where did broadway shows rehearse before new 42?

[massofmen]

Posted: 3/10/12 at 10:15am

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[SNAFU]

Posted: 3/10/12 at 11:36am

There was a rehearsal space near the movie theatre in 19th and Broadway(?).

[CockeyedOptimist2]

Posted: 3/10/12 at 11:48am

^That's called 890 Broadway. Shows still rehearse there, including at least one of the upcoming spring musicals.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 3/10/12 at 11:50am

Thanks! Couldn't remember the name.

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 3/10/12 at 2:37pm

The New Amsterdam Theatre had a theatre on its roof where in the days of the Ziegfeld Follies shows would be put on after the regular theatre's show was over. They were called The Midnight Frolics and often featured actors that were in the Follies.

This space was used for rehearsals of upcoming Broadway shows in the 1950's and beyond. I know of one show that rehearsed there in 1959: GYPSY. In one of the Ethel Merman biographies, there is a description of Jack Klugman getting very nervous before he auditioned for the role of Herbie. Merman reportedly calmed him down by saying "You do the acting and I'll do the singing, and everything will be fine." This anecdote took place in the Roof Theatre of the New Amsterdam Theatre.

The space is still there, although it was gutted during the incredible restoration of the New Amsterdam. The construction foreman who took me there said that at that time there were no plans to restore the roof theatre. I have no idea of its
current status.

Updated On: 3/10/12 at 02:37 PM

[Smaxie]

Posted: 3/10/12 at 4:02pm

The New Amsterdam roof theatre now houses the offices for Disney Theatrical.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 3/10/12 at 5:14pm

I'm pretty sure I've seen broadway shows rehearsing at Ripley-Grier and Pearl Studios

[E.Davis]

Posted: 3/10/12 at 5:23pm

Isn't there also Chelsea Studios?

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 3/10/12 at 5:54pm

Yes, and Nola/Shetler

[RippedMan]

Posted: 3/11/12 at 1:23am

Magic/Bird is currently rehearsing at Pearl, 500 Broadway.

[gvendo2005]

Posted: 3/11/12 at 1:27am

The last revival of JCS in 2000 rehearsed at the Westbeth Theatre Center, a venue in its own right (or so I understand). The original production of Hair rehearsed at the late great Variety Arts, another venue in its own right.

[junkyard]

Posted: 3/11/12 at 8:36am

the variety arts may be 'late' but was never 'great'......what a dump........only the harlequin was worse

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 1/11/16 at 5:44pm

Sorry for resurrecting this, but where did the spring awakening revival rehearse? Also where do replacements usually rehearse?

[somechrysanthemumtea]

Posted: 1/11/16 at 8:11pm

The new revival rehearsed at the Davenport Theatre