AM

[Quiche2]

Posted: 10/31/12 at 12:50am

No, Drood did not take that theater.

[lupone76]

Posted: 10/31/12 at 1:01am

The next revival of Gypsy will be coming in. It will have a rotatng madame Rose. Alternating between Patti, Bernadette, Betty and Tyne.

Updated On: 10/31/12 at 01:01 AM

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 10/31/12 at 1:29am

Is it Gypsy or Patti Lupone Gypsy?

[iWannaBEaSedaris]

Posted: 10/31/12 at 1:49pm

Why would anyone want to stage anything in this excuse for a theatrical space? It has all the charm of a mobile home, and is half as stylish. The theatre's biggest and best feature is it's women's bathroom. It's such a shame that there was a chance to create another wonderful home for modern Broadway musicals, and what we got was a highschool auditorium in the basement of a New York City high rise.

If I was the architect, I'd be ashamed. If I was Roundabout, I'd use it for High School theatre programs to come and put on smashing productions of The Music Man and Hello Dolly while their parents sell home baked good at concessions and the football team throws popcorn from the balcony.

[artscallion]

Posted: 10/31/12 at 1:55pm

iWannaBEaSedaris doesn't like it.

[aasjb4ever]

Posted: 10/31/12 at 2:05pm

…I like the theatre…

[TheatreKid3]

Posted: 10/31/12 at 3:29pm

Count me in with the people who don't understand the hate for this theatre's design. The one time I was inside it, I thought it looked great. I think many are just hating the concept of modern theatre design in general. I also don't understand the hate for the Marquis.

[binau]

Posted: 10/31/12 at 3:33pm

I agree. I like the Marquis, and I like the Sondheim. If these are so bad, can anyone give an example of a 'good' 'new' theatre?

Updated On: 10/31/12 at 03:33 PM

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 10/31/12 at 3:40pm

You should be ashamed!

[binau]

Posted: 10/31/12 at 3:47pm

Also adding to this, perhaps it's a product of my generation, but sometimes I think old theatres might be more a detraction than a benefit.

Now, don't get me wrong, sometimes an old theatre can create a really nice atmosphere (e.g. I wouldn't have wanted to move NIGHT MUSIC from the Walter Kerr).

But (here a photo from a popular local theatre), do I really want to be seeing something like this when I am watching WICKED? I feel the reflection of light from the artefacts can just be a distraction at worst, or unnecessary at best.

Updated On: 10/31/12 at 03:47 PM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/31/12 at 3:48pm

The design of the theater makes whatever is onstage completely unwatchable which is sad since sometimes there are good things there but they are surrounded by ugly things that take you away from a production you're trying to watch and it's like you're trying to concentrate on your boyfriend having sex with you but you can't get Richard Grieco (80's/early 90's Richard Grieco, not the lizard he's turned himself into) out of your head.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 11/1/12 at 1:28am

For me, I'm an actor, and I think being in a theater - for me - is a very spiritual experience. I love hanging out before the show and seeing all the details in the house and knowing the history of the space, etc. It's tough with a modern theater because usually no money was spent on design. It's just a boring black space. The Sondheim is ugly on the inside. I don't like the layout or the design or the use of the Henry Miller's old pieces. It just looks thrown together and cheap. And the marquee outside is sooooo freaking tiny.

[forgetmenotnyc]

Posted: 11/1/12 at 1:31pm

I love theater design, as well - but have never been led to find the Sondheim Theater necessarily UNappealing? (I suppose I have only been there twice.) It's unusual that it's subterranean - with orch. at the lowest level. The back of the balcony is close to the stage though - so that is a positive in terms of contemporary theaters. About the only thing I agree to on most opinions here is the poor Henry Miller/Sondheim theater street presence. The facade is landmarked so that maybe why more hasn't been done to expand signage somewhat?

The 1st Bway theater that I was ever in was the Gershwin (then called The Uris) & it was a huge disappointment to me. Thankfully I got myself into a beautiful old jewel box space the next day & it squashed my disillusionment.

The question posed here earlier "Name a contemporary Bway theater that you do like?" is a good one? Here are the 7:

Sondheim (even though utilizing a little of the old Henry Miller Theater, we can safely call it a new contemp. theater rather than a restoration, right?;

Circle in the Sq.;

Foxwoods;

Gershwin;

Marquis;

Minskoff;

Vivien Beaumont.

(The Friedman would be considered more of a restoration than a contemp. theater, right?)

So, are some of us bemoaning the lack of historical character in our beloved industries newer spaces that are not antique? Or, after pondering the specific list, is the consensus that Sondheim theater is the worst of the contemporary ones? I say not. I even say it's one of the best of these.



Updated On: 11/1/12 at 01:31 PM

[JRybka1611]

Posted: 11/1/12 at 1:37pm

can someone post some pictures so we can see why people had it so much.

[forgetmenotnyc]

Posted: 11/1/12 at 1:45pm

You can find a few pics on the site of the architectural firm who handled the redo at http://www.cookfox.com/project.php?id=Stephen-Sondheim-Theater