David H. Koch Theater
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Coordinates: 40°46′19″N 73°59′1″W / 40.77194°N 73.98361°W
The David H. Koch Theater is a theater for ballet and opera, part of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts located at Columbus Avenue & 63rd Street in New York City. Originally named the New York State Theater, the house is home to both the New York City Ballet and New York City Opera. The theater opened in 1964 and occupies the south side of the main plaza of Lincoln Center, which it shares with the Metropolitan Opera House and Avery Fisher Hall.
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[edit] History
The New York State Theater was built with funds from the State of New York as part of New York State's cultural participation in the 1964-1965 World's Fair. The theater was designed by architect Philip Johnson and opened on April 23, 1964. After the Fair, the State transferred ownership of the theater to the City of New York. Richard Rodgers was named President of the Music Theater of Lincoln Center, and during his tenure, many classic Broadway musicals were revived there, among them The King and I, Carousel (with its original star, John Raitt), Annie Get Your Gun (with its original star, Ethel Merman), Show Boat, and South Pacific.
The City leases the theater to Lincoln Center, Inc., which then has a sublease with City Center of Music and Drama, Inc. (CCMD). The present corporation of CCMD (separate and apart from New York City Center on 55th Street) continues to manage the theater today.
In July 2008, billionaire philanthropist David H. Koch pledged to provide $100 million over the next 10 years for the purpose of renovating the theater and providing for an operating and maintenance endowment. It was renamed the David H. Koch Theater at the 2008 New York City Ballet Winter gala.[1] The theater will bear his name for at least fifty years, after which it may be renamed; the Koch family retains the right of first refusal for any renaming.
[edit] Building features and Renovation
The theater seats 2,755 and features continental style seating on the orchestra level, four main “Rings” (balconies) and a small Fifth Ring, faced with jewel-like lights and a large spherical chandelier in the center of the gold paneled ceiling. On March 18, 2009 it was announced that as part of the $80 million dollar renovation project the orchestra will be reconfigured to include two new aisles, allowing for easier access to the orchestra level and reducing the capacity to 2575.
Also during the renovation, slated to finish in the fall of 2009, all the seats and carpeting will be replaced, and the stage lighting system will be completely updated. The orchestra pit will be expanded, which will have the theater lose the first two rows of seats. The pit floor will be put on top of mechanical lifts so that it can be brought up to stage level for music concerts. The renovations are being designed by JCJ Architecture of New York City.
The lobby areas of the theater feature many examples of modern art, including works by Jasper Johns, Lee Bontecou and Reuben Nakian.
The renovation is taking place in several stages coordinated around both rehearsals and performances. The two year project is on schedule for completion in late fall of 2010.
[edit] Notes
- ^ New York Times review by Alastair Macaulay, November 26, 2008
[edit] External links
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 Interior, as seen from the stage |
 Promenade with Elie Nadelman sculpture (reproduction). |
 Promenade |
