Beautiful Broadway Theater
 

I will be travelling to New York city for 5 days the end of November, first of December, and plan on seeing a few plays. Loved the Jersey Boys the last time around so might try it again. Also thinking of several others Le Cage aux Folles, South Pacific, etc, but wonder if someone could enlighten me as to which theater is the most beautiful, quintessential Broadway type theater? Is there one in particular that stands out as a 'must see' as it is so beautiful, or the biggest, or the most intimate, the most comfy seats , the best acoustics,or just not to be missed? I know most people talk about the shows they see, but I don't hear a lot of talk about the actual theater itself and I love old buildings, over the top period decorations,etc so thought I would pose the question. I guess I am looking for the total package..a great show and a beautiful theater. Is there such a thing?

Irving Berlin's Music Box Theater and the nearby Booth Theater have always been favorites of mine. Since they are intimate, I could enjoy shows in them from the last row in the balcony when I was a poor student.

A good way to learn about theaters is to Google their names with "wikipedia." For instance, Google "music box theater wikipedia" and you will find a history of the theater, photographs, and a list of the shows that have appeared there.

HTTY

The New Amsterdam Theater, long home to the Ziegfeld Follies, was restored to all its historic glory by Disney when The Lion King first opened there. I think Mary Poppins is playing there now.

http://www.newyorkcitytheatre.com/th...er/theater.php

"I love old buildings, over the top period decorations,etc so thought I would pose the question..."

It sounds like you would really enjoy the Radio City Music Hall Stage Door Tour -
http://www.radiocity.com/tours/stage-door-tour.html
Friends gave us passes and I'm so glad they did. It was an amazing tour in an amazing art deco theatre.

If you want to see a show there as well, the Christmas Show is truly spectacular. But even if you do, consider taking a tour of Radio City Music Hall. So much to see and history that I'd never seen/heard of.

I had not considered this time about the tour of Radio City Music hall. We did see the Christmas productions before but I am sure that the tour would be great to see. I love being backstage, so thanks for the suggestion. I still would be interested in hearing of others favorite theaters as word of mouth is so much better than just randomnly looking on the internet. I know there are a lot of people on this board who frequent plays often so they must have an opinion. Maybe I should rephrase the question and ask if there are any theaters that you really try to stay away from because they are so bad, or boring, or the sound is terrible, or the seats are lumpy, or something. Maybe that would make for a better topic.

I'm sorry we have disappointed you.

Broadway shows are expensive; theaters can't charge high prices and then offer lumpy seats and poor sound systems.

The Gershwin theater is a big barn--if that's the kind of information you're looking for.

No theater is boring when there is a great show being performed there.

HTTY

While NOT old theatres, you might enjoy the back stage tour at the Metropolitan Opera and the one at Lincoln Center as well.

http://www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/about/tour/

(and South Pacific is no longer playing and you shouldn't go see the same show twice life is too short and if you happen to go see Elf at the Al Hirschfeld theatre, Al's 2nd wife Louis has put together a great exhibit about Al Hirschfeld on the balcony level and you should also probably visit Carnegie Hall and although the Ziegfeld theatre was built when they tour the original down but it is still a great movie palace that seats 11 hundred people and if you ever get off the Si ferry in SI you should walk up the hill and visit the St George Theater

http://www.stgeorgetheatre.com/

(OMG - I guess I have notes for a future blog post one of these days)

thestarryeye.typepad.com/explorenyc

thanks for the replies. I guess I really should have known that South Pacific was no longer played, not sure how I missed that. :(
I had noticed that Elf was on, and thought it might be interesting as the lead is played by one of the Jersey Boys. Wondered if it was meant more for families and young children or if adults only would be interested in it.
And no, happytrailstoyou, no one has disappointed me. I enjoy hearing whatever any one on this forum has to say. I appreciate any comments.

Be aware that the Radio City Music Hall tour often doesn't even go backstage. I was highly disappointed a number of years ago when we took it as all we really did was explore the house itself and the lobbies. The excuse was that they were setting up the stage for something -- which happens a lot. I couldn't find out how one would know in advance if you'll see backstage or not.

But the Metropolitan Opera tour was fantastic. We were backstage even as they were assembling an amazing set, and we visited dressing rooms, and saw the stage from the light booth. Do not confuse this tour with the general Lincoln Center tour however.

We were lucky and definitely went backstage. Seeing that stage and the technology used in the 30s to create that moving stage was definitely a highlight of the tour. "Spoon" was doing their sound check while we were backstage and the music interrupted some of the guide's comments but we waited and pretty much got a 2fer (even though I'd not heard of Spoon) ;)

The history of the theatre, the lobbies, the three sculptures (that most do not see) and even the cleaning of the chandeliers were very interesting to me. Definitely two thumbs up. I'd always thought about the taking the tour but never actually bought a ticket. The gift of the tickets was a very nice - and very much appreciated - surprise.

Thanks NeoPatrick as I had not thought about the Opera House tour..that sounds like it would be very interesting.

And starrs you are right about not seeing the 3 sculptures either..I have been there twice and cannot recall them at all. That sounds like a good tour too.

Thanks to all who replied. I can hardly wait for this trip. I am counting the days and eagerly anticipating all New York has to offer. I expect it will be very busy with the Christmas crowds, but that is what I am looking forward to anyway.

I second (or third?) the recommendation of the tour at the Metropolitan Opera House.

Those of us fortunate enough to attend Met operas regularly generally see productions that, for the most part (with some recent infamous exceptions!), go off without a hitch, both musically and technically.

The backstage tour at the Met, however, serves up a view of the controlled chaos on the other side of the proscenium arch, all the factors of which--scenery design and construction, moving stage carriages, costuming, wig making, shoemaking, props, etc., not to mention vocal and orchestral preparation--combine to create a perfect operagoing experience in the auditorium itself.

The Met is a so-called repertory house, meaning that it presents several operas (maybe three or four of the almost thirty presented in a given season) during a given week. The cavernous backstage area is usually crammed with sets of other operas not being performed that particular day, plus, of course those for the opera on that day's schedule.

The technical facilities are amazing. Few people realize that the Met, which has one of the largest stages in the world, also has vast backstage spaces, each equaling the size of the stage, above, below, behind and to the left and right of the stage. The tour shows you all of this and more.

Highly recommended.

I neglected to mention the Met's auditorium itself. The tour will inform you about the origin and history of the Met's beautiful chandeliers. These were a gift from the Austrian government, when the House was built in 1966, made by J & L Lobmyer in Vienna, and given to the Met in gratitude for American help in rebuilding the Vienna State Opera House after it had been damaged in WWII by Allied bombers. The Viennese rebuilt their opera house even before they rebuilt housing, and they could think of no better way of reciprocating to the United States than by providing the spectacular chandeliers and sconces in the Met.

Sixteen of the chandeliers hang from the ceiling, ringing the opera house at a level between the first (Parterre) and second (Grand Tier) balconies. When the House first opened in 1966, people thought these chandeliers would interfere with the sightlines, but, in a surprise to the first night audience (and to the delight of audiences ever since), they rose slowly to the ceiling as the house lights were dimmed. A unique spectacle.

You'll also learn about the beautiful rosewood paneling throughout the Opera House. It all comes from Kenya from a single huge tree. And the Met Titles, which provide individualized translations at each seat, rather than being distractingly projected. You'll hear about the Met's exemplary acoustics, especially distinctive because it's one of the world's largest theaters, seating almost 4,000 people. And much more.

Enjoy the Met tour.

Wow, thanks bspeilman for the mini tour of the Met today! You obviously loved the tour to remember so much of the history, and now I can hardly wait to see it myself. Thanks to everyone who mentioned this tour.

Thanks, beba. As longtime patrons of and contributors to the Met, we take an almost proprietary interest in the place.

Could you be persuaded to attend a performance?

You might be interested in this New York Times article about the recent refurbishment of the Belasco Theater:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/29/th...isherwood.html

The show that's currently playing at the Belasco is Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, a musical based on the Pedro Almodovar movie. It's still in previews (the official opening is scheduled for November 4), so there have been no reviews yet.

One word of advice to those purchasing tickets for the Met. I'm happy for those who contribute, but if you prefer not to, then don't give them your phone number when you buy tickets if possible. I've attended only two operas there, but they were calling me almost monthly asking for donations. After four or five attempts to get them to stop, I think they now have. Of course I still get tons of mailings requesting support, but that's not so annoying as the phone calls usually done at dinner time.