Theatre at Westbury facts for kids

The Flagstar at Westbury Music Fair is a cool place where people go to see shows and concerts. It's located in a small community called Jericho, near Westbury, New York. This venue is special because it's a theatre in the round. This means the stage is in the middle, and the audience sits all around it, giving everyone a great view! It can hold about 2,870 people.

This theater was one of several similar places created by Shelly Gross and Lee Guber. Their idea was to bring famous performers and popular musicals to towns outside big cities, especially along the East Coast of the United States.

History of the Westbury Music Fair

How the Idea Started

In 1954, a radio host named Frank Ford and a nightclub owner named Lee Guber went to a musical show in a tent. They kept talking about how they could make the show better. Ford's wife finally told them, "Well, why don't you?"

So, they decided to try! They started a company called Music Fair Enterprises, Inc. They teamed up with Shelly Gross, who used to be a TV news anchor. The three of them raised $100,000. They used this money to rent a place in Devon, Pennsylvania. They called it the Valley Forge Music Fair. In its first year, 1955, it made over $50,000 in profit!

Building the Westbury Location

Because their first theater was so successful, they built a second one in 1956. This new place was in an old lime pit in Jericho, New York. Jericho is a suburb on Long Island, not far from New York City. They named it the Westbury Music Fair.

At first, the Westbury Music Fair was a big tent with blue and beige stripes. It could hold 1,850 people. Many theaters in the 1950s were tents like this. The tent cost $120,000 to set up. It was in a good spot in Nassau County, close to major roads. However, it was also under the flight path for planes landing at what is now John F. Kennedy International Airport. Sometimes, the loud jet engines would make it hard to hear the performers!

From Tent to Permanent Building

After a few years, Frank Ford was no longer involved. In 1966, Gross and Guber built a permanent theater on the same spot. This new building was made of concrete and could fit 3,000 people. It had carpeted floors and metal director's chairs, which were later replaced with comfy upholstered seats. The building also had heating and air conditioning, making it comfortable all year round.

The new building kept the "theater in the round" style. This design gives everyone a clear view and makes the audience feel closer to the performers. It also helps keep down the costs for stage sets, as they don't need to be as fancy.

Growth and Success

In its first year, the Westbury Music Fair made $230,000. One of the first shows was a production of The King and I. By 1976, the money it earned had grown a lot, to $13 million! When the theater first opened, tickets cost between $2.50 and $4.50. By 1976, the average ticket price was $8.75.

Changes in Ownership and Name

In 1998, a company called SFX Entertainment bought the theater. Today, it is owned and run by Live Nation.

Over the years, the theater's name has changed several times:

• In 2005, North Fork Bank bought the rights to name the venue. It became the North Fork Theatre in Westbury.
• In 2008, Capital One took over North Fork Bank. So, on March 24, 2008, the theater was renamed the Capital One Bank Theatre at Westbury.
• After just one year, Capital One stopped sponsoring the name. For a short time, it was simply called the Theatre at Westbury.
• In May 2010, New York Community Bank bought the naming rights. From July 2010 until March 2024, it was known as the NYCB Theatre in Westbury.
• As of March 2024, the theater has a new name that brings back part of its original history: Flagstar at Westbury Music Fair.

Famous Performers and Events

Many famous stars and groups have performed at this theater over the years. Some of them include:

• Music legends like The Doors, The Who, Alanis Morissette, The Supremes, The Jackson 5, Janis Joplin, Nina Simone, Chicago, Linda Ronstadt, Eric Burdon & the Animals, Johnny Mathis, Tony Bennett, Ray Charles, Connie Francis, The Carpenters, Britney Spears, 'N Sync, Judy Garland, Jonas Brothers, Liza Minnelli, Frankie Valli, Smokey Robinson, Kenny Rogers, Frank Sinatra, Bruce Springsteen, Lena Horne, Stevie Wonder, Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band, Bob Weir, Chris Isaak, Styx, Vince Gill, Helen Reddy, Olivia Newton-John, Vanessa Williams, Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight, Paul Anka, Engelbert Humperdinck, and The Wiggles.
• Comedians like Jack Benny, Milton Berle, George Carlin, Bill Cosby, Johnny Carson, Sammy Davis Jr., Bob Hope, Don Rickles, Jim Norton, Jerry Seinfeld, Bob Saget, Joan Rivers, Dom DeLuise, and Howie Mandel.
• Other unique acts like Weird Al Yankovic and Video Games Live.

A special moment happened in 1968. Some of the live songs on Nina Simone's album 'Nuff Said! were recorded at the theater. This was just three days after the sad event of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr..

Because of its "theater in the round" design, it's also a good place for professional wrestling shows. For example, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling has held events there.

See also

• House Of Blues