What Is Your Favorite Broadway House?

[footlights2]

Posted: 6/8/08 at 6:44pm

Of all the theatres on Broadway – which one is your favorite? This has nothing to do with the shows that have played there. Just wondering which theatres you prefer. Of course, a true theatre buff respects any theatre, but is there Broadway houses that you dislike? Why?

For me – my favorites are:

The Biltmore and American Airlines Theatre (these two theatres have undergone an amazing restoration and are so comfortable with soft seats, more room in the isles and higher raked balconies for better viewing). The Music Box is the perfect elegant small theatre. The Vivian Beaumont Theater is cool with a small intimate balcony that does not make the audience below feel trapped in. I also like the Hirschfeld and New Amsterdam Theatre

The two I do not love are the Richard Rodgers and the John Golden. The Rodgers is in need of some restoration and some polish. The Golden has the worst seating ever – there is absolutely no legroom. I love Studio 54 but the seats they put in are rock hard and angled weird.

Also, just as a side gripe – why do all the theatre owners allow the outside of their theatres to look like crap? I was looking at the outside of the Helen Hayes Theatre yesterday and was amazed at how run down it is. You would think they would want to keep up the outside to attract attention if nothing else. Some of the theatres would look kind of cool with decorative lighting (besides the marquee). For example, the Lunt-Fontanne is sort of lit up at night and it really makes it stand out (even if some of the windows are not covered and have junk sitting inside). New York theatre owners really need to take care of the outside as well as the inside of our historic theatres. I know it costs money, but come on!

[defyinggravity42694]

Posted: 6/8/08 at 7:23pm

I love The Lunt-Fontanne, Gershwin, New Amsterdam, and the Al Hirschfeld.

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 6/8/08 at 7:52pm

I like the Richard Rodgers but there are many partial view seats. The Nederlander also has a little place in my heart. I like the St James, the seats are comfy

[adamgreer]

Posted: 6/8/08 at 7:58pm

It's not the most aesthetically pleasing theatre, but I love the leg room afforded to you at the Gershwin, Minskoff, and Hilton.

I love the interior of the Music Box, but HATE that horrible sign, which looks like a cheesy 1950's diner.

My favorite overall theater is the New Amsterdam, because of the gorgeous restoration it got. I've also fallen in love with the beautifully refurbished Longacre Theatre.

[bwaybabe2]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 12:17am

Al Hirschfield...I like the old romance atmosphere, and seating arrangement. It is also one of those, where you can really "feel" that you are in a beautiful, elegant theatre...in other words, that you "are" in the theater, and enjoy the experience, as much as the performance. :]

[[tos]fan999]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 1:10am

My personal favorites are the Circle in the Square, because of it's intimacy, and the Marquis, because it has nearly perfect sightlines from every seat, great legroom, and comfy seats. And you also get to wait inside, which is great when you go to see a show and it's POURING outside (like what happen to me when I saw Drowsy).