Ambassador Theatre (New York City) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Ambassador Theatre

Address	219 West 49th Street Manhattan, New York City United States
Coordinates	40°45′40″N 73°59′06″W / 40.7612°N 73.9850°W / 40.7612; -73.9850
Public transit	49th Street/Seventh Avenue (N​, ​R​, and ​W) 50th Street/Eighth Avenue (C and ​E) 50th Street/Broadway (1)
Owner	The Shubert Organization
Type	Broadway
Capacity	1,125
Production	Chicago
Construction
Opened	February 11, 1921
Years active	1921–1945, 1956–present
Architect	Herbert J. Krapp
Website
shubert.nyc/theatres/ambassador/
New York City Landmark
Designated	August 6, 1985
Reference no.	1308
Designated entity	Auditorium interior

The Ambassador Theatre is a famous Broadway theater in New York City. It is located at 219 West 49th Street in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan. The theater first opened in 1921. It was designed by Herbert J. Krapp for the Shubert brothers, who were well-known theater owners.

The Ambassador Theatre has 1,125 seats spread across two levels. Today, it is managed by The Shubert Organization. The inside of the theater, especially its main performance area, is considered a special New York City designated landmark. This means it's protected because of its history and design.

The theater was built in a special way to fit many seats into a small space. Its stage and seating area are set up diagonally. The outside of the building is mostly made of golden brick and looks quite simple. The main entrance is at a curved corner, leading to the back of the seating area. Inside, the theater has fancy details, a large balcony, and special box seats with decorated arches.

The Shuberts built the Ambassador and other nearby theaters after World War I. The Ambassador opened on February 11, 1921, with a musical called The Rose Girl. Over the years, it was used for different things, like a radio studio or a movie theater. But since 1956, it has been a live theater again. Since 2003, the musical Chicago has been playing there. It is one of the longest-running shows on Broadway!

Where is the Ambassador Theatre?

The Ambassador Theatre is located at 219 West 49th Street in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It sits between Eighth Avenue and Broadway. The land it's on is about 100 feet by 100 feet.

The Ambassador Theatre is close to other important buildings. These include the St. Malachy Roman Catholic Church and the Brill Building. Other nearby theaters are the Circle in the Square Theatre, the Gershwin Theatre, the Winter Garden Theatre, the Eugene O'Neill Theatre, and the Walter Kerr Theatre.

How the Theatre Was Designed

The Ambassador Theatre was designed by Herbert J. Krapp and built in 1921. It was one of several theaters planned by the Shubert brothers after World War I. The Ambassador is known for its unique design, especially how it fits into its space. It is currently run by the Shubert Organization.

The Outside Look

A close-up of the rounded corner and windows

The theater building is wider than it is tall. The bottom part of the outside is made of stone. The rest of the building is covered in gold-beige bricks, arranged in a special pattern. The design is simple, especially compared to other buildings Krapp designed. This simple style might have been because there wasn't much money after World War I.

The Ambassador Theatre has a curved corner on its eastern side, facing Broadway. This is where the main entrance is, with metal and glass doors. The middle part of the building has display boxes for show posters. There are also three sets of wooden doors with arched tops on the western side. A large sign, called a marquee, hangs above the first floor. The upper parts of the building have brick patterns and some windows that are now filled in.

Inside the Auditorium

The inside of the theater, called the auditorium, has a main floor (orchestra level), a balcony, and special boxes. The stage is located behind a large arch. The theater has about 1,114 to 1,125 seats.

The auditorium was originally decorated with gold and red colors. Because the building lot was small, the theater's seating area is built on a diagonal. This clever design allowed them to fit more seats, about 1,300, instead of just 900 if it were built straight. The side walls of the auditorium are curved, making the room somewhat hexagonal. The diagonal layout also created space for other rooms, like lounges.

Seating Areas

Inside the Ambassador Theatre, showing the box seats

The balcony's weight is supported by columns, not the outer walls. There's a small area between the lobby and the main seating to keep out drafts. Doors from the lobby lead to the back of the orchestra level. More doors are along the side walls near the boxes. The orchestra floor slopes down towards the stage. A walkway goes around the back and sides of the orchestra.

The balcony level is split into front and back sections by an aisle. The walls on the balcony level are angled to match the theater's shape. The side walls near the boxes have fancy designs with fan shapes inside arches. The back walls and the underside of the balcony have decorative plasterwork. The front railing of the balcony also has special designs and lights.

On each side of the stage, there are two box seats on the balcony level. The boxes closest to the stage curve outwards. These box areas are decorated with panels and columns. Above the boxes, there are large arches with more decorative panels.

Other Design Features

The auditorium has a large arch around the stage, called the proscenium arch. It is about 44 feet wide and 25 feet high. There are columns on each side of the arch. Above the arch, the ceiling curves and is decorated with grilles and panels. The main part of the ceiling has a shallow oval dome with a chandelier hanging from it. The ceiling also has decorative sections with reliefs.

History of the Ambassador Theatre

Times Square became a major center for theater shows in the early 1900s. The Shubert brothers were very important in building many theaters in Midtown Manhattan during this time. They controlled a large part of the theater business in the U.S. by 1925. After World War I, the Shuberts planned to build six new theaters. Only four were built, and only three of those (the Ambassador, O'Neill, and Kerr) are still standing today.

Early Broadway Shows

A view of the theater's facade

The Shuberts announced their plans for new theaters in September 1920. The Ambassador was the first new theater they planned for 49th Street. They built the Ambassador Theatre in just 82 days, which was a record at the time!

The musical comedy The Rose Girl was the first show at the Ambassador. It opened on February 11, 1921. Later that year, the operetta Blossom Time became a big hit, running for 516 performances. In the early 1920s, the Ambassador mostly showed operettas. Many of these early shows were not very successful.

In 1926, the musical Queen High ran for 367 performances. Later shows included the play Little Accident in 1929 and Street Scene the same year. In the 1930s, the prison drama The Last Mile was a long-running show. The theater also showed vaudeville acts. A big hit in 1935 was Ayn Rand's play Night of January 16th.

Changes Over the Years

A close-up of the entrance

In 1938, the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) rented the Ambassador Theatre to use as a radio broadcasting studio. They even made the stage bigger for orchestra performances. In 1940, the Shuberts gave up their lease, and the theater was used for showing films.

In 1942, the Ambassador lost its license to be a live theater for a short time. But it got its license back in 1943. After that, it hosted more plays, including a revival of Blossom Time.

In 1945, the theater was rented out for showing movies. For the next 11 years, it was a movie house and a studio for radio and television. From 1946 to 1949, it mainly showed foreign films. In 1950, the DuMont Television Network rented the Ambassador and turned it into a TV broadcast studio. They even changed the stage floor.

Broadway Returns

1950s to 1970s

In 1956, the Shuberts took back ownership of the Ambassador. They decided to make it a live theater again. The first show at the reopened theater was a comedy called The Loud Red Patrick.

In 1957, the Ambassador hosted Eugenia with Tallulah Bankhead. It also showed The Diary of Anne Frank and the drama Compulsion. The 1960s brought shows like The Tenth Man and Stop the World – I Want to Get Off. The theater also hosted dance performances and concerts. In 1967, it showed You Know I Can't Hear You When the Water's Running.

The 1970s saw a variety of shows. These included a revival of The Boy Friend in 1970 and Paul Sills' Story Theatre. The musical Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death played in 1971. The Ambassador also hosted solo shows like Me and Bessie in 1975 and Miss Margarida's Way in 1977. Other popular shows were Godspell in 1976 and Eubie! in 1978.

1980s to Today

The Ambassador Theatre at night in 2010

In the 1980s, the Ambassador hosted musicals like Your Arms Too Short to Box with God and Dancin'. A revival of Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge was staged in 1983. In 1987, the musical Dreamgirls had a run. The Shuberts also renovated the theater during this time.

In 1985, the inside of the Ambassador Theatre was officially named a New York City landmark. This means its special design and history are protected.

After 1989, the Ambassador didn't have a live show for five years. In 1995, comedian Red Buttons performed his solo show. Then, in 1996, Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk opened and ran for 1,130 performances. The 1990s ended with You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown and It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues.

Since 2000, fewer new shows have played at the Ambassador. The Ride Down Mt. Morgan was staged in 2000. In 2001, A Class Act and Hedda Gabler played there. The play Topdog/Underdog opened in 2002.

The musical Chicago moved to the Ambassador in January 2003. It has been playing there ever since! Chicago became the second-longest-running Broadway production in 2014. The theater closed for a while in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It reopened in September 2021 with Chicago still playing. Chicago has broken the theater's box-office record many times, showing how popular it is.

Famous Shows at the Ambassador Theatre

Here are some of the well-known Broadway shows that have played at the Ambassador Theatre:

See also

In Spanish: Teatro Ambassador (Nueva York) para niños

• List of Broadway theatres
• List of New York City Designated Landmarks in Manhattan from 14th to 59th Streets