Hayes Theater facts for kids
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Helen Hayes Theatre
Little Theatre New York Times Hall |
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| Address | 240 West 44th Street Manhattan, New York City United States |
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| Coordinates | 40°45′28″N 73°59′16″W / 40.7579°N 73.9878°W |
| Owner | Second Stage Theater |
| Type | Broadway |
| Capacity | 597 |
| Production | Mother Play |
| Construction | |
| Opened | March 12, 1912 |
| Years active | 1912–1941, 1963–1965, 1974–present |
| Architect | Harry Creighton Ingalls |
| Designated | November 17, 1987 |
| Reference no. | 1346 |
| Designated entity | Facade |
| Designated | November 17, 1987 |
| Reference no. | 1347 |
| Designated entity | Lobby (foyer and emergency-exit space), auditorium interior |
The Hayes Theater is a famous Broadway theater located at 240 West 44th Street in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It has had several names over the years, including the Little Theatre and the Helen Hayes Theatre. The theater is named after the well-known actress Helen Hayes. Today, it is run by the Second Stage Theater company.
With 597 seats, the Hayes Theater is the smallest Broadway theater. It was built in 1912 for a theater producer named Winthrop Ames. The original design by Ingalls & Hoffman had an old-fashioned, elegant style. At first, it had only 299 seats on one level. But in 1920, architect Herbert J. Krapp added a balcony to make it bigger. Over the years, this theater has been used for plays, conferences, and even as a TV and radio studio.
The outside (facade) and some parts of the inside of the theater are protected as New York City landmarks. The outside is mostly made of red brick. Inside, you'll find beautiful decorations, especially in the lobby and the main seating area.
Where is the Theater?
The Hayes Theater is at 240 West 44th Street in New York City. It sits on the south side of the street, between Eighth Avenue and Seventh Avenue. This area is known as the Theater District, close to Times Square.
The theater building takes up about 7,225 square feet (671 square meters) of land. It has a front side of 75 feet (23 meters) on 44th Street. The Hayes Theater is surrounded by other famous places. These include the St. James Theatre and Sardi's restaurant nearby. Many other Broadway theaters are also close by, like the Majestic and Shubert Theatre. Before the theater was built, this spot had several large brownstone houses.
Theater Design
The Hayes Theater was designed by Ingalls & Hoffman for Winthrop Ames. It opened in 1912 as the Little Theatre. The design mixed different old American styles, like Federal and Georgian. Ames wanted the theater to feel like an "old colonial house" where guests were invited to enjoy a play.
When it first opened, the Little Theatre had only one level of seating. This made it feel very cozy and personal. In 1920, Herbert J. Krapp updated the theater, adding a second level (a balcony). This made it bigger and more like other Broadway theaters. Since 2018, the theater has been run by Second Stage Theater, a group that puts on plays and shows.
Outside Look
The outside of the theater is made of red brick with stone decorations. The main entrance is on the left side of the building's front. A stone base runs along the bottom. The rest of the front has windows with white frames.
The entrance is a brick archway. Inside the arch are two wooden doors, surrounded by fancy columns. Above the arch, there's a stone sign that says "The Little Theatre MCMXII" (which means 1912). To the right of the main entrance, there are four double doors. These are emergency exits from the lobby. The building also has a slight step back above the ground floor.
The second and third floors have six windows each, with shutters. The windows on the second floor have curved metal balconies in front of them. The windows on the third floor are also decorated. A decorative edge (cornice) runs along the top of the third story.
Inside Spaces
Lobbies
When you enter the theater, you first come to the box office and a lobby area. The lobby has two parts and is decorated with detailed designs. The main part of the lobby is a rectangular room. From here, you can go to the emergency exits that lead to 44th Street.
The lobby has columns and decorative arches. Staircases on both sides of the lobby lead up to the balcony level. The ceiling of the main lobby is curved, like a tunnel, and has a fancy chandelier hanging from it. The ceiling in the emergency exit area also has decorative panels.
Auditorium
The Hayes Theater is the smallest Broadway theater, with 597 seats. The main seating area, called the auditorium, has a lower level (orchestra) and one balcony. There is a stage at the front. The whole space is decorated with beautiful plaster designs.
Originally, the Little Theatre had only 299 seats on one level. The seats were arranged in 15 rows. One special seat was even designed for a famous businessman, J. P. Morgan. The orchestra level slopes down towards the stage, so everyone has a good view. The side walls of the auditorium now have a blue mural that looks like old tapestries.
At the back of the balcony, there's a walkway. The side walls of the balcony have arched openings. Some of these are emergency exits, and others are windows. These windows allowed Winthrop Ames to watch the shows from his office. The front railing of the balcony is also decorated with fancy plasterwork.
At the very front of the auditorium is the proscenium, which frames the stage. The ceiling is flat but has very detailed plaster decorations. It has patterns of flowers, ribbons, and figures. In the center of the ceiling, there's a large oval panel with cherubs and female figures. Chandeliers hang from the ceiling.
Other Rooms
The theater also has other interesting rooms. On the west side of the lobby, there was a ladies' room with a large mirror and fancy furniture. Downstairs, there was a tea room that looked like a cozy living room. It had oak furniture and was used for serving drinks during breaks. There was also a men's smoking room in the basement.
The second and third floors of the theater building had offices. Winthrop Ames's own offices were right above the main seating area. Backstage, there were elevators and stairs leading to the dressing rooms for the actors. There was also a "green room," a special lounge where actors could relax before and after performances.
History of the Theater
Around the early 1900s, the Times Square area became the main place for big theater shows in New York City. Many theaters were built there, including the Little Theatre. Winthrop Ames, who came from a rich family, decided to build smaller theaters after his large New Theatre didn't do well. He wanted a more personal space for plays.
Early Broadway Shows
Building and First Years
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In September 1911, Ames announced his plan to build a 300-seat theater near Times Square. The plans for the Little Theatre were filed in November 1911. With 299 seats, the theater didn't need to follow some strict fire safety rules for larger venues. Ames also created a company to run the theater.
Ames shared more details in December 1911. He wanted the Little Theatre to show "clever, unusual dramas." Some people thought the location was too far from Times Square, but Ames disagreed. Others said the theater was too fancy because all seats had equally good views and cost the same. The theater was built very quickly.
The Little Theatre opened on March 12, 1912, with a play called The Pigeon. Other early shows included Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Rutherford and Son. Ames paid for many of these first shows himself. In 1914, A Pair of Silk Stockings became a big hit, running for 223 performances. Ames also hired musicians to play new American music during intermissions. He took a break from theater in 1915, so the Little Theatre was dark for a season.
Expansion and New Operators
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By 1915, Ames realized that the small size of the Little Theatre made it hard to earn enough money. He planned to make it bigger, possibly adding a balcony and more seats. In 1917, he hired Herbert J. Krapp to remodel the theater. Krapp kept the original lobby and ceiling but added new decorations.
The renovation was delayed for three years. In 1918, A Little Journey ran for 252 performances. The expansion plans were approved in June 1919, and Ames leased the theater to Oliver Morosco. After the expansion was finished in early 1920, Morosco presented new plays like Mama's Affair and Beyond the Horizon. Then, The First Year opened in October 1920 and ran for almost two years, which was a huge success.
In 1922, John Golden took over Morosco's part of the lease. By this time, Ames had lost a lot of money on the theater. Many plays were staged during the 1920s. Pigs ran for 347 performances in 1924. Other popular shows included The Wisdom Tooth and Two Girls Wanted in 1926. In 1929, Let Us Be Gay ran for 353 performances.
1930s Changes
In 1929, Ames retired from producing shows but still owned the Little Theatre. In 1931, The New York Times newspaper bought the theater. They originally planned to tear it down to make space for their nearby building. But because of the Great Depression, they decided to keep the theater open for a while. Ames's lease ended in 1932.
The New York Times then leased the theater to other companies. It hosted many short-lived plays during this time. In 1935, CBS (a broadcasting company) leased the theater to use as a radio studio. They reduced the seating to 475. CBS stayed for about a year and a half before moving to a larger theater.
In 1936, playwright Anne Nichols leased the theater for plays, renaming it Anne Nichols' Little Theatre. It hosted shows like Promise and Abie's Irish Rose. The original name, Little Theatre, was brought back in 1937. By 1939, the Times again thought about tearing down the theater. But other theater owners nearby didn't want that to happen. The Times decided to delay the demolition. In 1940, the theater hosted a show called Reunion in New York.
Times of Mixed Use
1940s and 1950s
In December 1941, the theater became a conference center called the New York Times Hall. It hosted speeches, concerts, and discussions. For example, the mayor gave a speech about air-raid plans there. The sloped floor was made flat, and pipes were replaced. In 1944, the New York Times planned to build an 11-story building on the site, but this never happened.
By July 1951, the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) leased the theater to use as a television studio. ABC changed the theater for TV shows, extending the stage and adding control rooms. It was also used for ABC radio shows. In 1958, Dick Clark's The Dick Clark Show started broadcasting from the Little Theatre. The game show Who Do You Trust? with Johnny Carson was also filmed there.
1960s and 1970s
In 1962, Roger Euster bought the Little Theatre. He wanted to have daily "marathon presentations" with various plays and shows running for 17 hours a day. The first new play, Tambourines of Glory, opened in November 1963 but closed quickly. Euster even tried to offer free drinks, but this was stopped.
In 1964, Euster sold the theater. It was renamed the Winthrop Ames Theatre that September. A play called The Subject Was Roses moved there. In March 1965, the play moved again, and the theater's name went back to the Little Theatre. Westinghouse Broadcasting then leased the theater to use as a TV studio.
Westinghouse taped The Merv Griffin Show and The David Frost Show there. The game show Beat the Clock was also taped at the Little Theatre. By 1972, the theater was empty for a while. In May 1974, Westinghouse Broadcasting bought the Little Theatre.
Return to Broadway
1974 to 1989
The Little Theatre started hosting plays again in 1974 with My Sister, My Sister. Because it was so small, the Actors' Equity Association (a union for actors) gave it special rules. In 1977, Gemini became a huge hit, running for 1,819 performances over four years.
Westinghouse later sold the theater. In 1983, the Little Theatre was renamed the Helen Hayes Theatre, honoring actress Helen Hayes. She was 82 years old at the time. Hayes had outlived another theater named after her, which had been torn down. After Torch Song Trilogy finished its long run, the Hayes hosted other shows like The News and The Nerd.
In 1987, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission decided to protect the Hayes Theater as a landmark. This meant its outside and parts of its inside could not be changed without permission. The owners tried to sell the theater in 1987 and 1988, but there were no buyers. Later in the 1980s, the Hayes hosted shows like Romance/Romance and Artist Descending a Staircase.
1990 to 2007
In 1990, Prelude to a Kiss ran for a year at the Helen Hayes Theatre. The theater was remodeled in 1992. In 1995, Rob Becker's show Defending the Caveman opened and ran for almost two years. This was followed by The Last Night of Ballyhoo in 1997, which had 577 performances. Other shows in the late 1990s included Night Must Fall and Epic Proportions.
In 2000, Dirty Blonde was a hit. Then came solo shows like George Gershwin Alone (2001) and Say Goodnight, Gracie (2002). In 2003, Golda's Balcony opened and ran for 493 performances. Later shows included Latinologues (2005) and Xanadu (2007), which ran for 512 performances.
Second Stage Theater Takes Over
Sale and More Shows
In 2008, the owners planned to sell the Hayes Theater to Second Stage Theater, a non-profit theater company. Second Stage wanted to buy and renovate the theater. While they raised money, shows like Slava's Snowshow and The 39 Steps played at the Hayes.
In 2010, Second Stage was raising $45 million for the purchase and renovation. They also planned to sell the theater's naming rights. The theater hosted Next Fall and Colin Quinn's show Long Story Short. In 2011, the popular musical Rock of Ages moved to the Hayes. It ran for almost four years and set a box office record for the theater in 2012, earning $744,667 in one week.
After Second Stage raised enough money, the sale was delayed. In 2015, Second Stage and the owners had a disagreement, but they resolved it. The sale of the Hayes to Second Stage was finalized in April 2015. This made Second Stage one of only four non-profit theater companies to own a Broadway theater. Before a big renovation, the Hayes hosted Dames at Sea (2015) and The Humans (2016).
Renovation and Reopening
The Humans moved to another theater in July 2016 to allow Second Stage to start its renovation. Second Stage spent $64 million in total, including buying the theater and renovating it. The renovation added an elevator, new restrooms, and updated systems. The dressing rooms were also moved to the third floor.
Second Stage planned to show plays by living American writers, especially women and minority writers. This was different from many other Broadway theaters. Second Stage's first show at the Hayes was Lobby Hero in March 2018. Other shows included Straight White Men and a new version of Torch Song Trilogy. In 2019, What the Constitution Means to Me and Linda Vista were staged.
In early 2020, Grand Horizons played at the Hayes. However, all Broadway theaters closed on March 12, 2020, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This delayed the opening of Take Me Out.
The Hayes Theater reopened on November 3, 2021, with a play called Clyde's. Take Me Out finally opened in April 2022. Other recent shows include The Kite Runner (2022), Between Riverside and Crazy (2022), The Thanksgiving Play (2023), The Cottage (2023), Appropriate (2023), and Mother Play (2024).
Famous Productions
Here are some of the notable plays and musicals that have been performed at the Hayes Theater, listed by the year they first opened.
As the Little Theatre
- 1912: The Affairs of Anatol
- 1912: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
- 1912: Rutherford and Son
- 1914: The Truth
- 1918: A Little Journey
- 1919: Please Get Married
- 1920: Mama's Affair
- 1920: Beyond the Horizon
- 1920: He and She
- 1920: A Midsummer Night's Dream
- 1920: The First Year
- 1924: Little Jessie James
- 1925: The School For Scandal
- 1926: Two Girls Wanted
- 1928: Gods of the Lightning
- 1929: Let Us Be Gay
- 1930: London Calling
- 1931: Mrs Moonlight
- 1933: One Sunday Afternoon
- 1934: The Lady from the Sea
- 1937: Abie's Irish Rose
- 1941: Twelfth Night
- 1964: The Dybbuk
- 1964: The Subject Was Roses
- 1975: Man On The Moon
- 1976: The Runner Stumbles
- 1977: A Party with Betty Comden & Adolph Green
- 1977: Gemini
- 1982: Torch Song Trilogy
As the Helen Hayes Theatre (1983–2017)
- 1985: The News
- 1986: Mummenschanz: "The New Show"
- 1986: Oh, Coward!
- 1987: The Nerd
- 1988: Romance/Romance
- 1989: Mandy Patinkin in Concert: "Dress Casual"
- 1989: Artist Descending a Staircase
- 1990: Miss Margarida's Way
- 1990: Prelude to a Kiss
- 1993: Shakespeare For My Father
- 1994: The Flying Karamazov Brothers "Do The Impossible"
- 1995: Defending the Caveman
- 1997: The Last Night of Ballyhoo
- 1999: Night Must Fall
- 1999: Epic Proportions
- 2000: Dirty Blonde
- 2001: George Gershwin Alone
- 2001: By Jeeves
- 2002: The Smell of the Kill
- 2002: Say Goodnight, Gracie
- 2003: Golda's Balcony
- 2005: Jackie Mason: Freshly Squeezed
- 2005: Latinologues
- 2006: Bridge and Tunnel
- 2006: Kiki & Herb: Alive on Broadway
- 2006: Jay Johnson: The Two and Only
- 2007: Xanadu
- 2008: Slava's Snowshow
- 2009: The 39 Steps
- 2010: Next Fall
- 2010: Long Story Short
- 2011: Rock of Ages
- 2015: Dames at Sea
- 2016: The Humans
As the Hayes Theater (Second Stage)
- 2018: Lobby Hero
- 2018: Straight White Men
- 2018: Torch Song
- 2019: What the Constitution Means to Me
- 2019: Linda Vista
- 2020: Grand Horizons
- 2021: Clyde's
- 2022: Take Me Out
- 2022: Kite Runner
- 2022: Between Riverside and Crazy
- 2023: The Thanksgiving Play
- 2023: The Cottage
- 2023: Appropriate
- 2024: Mother Play
See also
- List of Broadway theaters
- List of New York City Designated Landmarks in Manhattan from 14th to 59th Streets
