James Earl Jones Theatre facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
James Earl Jones Theatre

Former names	Cort Theatre
Address	138 West 48th Street Manhattan, New York United States
Coordinates	40°45′33″N 73°58′59″W / 40.75917°N 73.98306°W / 40.75917; -73.98306
Owner	The Shubert Organization
Type	Broadway theatre
Capacity	1,092
Production	The Heart of Rock and Roll
Construction
Opened	December 20, 1912
Rebuilt	2021–2022
Years active	1912–1969, 1972–present
Architect	Thomas W. Lamb
New York City Landmark
Designated	November 17, 1987
Reference no.	1328
Designated entity	Facade
New York City Landmark
Designated	November 17, 1987
Reference no.	1329
Designated entity	Lobby and auditorium interior

The James Earl Jones Theatre is a famous Broadway theater in New York City. It's located on West 48th Street in the busy Theater District. The theater first opened in 1912 as the Cort Theatre. It was designed by a well-known architect named Thomas W. Lamb.

In 2022, the theater was renamed after the legendary actor James Earl Jones. This made it only the second Broadway theater named after a Black theatrical person. The theater has 1,092 seats for audiences. It is managed by the Shubert Organization, a big theater company. Both the outside and inside of the theater are protected as special New York City landmarks.

The theater still looks much like it did when it first opened. It has a classic neoclassical style. The front of the building on 48th Street has a cool glass and metal sign. Inside, the lobby has fancy marble walls. The main seating area, called the auditorium, has a ground-level section and two balconies. A new part was added next to the theater in 2021-2022. This new section has modern lounges, restrooms, and backstage areas.

The Cort Theatre quickly became popular after it opened. It hosted many successful shows over the years. Even though it was used as a TV studio for a short time, it has mostly been a theater. It closed for renovations during the COVID-19 pandemic and reopened with its new name.

About the Theater's Location

The James Earl Jones Theatre is a Broadway theater at 138 West 48th Street. This street is in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan. It's close to Times Square, a very famous part of New York City. The theater building covers a large area. It has a wide front on 48th Street.

How the Theater Was Designed

The James Earl Jones Theatre was built in 1912. It was designed by Thomas W. Lamb in a neoclassical style. This style uses elements from ancient Greek and Roman buildings. Lamb designed it for a theater owner named John Cort. The theater is one of the few buildings by Lamb that are still standing. A new section, called an annex, was added next to the theater. It was designed by Kostow Greenwood Architects and built between 2021 and 2022.

The Theater's Outside Look

Original Theater Facade

The old marquee in 2011

The new marquee in 2022

The front of the theater faces 48th Street. It is made of marble stone. The original part of the building has a central section with three arched openings. This central part is surrounded by columns. The design was inspired by the Petit Trianon. This is an old French palace at Versailles.

At the street level, there are glass and aluminum doors. Above these doors is a large sign called a marquee. The original marquee had a fancy, curvy design. It was replaced with a boxy one later. In 2021, a new marquee was installed. It looks similar to the original, with three arches and hanging lamps.

The outer parts of the facade have aluminum doors. There are also display boxes to show off upcoming shows. The top part of the facade has an inscription with the theater's name. A neon sign with the name "Cort" was added in 1937. This sign was removed during the 2021 renovation.

New Annex Facade

The new annex building

A new section, called the western annex, was built next to the theater. It is about 35 feet wide and 74 feet tall. This annex connects to the old theater. It has a modern design. The outside is made of cream-colored terracotta panels. There are also shiny brownstone pieces. The annex has glass display boxes at street level. It also has an LED sign on its upper stories.

Inside the Theater

The inside of the James Earl Jones Theatre was designed by Arthur Brunet. The interior colors were described as "old rose and gold." The plaster decorations were in "champagne and sienna" colors.

Lobby Area

The entrance lobby is a rectangular room. You enter it from 48th Street. The lobby floor is made of white marble. The walls have marble panels around the bottom. Tiffany Studios helped design the lobby.

The lobby has a curved ceiling with fancy plaster designs. A beautiful bronze and crystal chandelier hangs in the center. The lobby connects to the street and to the main seating area. There is also a special niche on one wall. It holds a statue of Marie Antoinette. The box office windows are on the west wall.

Auditorium Seating

Auditorium interior

The main seating area, called the auditorium, has several levels. There's the orchestra level on the ground floor. Then there are two balconies above it. There are also special boxes on the sides. The auditorium has a square shape. It is decorated with detailed plaster designs.

The theater has about 1,092 seats. These seats are divided among the different levels. The orchestra level has 502 seats. The first balcony has 264 seats, and the second balcony has 263 seats. There are also 24 box seats. When the theater first opened, it had 999 seats.

The orchestra level has a sloped floor. This helps everyone see the stage. Staircases with iron railings lead up to the balconies. Before the annex was built, the balconies could only be reached by stairs. Now, an elevator in the annex makes them accessible.

On each side of the stage, there are two boxes on each balcony level. These boxes are curved. They have pretty latticework and cameo decorations.

Other Design Features

The proscenium arch is the large arch around the stage. It is about 29 feet high and 37 feet wide. It has special "art glass" that can light up during performances. Above the arch, there are designs of angels and muses.

The ceiling of the auditorium is divided into three rectangular sections. These sections are curved inwards. The parts that separate them are decorated with wreaths. The center section has a round dome. A large bronze and crystal chandelier hangs from the middle of the dome.

New Annex Interior

The new annex building is made of concrete. It adds about 20,000 square feet of space. The annex has modern, accessible bathrooms. It also has concession areas where you can buy snacks. There are comfortable lounges and dressing rooms for the actors. It even has rehearsal space.

A grand staircase connects the lounges on three floors of the annex. An elevator in the annex allows wheelchair access to the auditorium's balconies. The annex is connected to the old theater through new doorways. The stage area was also made bigger by extending it into the annex.

History of the Theater

In the early 1900s, Times Square became the main place for big theater shows. Many theaters were built in Midtown Manhattan during this time. John Cort was a very successful theater owner. He owned many theaters on the West Coast. In 1905, he came to New York City. He decided to build new theaters there.

Cort Theatre's Early Years

Building and First Shows

John Cort leased the land for the theater in January 1912. Thomas W. Lamb was hired to design the building. Cort announced he would build two theaters in New York City. The Cort Theatre on 48th Street was one of them. The design of the Cort was very important. It had to be as good as the Playhouse Theatre across the street.

The Cort Theatre officially opened on December 20, 1912. The first show was Peg o' My Heart. Some critics thought the theater was on the "wrong side" of Broadway. Most theaters were west of Broadway, but the Cort was to the east. However, people still called it "one of the most exquisitely beautiful playhouses." Theatre magazine praised its "comfortable seats and admirable acoustic properties."

Peg o' My Heart was a huge success. It ran for over 600 performances. This was a big deal back then. After that, the theater hosted other hit shows. These included Under Cover in 1914 and The Princess Pat in 1915. Because of all these early hits, the Cort was seen as a "lucky" theater.

Plays in the 1910s and 1920s

The Cort Theatre marquee before the 2021 renovation

The theater showed plays by John Cort and other producers. In 1916, it hosted Molly O and The Yellow Jacket. The next year, Flo-Flo ran for 220 performances. The Cort also hosted several of Shakespeare's plays in 1918. A big hit in 1919 was Abraham Lincoln.

The theater continued to have successful shows in the 1920s. These included Jim Jam Jems in 1920 with Joe E. Brown. Other hits were Captain Applejack in 1921 and Merton of the Movies in 1922. The Swan in 1923 starred Basil Rathbone. The theater also hosted special events. These included a seance and benefit performances.

In 1924, some shows at the Cort didn't last long. But The Second Mrs. Tanqueray in 1924 was successful. It starred Ethel Barrymore. Another hit was the comedy White Collars in 1925. The Jazz Singer also moved to the Cort in late 1925. A play called Beyond Evil in 1926 caused a stir. It was about interracial marriage.

Shubert Organization Takes Over

From the 1920s to the 1960s

Lillian Gish in Uncle Vanya (1930)

In May 1927, The Shubert Organization bought the theater. They took over from John Cort, who then retired. The drama These Days in 1928 was Katharine Hepburn's first Broadway show. The Cort also hosted A Most Immoral Lady in 1928.

In 1930, the theater showed a revival of Uncle Vanya. The hit play Five Star Final also opened that year. Besides plays, the Cort hosted an opera and a folk-song recital.

In 1933, The Green Bay Tree was a hit. The Bishop Misbehaves was successful in 1935. Two plays by George Abbott were at the Cort for a long time. These were Boy Meets Girl (1935) and Room Service (1937). Both ran for hundreds of performances.

Many other important shows followed. These included The White Steed (1939) and The Male Animal (1940). Charley's Aunt (1940) and Cafe Crown (1942) were also popular. In 1946, the Theatre Guild presented The Winter's Tale. Katharine Cornell produced and starred in Antigone. The hit Two Blind Mice opened in 1948. In 1949, Grace Kelly made her Broadway debut in The Father.

The Cort continued to have long-running shows in the 1950s. Saint Joan (1951) and The Shrike (1952) were hits. The Fifth Season (1953) and The Rainmaker (1954) were also popular. The Diary of Anne Frank opened in 1955. It played at the Cort for over a year.

Sunrise at Campobello opened in 1958. This play featured James Earl Jones in his first Broadway role. It ran for over 500 performances.

In the early 1960s, the Cort hosted The Hostage and Advise and Consent in 1960. Purlie Victorious and Sunday in New York were there in 1961. The Royal Dramatic Theatre of Sweden performed in 1962. A play called One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest was shown in 1963.

From the 1970s to the 1990s

Viewed from the east

From 1969 to 1972, the theater was used as a TV studio. It hosted The Merv Griffin Show. The TV network spent a lot of money to change the theater. But the show moved to California later. The theater was damaged by construction nearby. So, it went back to being a theater. This was the only time it was used for TV.

The Magic Show opened in 1974. It ran for 1,920 performances over five years. In 1980, Home was a success. It ran for over 200 performances. The Cort also hosted Medea in 1982. Ma Rainey's Black Bottom was there in 1984. The South African play Sarafina! played for over a year in the late 1980s.

During the 1980s, the Shuberts renovated the Cort. The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) began to consider protecting the Cort. In 1987, the LPC made both the outside and inside of the theater official landmarks. This meant they were protected. Theater owners tried to fight this decision in court. But the landmark status was upheld in 1992.

In 1990, The Grapes of Wrath was a hit. The Heiress ran for over 300 performances in 1995. Other shows in the late 1990s included Freak (1998) and The Blue Room (1998).

From the 2000s to Today

No Man's Land and Waiting for Godot

In 2002, the Cort hosted Hollywood Arms. A Year with Frog and Toad was there in 2003. The Shuberts agreed to make their theaters more accessible for people with disabilities. This included the Cort.

Other shows in the 2000s included On Golden Pond (2005) and Barefoot in the Park (2006). The 39 Steps was popular in 2008. You're Welcome America: A Final Night with George W. Bush was performed in 2009.

In the early 2010s, Fences was a big hit in 2010. It set a box office record for the theater. Time Stands Still was also there in 2010. Born Yesterday and Stick Fly were in 2011. No Man's Land and Waiting for Godot played in 2013.

In 2016, the theater hosted Bright Star. The Shuberts got permission to build the new annex in 2017. They also got permission to sell air rights. This helped fund the renovations. M. Butterfly was shown in 2017. Mike Birbiglia performed his comedy The New One in 2018. King Lear and Derren Brown's Secret were in 2019.

The theater closed on March 12, 2020, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, the Shuberts announced big renovations. They also said the annex would be built. In March 2022, they announced the theater would be renamed after James Earl Jones. This was part of a plan to honor Black theatrical personalities.

The James Earl Jones Theatre reopened in November 2022. The first show was Ohio State Murders. The new marquee was revealed in September 2022. This celebrated the completion of the $47 million renovation. In April 2023, The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window opened. This was followed by Gutenberg! The Musical! in October 2023. The musical The Heart of Rock and Roll opened in April 2024.

Famous Shows at the Theater

Here are some of the notable Broadway shows that have played at the James Earl Jones Theatre (formerly the Cort Theatre). They are listed by the year they first opened.

1910s to 1990s

2000s to Present

See also

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