New Amsterdam Theatre facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
New Amsterdam Theatre

The theatre building in 2011, seen from the 9th floor of the New 42nd Street Building
Address	214 West 42nd Street New York City United States
Owner	City of New York
Operator	Disney Theatrical Group
Capacity	1,702
Production	Aladdin
Construction
Opened	October 23, 1903
Architect	Herts & Tallant
Structural engineer	DeSimone Consulting Engineers
New Amsterdam Theatre
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
The crumbling, vacant theatre and surrounding buildings in 1985 before the renovation of 42nd Street
Location in New York City Show map of New York City Location in New York Show map of New York Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Built	(1903)
Architectural style	exterior: Beaux-Arts interior: Art Nouveau
NRHP reference No.	80002664
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	January 10, 1980
Website
http://www.disneyonbroadway.com

The New Amsterdam Theatre is a famous Broadway theatre in New York City. It is located on 42nd Street, near Times Square, in the heart of Manhattan's Theater District. Built between 1902 and 1903, it was designed by architects Henry Hertz and Hugh Tallant.

For many years, from 1913 to 1927, the theatre was home to the popular Ziegfeld Follies shows. Later, it became a movie theatre in 1937 and closed in 1985. The Walt Disney Company then leased and renovated it, reopening it in 1997. Today, it is a flagship theatre for Disney Theatrical Productions on Broadway.

Both the outside (exterior) and inside (interior) of the building are special. The outside shows off a style called Beaux-Arts, and the inside is designed in the Art Nouveau style. These designs are so important that the theatre was named a New York City landmark in 1979. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. The New Amsterdam is one of the oldest surviving Broadway theatres, along with the Hudson and Lyceum Theatres, which were also built in 1903.

Building the Theatre: A Look at Its Early Days

The theatre in 1905

The New Amsterdam Theatre's front (facade) is narrow but leads to a grand interior. This theatre was one of the first buildings in New York to truly show off the Art Nouveau architectural style. It was built in 1902–03 by two theatre owners, A.L. Erlanger and Marcus Klaw.

The architects, Herts & Tallant, worked with many talented artists. Painters and sculptors like George Gray Barnard and Robert Blum helped decorate the theatre. When it was first built, it was the largest theatre in New York, with seats for 1,702 people.

First Shows and Famous Performers

The New Amsterdam Theatre opened its doors on October 23, 1903, with a play by Shakespeare called A Midsummer Night's Dream. For many years, it was famous for hosting the Ziegfeld Follies. These shows featured many amazing performers.

Some of the stars who performed there included Fanny Brice, Bert Williams, Will Rogers, and Eddie Cantor. Even silent film star Olive Thomas performed there. Some people even say her ghost still haunts the theatre!

The theatre also had a special "Roof Garden" where a more daring show, the Midnight Frolics, was performed. Famous musicals like Sally (1920) and Sunny (1925) were big hits here. Even serious plays, like Julius Caesar with Basil Rathbone, were staged at the New Amsterdam.

Bringing the Theatre Back to Life

The Great Depression in the 1930s made it hard for theatres to stay open. The New Amsterdam Theatre closed in 1936. It briefly reopened in 1937 but was soon changed into a movie theatre.

For many years, the theatre was in rough shape. The city and other groups tried to save it, but it was very expensive. In 1990, one group said it wasn't possible to fix it up.

Disney's Big Renovation Project

In May 1995, Disney Theatrical Productions signed a long-term lease for the theatre. Disney took on the huge task of restoring the building. The theatre was very run-down and needed a lot of work and money to bring it back to its original beauty.

The Roof Garden, however, could not be reopened because it didn't meet modern safety rules. The New Amsterdam Theatre officially reopened on April 2, 1997.

New Shows and Disney Magic

After reopening, the theatre hosted a concert version of King David. Then, in November 1997, Disney's stage version of The Lion King opened there. This show was a huge success and ran until June 2006, when it moved to another theatre.

After The Lion King, Mary Poppins began performances in October 2006 and ran until March 2013. The theatre was then updated again for Disney's Aladdin, which opened in 2014 and is still playing there today.

In 2008, the Roof Garden and the office tower above the theatre were renovated. They now serve as the main offices for Disney Theatrical Productions.

Theatre Records and Special Events

Aladdin at the New Amsterdam Theater

The musical Aladdin has broken the theatre's box office record several times. For example, in August 2014, it earned over $1.6 million in one week. It set a new record in December 2018, bringing in over $2.5 million in just nine performances!

The New Amsterdam Theatre has also hosted special events for charity. It was home to the annual Easter Bonnet Competition, which raises money for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Now, it hosts the Red Bucket Follies, another important charity event.

In 1999, the Backstreet Boys even filmed a concert for Disney Channel at the New Amsterdam Theatre. It was called Backstreet Boys In Concert.

Past Productions at the New Amsterdam Theatre

Here is a list of some of the notable shows that have been performed at the New Amsterdam Theatre over the years:

Images for kids

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  Original entrance arch. The first floor had double doors, above which was a sign with the theater's name. The second story had columns on either side, supporting the decoration of the third-story arch.

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  First floor plan, with west at top. At right (north), the entrance vestibule leads to the narrow lobby and the auditorium's entrance foyer. At left (south), from top to bottom, are the auditorium, promenade foyer, and general reception room.

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  Smoking room

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  Side view of seats

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  Under construction in 1903

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  42nd Street facade as seen in 1905

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  The 42nd Street facade (pictured in 2021) was substantially altered in 1937.

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  The crumbling, vacant theater and surrounding buildings in 1985, before the 42nd Street Redevelopment Project commenced

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  Restored boxes in the auditorium

See also

In Spanish: Teatro New Amsterdam para niños