Richard Rodgers Theatre
Chanin's 46th Street Theatre, 46th Street Theatre | |
 Tarzan in 2006 | |
 | |
| Address | 226 West 46th Street New York City United States |
|---|---|
| Owner | Nederlander Organization |
| Capacity | 1,319 |
| Production | If/Then |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1928 |
| Architect | Irwin Chanin |
| Website | |
| www | |
The Richard Rodgers Theatre, is a Broadway theater located at 226 West 46th Street, between Broadway and 8th Avenue, in New York City. The theatre was built by Irwin Chanin in 1925 and was originally called Chanin's 46th Street Theatre. Chanin almost immediately leased it to the Shuberts, who bought the building outright in 1931 and renamed it the 46th Street Theatre. In 1945, the theatre was taken over by Robert W. Dowling.[1] In 1960, it was purchased by the producer Lester Osterman.,[2] who sold it to producers Stephen R. Friedman and Irwin Meyer in 1978.[3] In 1981, it was purchased and renovated by the Nederlander Organization, who in 1990 changed the house's name to the Richard Rodgers Theatre in memory of the composer.[4]
The theatre currently holds the distinction of having housed the greatest number, ten, of Tony Award-winning Best Plays and Best Musicals, more than any other theatre on Broadway.[5]
Chanin's seating plan
The Richard Rodgers Theatre is notable in that it was the first to feature Chanin's 'democratic' seating plan. In most earlier Broadway theatres, patrons seated in the cheaper balcony and mezzanine sections utilized separate entrances from patrons who had purchased the more expensive orchestra section seats. Instead, all patrons entered the new theatre through the same doors, and a series of steps inside the house led to the upper seating areas.
Notable productions
- The Greenwich Village Follies (December 24, 1925)
- Good News (September 6, 1927)
- Sweet and Low (November 17, 1930)
- Of Thee I Sing (October 10, 1932)
- Hellzapoppin (September 22, 1938)
- Knickerbocker Holiday (February 13, 1939)
- DuBarry Was a Lady (December 1939)
- Finian's Rainbow (January 10, 1947)
- Guys and Dolls (November 24, 1950)
- The Bad Seed (December 8, 1954)
- Damn Yankees (May 5, 1955)
- Donnybrook! (May 18, 1961)
- How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (October 14, 1961)
- 1776 (March 13, 1969)
- Chicago (June 3, 1975)
- The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (June 19, 1978)
- Nine (May 9, 1982)
- Fences (March 26, 1987)
- Lost in Yonkers (February 21, 1991)
- How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying revival (1995)
- Chicago (revival) (November 14, 1996)[6]
- Steel Pier (April 24, 1997)
- Side Show (October 16, 1997)
- Footloose (October 22, 1998)
- Seussical (November 30, 2000)
- Movin' Out (October 24, 2002)
- Tarzan (May 10, 2006 - July 8, 2007)
- Cyrano de Bergerac (October 12, 2007 - January 6, 2008)
- In The Heights (March 2008 - January 9, 2011)[7]
- Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo (March 11, 2011 - July 3, 2011)
- Porgy and Bess (December 17, 2011 - September 23, 2012)
- Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (December 18, 2012 - March 30, 2013)
- The Rascals: Once Upon a Dream (April 15, 2013 - May 5, 2013)
- Romeo and Juliet (August 24, 2013 - December 8, 2013)
- If/Then (March 4, 2014 - March 22, 2015)
- Hamilton (previews will begin July 13, 2015; opening night scheduled for August 6, 2015)
Box office record
In The Heights achieved the box office record for the Richard Rogers Theatre. The production grossed $1,136,062 for the week ending January 4, 2009.[8]
References
- ^ FORREST CHANGES NAME; Theatre Operated by Lotito Now Known as the Coronet
- ^ Osterman, Producer, Buys 46th St. Theatre
- ^ Broadway
- ^ News of the Theater
- ^ "Tony Awards Facts & Trivia"
- ^ The Broadway League. Chicago 1996 revival | IBDB. Internet Broadway Database.
- ^ Jones, Kenneth. "In the Heights". Playbill.
- ^ [1], playbillvault.com
External links
- Broadway Theatre Guide with full show details for the Richard Rodgers Theatre
- The Richard Rodgers at the Internet Broadway Database
- New York City Landmark Guide