Broadhurst Theatre facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Broadhurst Theatre

Playing Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, July 2019
Address	235 West 44th Street Manhattan, New York City United States
Coordinates	40°45′30″N 73°59′15″W / 40.7582°N 73.9876°W / 40.7582; -73.9876
Owner	The Shubert Organization
Type	Broadway theatre
Capacity	1,218
Production	A Beautiful Noise
Construction
Opened	September 27, 1917
Architect	Herbert J. Krapp
New York City Landmark
Designated	November 10, 1987
Reference no.	1323
Designated entity	Facade
New York City Landmark
Designated	December 15, 1987
Reference no.	1324
Designated entity	Auditorium interior

The Broadhurst Theatre is a famous Broadway theatre located at 235 West 44th Street in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City. It first opened its doors in 1917. The theater was designed by an architect named Herbert J. Krapp and was built for the Shubert brothers, who were very important in the theater world.

The Broadhurst Theatre is named after George Broadhurst, a British-American theater producer. He rented the theater before it even opened. The theater has 1,218 seats for audience members and is run by The Shubert Organization. Both the outside look (called the facade) and the inside of the theater are considered New York City landmarks. This means they are protected because of their historical importance.

The outside of the theater has a simple, classic design. It looks a bit like the Schoenfeld Theatre nearby. The Broadhurst's exterior is made of light brown brick and terracotta. It has two main parts: a stage area on the west side and the main entrance on the east. The entrance has a curved corner that faces Broadway. Inside, the theater has a main floor (orchestra level), a large balcony, and a flat ceiling. The decorations inside are inspired by ancient Greek and Adam styles, with classic columns and Greek designs. There are also special box seats near the stage.

The Shubert brothers built the Broadhurst and Schoenfeld theaters after their other theaters, the Booth and Shubert, became very successful. The Broadhurst Theatre officially opened on September 27, 1917, with a play called Misalliance. George Broadhurst had planned to use the theater for his own plays. The Shuberts took full control of the Broadhurst in 1929 and have managed it ever since. Over the years, the theater has shown many different types of performances, including musicals, comedies, and dramas. Some very long-running shows at the Broadhurst include Hold Everything!, Fiorello!, Cabaret, Grease, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Les Misérables, and Mamma Mia!.

Where is the Broadhurst Theatre Located?

The Broadhurst Theatre is at 235 West 44th Street. It's on the north side of the street, between Eighth Avenue and Seventh Avenue. This area is part of the Theater District in Midtown Manhattan, near Times Square in New York City.

The theater is on a rectangular piece of land. It shares this city block with the Row NYC Hotel to its west. The Broadhurst is also very close to six other theaters: the Majestic, John Golden, Bernard B. Jacobs, Gerald Schoenfeld, Booth, and Shubert. This makes it part of the biggest group of Broadway theaters on one block.

The Shubert brothers built the Broadhurst, Schoenfeld, Booth, and Shubert theaters all together. They used land that used to belong to the Astor family. The Broadhurst and Schoenfeld were built as a pair, just like the Shubert and Booth theaters. The Broadhurst and Schoenfeld theaters share a small alley to their east. This alley was needed for building rules at the time.

Who Designed the Broadhurst Theatre?

The Broadhurst Theatre was designed by Herbert J. Krapp and built in 1917 for the Shubert brothers. The Broadhurst and the nearby Plymouth (now Schoenfeld) theaters were some of Krapp's first designs as an independent architect.

The outside of the Broadhurst is simple and classic, following a style called neoclassical. This was different from the more fancy designs of the Shubert and Booth theaters. The Shubert Organization still runs the Broadhurst today.

What Does the Outside of the Theater Look Like?

Krapp designed the Broadhurst and Plymouth theaters with simple brick and stone exteriors. He used the way the bricks were laid to create decorative patterns. Both theaters have curved corners on their eastern side, facing Broadway. This was because most people arrived at the theaters from that direction.

The Broadhurst's outside is split into two parts: the main audience area on the east and the stage area on the west.

Details of the Auditorium's Outside

Architectural details of the auditorium facade

Lobby entrance

Fire escape on third story, with parapet above

Cartouche above curve

At the bottom of the auditorium's outside, there's a base made of granite. Above that are vertical blocks of architectural terracotta. The rest of the outside is made of light brown brick.

On 44th Street, there are glass and bronze double doors for the entrance. Display boxes are on either side of these doors. A large sign, called a marquee, hangs above the doors. The curved corner of the building has another entrance to the ticket lobby. This entrance has double doors with "Broadhurst" written on a glass panel above them.

The second and third floors on 44th Street have a fire escape made of metal. There are doors and windows that open onto this fire escape. Above the third floor, there's a decorative carving called a cartouche with designs of swags. The curved corner has a window with an oval decoration above it. A decorative border and a brick wall run along the top of the auditorium's outside.

Details of the Stage House's Outside

Fire escapes on stage-house facade

The stage house is five stories tall. Its ground floor has a granite base with terracotta blocks. There are two metal doors and three windows on this floor. The upper floors of the stage house each have five sash windows. These windows are set within curved brick arches. A metal fire escape runs along the front of the stage house. A decorative wall with supports runs above the fifth story.

What Does the Inside of the Theater Look Like?

The inside of the Broadhurst Theatre has a main floor (called the orchestra level), one balcony, special box seats, and a stage behind a large arch (the proscenium arch). The space is decorated with plaster designs that stick out from the walls.

The theater has about 1,218 seats. These seats are divided into 733 on the orchestra level, 429 on the balcony, and 24 in the box seats. There are also 32 spots where people can stand. The theater has restrooms in the basement and snack areas in the lobby. The orchestra level is accessible for wheelchairs, but the balcony is not.

Seating Areas in the Auditorium

At the back of the orchestra level, there's a wide walkway called a promenade. Four decorated pillars support the balcony above this area. The ceiling of the promenade has a classic border and a decorative strip with designs. There are also plaster panels on the ceiling with chandeliers hanging from them. Two staircases lead from the promenade up to the balcony.

The orchestra level slopes down towards the stage, where there's a pit for the orchestra. The walls of the orchestra area have decorative plaster panels. Doorways lead from the lobby and to the exits. When the theater was first built, half of the orchestra seats could be removed to make space for smaller shows.

View of boxes on the right side of the auditorium

At the back of the balcony, there are four decorated pillars, similar to those on the orchestra level. The side walls have plaster panels with decorative swags. There are also doorways with triangular tops, like those on the orchestra level. The underside of the balcony has low-relief panels and air vents. In front of the balcony, there's a long decorative strip showing horsemen. A small technical area is located above the back of the balcony.

On each side of the stage, there are three box seats at the balcony level. These boxes step down towards the stage. The front railings of the boxes also have parts of the horsemen design. Columns separate the boxes from each other.

Other Design Features

Next to the box seats is the flat proscenium arch, which frames the stage. It has columns on each side and a decorative top with a central panel showing horsemen. The theater was also designed with a "false proscenium" to make the stage look smaller for plays and comedies. The main stage opening is about 25 feet tall and 40 feet wide. The ceiling is flat and has plaster moldings, decorative strips, and medallions. Chandeliers hang from these medallions.

Interior panorama of Broadhurst Theatre as viewed from the boxes on the left side of the auditorium

History of the Broadhurst Theatre

The area around Times Square became the main place for big theater shows between 1900 and the Great Depression. Many theaters were built in Midtown Manhattan during this time, including the Broadhurst. The Shubert brothers, who were from Syracuse, New York, became very powerful in the theater business. By 1925, they controlled a huge part of all plays and ticket sales in the U.S.

How the Broadhurst Theatre Started

The Broadhurst at the opening of Misalliance in 1917

The facade as depicted in Architecture and Building (1918)

The Shubert brothers had already built the Shubert and Booth theaters in 1913. After these were successful, they decided to build another pair of theaters to the west. They hired Herbert Krapp as the architect. In August 1917, George Broadhurst, a theater producer, leased the new theater from the Shuberts. It was then named after him. Broadhurst wanted a theater to show his own plays.

The Broadhurst Theatre opened on September 27, 1917, with a comedy called Misalliance by George Bernard Shaw. Even though George Broadhurst wanted to show his own plays, the theater also hosted other productions. For example, in 1918, it showed the musical Maytime and the play Ladies First.

In 1921, George Broadhurst's play Tarzan of the Apes, which even had real animals, ran for a short time. Other shows included The Claw with Lionel Barrymore and Marjolaine with Peggy Wood. In 1924, Beggar on Horseback ran for 224 performances, and in 1925, The Green Hat ran for 237 performances.

In 1926, the musical Broadway opened and ran for 603 performances. This was followed by a version of Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice. The musical Hold Everything! opened in 1928 and ran for 413 performances. The last big hit of the 1920s was June Moon in 1929. That same year, the Shuberts took over running the theater from George Broadhurst.

The 1930s and 1940s at the Broadhurst

Curved corner

In 1931, the musical America's Sweetheart played at the Broadhurst. In 1932, the theater hosted The Animal Kingdom and Twentieth Century. The Group Theatre presented Men in White in 1933–1934.

In 1935, The Petrified Forest with Humphrey Bogart and Leslie Howard was staged. Victoria Regina, starring Helen Hayes and Vincent Price, opened later that year and ran for 517 performances. In 1939, the musical The Hot Mikado, an all-Black version of The Mikado, and the show The Streets of Paris with Carmen Miranda were performed.

During the 1940s, the Broadhurst showed many musicals and revues. These included Boys and Girls Together in 1940 and High Kickers in 1941. The play Uncle Harry ran in 1942. Other hits included Early to Bed in 1943, Agatha Christie's play Ten Little Indians in 1944, and Follow the Girls in 1945. Helen Hayes returned in 1946 with Happy Birthday, which ran for 564 performances.

The 1950s to 1970s at the Broadhurst

Night view of the theater

The 1950s brought several long-running shows. The musical Pal Joey in 1952 ran for 542 performances, longer than its original run. Other popular shows included Anniversary Waltz (1954) and The Desk Set (1955).

In 1956, Auntie Mame starring Rosalind Russell ran for 639 performances. The World of Suzie Wong opened in 1958 and ran for 508 performances. The musical Fiorello! opened in 1959. In 1962, the famous musical My Fair Lady briefly played at the Broadhurst.

In 1965, the musical Kelly closed after just one performance. But later that year, Half a Sixpence ran for 512 performances. In 1966, Cabaret premiered at the Broadhurst. In 1969, Woody Allen, Tony Roberts, and Diane Keaton starred in Play It Again, Sam.

By the 1970s, the Broadhurst mostly hosted musicals, dramas, and comedies. Grease had a short run at the Broadhurst in 1972 before becoming a very long-running musical elsewhere. The Sunshine Boys by Neil Simon followed at the end of 1972. In 1974, the Royal Shakespeare Company's Sherlock Holmes opened. In 1976, Katharine Hepburn and Christopher Reeve starred in A Matter of Gravity. Later that year, the comedy Sly Fox with George C. Scott ran for 495 performances.

The 1980s and 1990s at the Broadhurst

Entrance doorway detail

The musical Dancin' had the longest continuous run at the Broadhurst, from 1978 to 1980. After that, Amadeus with Ian McKellen ran until 1983. In 1984, a revival of Death of a Salesman starring Dustin Hoffman was very popular. The theater then closed for six months for a $2 million renovation, which included rebuilding the stage and improving the lobby and seating.

The Broadhurst reopened in 1985 with a version of Neil Simon's The Odd Couple where the main characters were women. In 1986, Broadway Bound by Neil Simon opened and ran for 756 performances.

In 1987, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) made the Broadhurst's outside and inside official city landmarks. This meant they couldn't be changed much. The theater owners tried to fight this decision in court, but the landmark status was upheld in 1992.

In 1990, the musical Aspects of Love opened. In 1993, Kiss of the Spider Woman became a big hit, running for 906 performances. In 1995, Patrick Stewart starred in The Tempest. In 1998, comedian Jerry Seinfeld performed his stand-up show at the Broadhurst. In 1999, Fosse, a show featuring the dances of Bob Fosse, opened and ran for two and a half years.

The 2000s to Today at the Broadhurst

The Broadhurst Theatre as seen in 2007

In 2001, Dance Of Death with Ian McKellen and Helen Mirren played at the Broadhurst. In 2002, a revival of Stephen Sondheim's musical Into the Woods ran for 279 performances. In 2003, the Shuberts agreed to make their theaters, including the Broadhurst, more accessible for people with disabilities.

Billy Crystal's solo show 700 Sundays opened in 2004 and was Broadway's highest-earning non-musical show at one point. In 2006, The History Boys played there.

A revival of the musical Les Misérables opened in 2006 and ran for 463 performances. In 2008, an all-Black cast performed Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and Daniel Radcliffe starred in Equus. In 2009, Jude Law starred in Hamlet. The Shuberts also sold "air rights" above the theater, which are rights to build higher, to make money from the landmarked site.

In 2010, Enron had a short run. Later that year, Al Pacino starred in The Merchant of Venice. In 2011, Hugh Jackman's concert special Back on Broadway broke the theater's box-office record several times. In 2013, Tom Hanks made his Broadway debut in Lucky Guy. The musical Mamma Mia! moved to the Broadhurst in 2013 for its final two years on Broadway.

View of the Broadhurst Theatre, looking northeast, with stage house at left and auditorium at bottom right. The Shubert Theatre and One Astor Plaza can be seen at right.

The musical Anastasia opened in 2017 and ran for almost two years. In 2019, Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune and Jagged Little Pill played there. The theater closed on March 12, 2020, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It reopened on October 21, 2021, with Jagged Little Pill, which closed again due to pandemic issues. In November 2022, A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical opened, and it is scheduled to run until June 2024.

Famous Shows at the Broadhurst Theatre

Here are some of the notable shows that have played at the Broadhurst Theatre, listed by when they first opened:

See also

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