A triangular gable rises above these windows; there is a terracotta oculus at the center of the gable, surrounded by wreaths and floral decorations. The Nederlander Organization purchased the property in 1977, and rechristened it in honour of the American playwright Neil Simon on Jun. [73][80], The Alvin hosted two musicals by Rodgers and Hart in the late 1930s. New York City zoning sets a maximum floor area for each land lot, after which developers must buy air rights to increase their floor area. [9][13], The outer sections of the auditorium facade are designed as pavilions, which are almost identical to each other except at the top. [55][56] Another Rodgers and Hart musical, Heads Up!, opened at the Alvin that November[57] for a 144-performance run. 250 West 52nd Street (between Broadway and 8th Avenue), New York, NY 10019, 7 wheelchair spaces available on Orchestra level. [226] The LPC designated the facades of the Simon, Ambassador, and Virginia (now August Wilson) theaters as landmarks in August 1985, along with the Ambassador's and Simon's interiors,[227][228] over the objections of the three theaters' owners. Copyright 2022 New York Show Tickets Inc. 52nd Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue. [248][249], A dance troupe of Don Cossacks from Russia had a limited engagement at the Simon in January 1990,[243][250] That October, comedian Jackie Mason launched his solo series Brand New,[251][252] which ran for eight months. neil simon theatre york tripadvisor theater [22] The theater originally had a capacity of 1,400 seats, with 702 in the orchestra, 674 in the balcony, and 24 in the boxes. neil simon theatre york tripadvisor theater neil simon theatre york theater [156][173][174] The next year, Stephen Sondheim, Burt Shevelove, and Larry Gelbart's musical A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum opened,[175][176] running for 967 performances. [320][321] In July 2015, the Nederlanders sold 20,000sqft (1,900m2) of the unused air rights above the Simon for $8.9 million.

neil simon theatre york tripadvisor

[27][31] Aarons was a producer of musical comedies, while Freedley was "the only Broadway producer whose name was listed in the social register". There are some air-conditioning vents on the walls. Above the pediment, there are colonettes with female grotesques, which extend upward to the entablature that surrounds the auditorium. Neil Simon had back to back productions at the theatre in the 1980s and the Neil Simon Theatre is now part of the Nederlander Organization. [12][16], The ceiling contains groin vaults on the side walls, separated by ribs with plasterwork decorations. [4], The Neil Simon Theatre, originally the Alvin Theatre, was designed by Herbert J. Krapp and was constructed in 1927. Broadway Play 1988 Revival", "Ah, Wilderness! [13][14], The stage house is to the right of the auditorium.

[314][315] This was followed by two similarly short runs: Robert Schenkkan's play All the Way from March to June 2014,[316][317] and Sting's musical The Last Ship from October 2014 to January 2015. The center bays of the stage house also have terracotta panels above the third and fourth floors. ', "Anything Goes Broadway Musical Original", "Anything Goes (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1934)", "News of the Stage; Gershwin's Folk Opera, 'Porgy and Bess', Opens Tonight -- Cooper-Merivale Repertory-to Close", "Porgy and Bess Broadway Musical Original", "Porgy and Bess (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1935)", "News of the Stage; ' Mid-West' Tonight at the Booth -- 'Porgy and Bess' Closing Jan. 18 -- Behrman Play Due Feb. 17", "Red, Hot and Blue Broadway Musical Original", "Red, Hot and Blue (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1936)", "THE PLAY; George M. Cohan as the United States President in 'I'd Rather Be Right', "I'd Rather Be Right Broadway Musical Original", "I'd Rather Be Right (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1937)", "THE PLAY in Review; George Abbott's 'The Boys From Syracuse' Opens With Music and Lyrics by Rodgers and Hart and Clowning by Jimmy Savo", "The Boys from Syracuse Broadway Musical Original", "The Boys from Syracuse (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1938)", "THE PLAY; Lunt's and Fontanne's 'Taming of the Shrew' Comes Back for the Finnish Relief Fund", "There Shall Be No Night Broadway Play Original", "There Shall Be No Night (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1940)", "THE PLAY in Review; Robert E. Sherwood's 'There Shall Be No Night' Brings Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne Back to Town in a Drama About Finland's Resistance", "Lady in the Dark' Is Closing May 30; Gertrude Lawrence Vehicle Is Scheduled to Halt at Alvin After 460 Performances", "Lady in the Dark Broadway Musical Original", "Lady in the Dark (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1941)", "News of the Stage; 'Lady in the Dark' to Have Premiere Tonight --Plymouth Gets 'The Doctor's Dilemma', "Todd Show Bows at Alvin Tonight; Musical, 'Something for the Boys,' Stars Ethel Merman -- 'Dark Eyes' Due Jan. 14", "Something for the Boys Broadway Musical Original", "Something for the Boys (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1943)", "Alvin Is Booked for the 'Jackpot'; Freedley to Open Musical in Favorite Theatre on Jan. 13 -- 'Inn' Premiere Moved Up", "Jackpot (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1944)", "Freedley Musical to Close Saturday; ' Jackpot' Will Depart After 67 Performances -- Belasco to House 'Mrs. [279][280], A revival of the musical The Music Man opened at the Simon in early 2000,[281][282] lasting until the end of 2001. [177][178] During A Funny Thing's run in October 1962, Lester Osterman (owner of the 46th Street and O'Neill theaters) leased the Alvin for five years. [18], On either side of the stage is a wall section with three boxes at the balcony level. [139][140] The next year, Norman Krasna's comedy Kind Sir opened at the Alvin with Mary Martin and Charles Boyer. [108][116] The same year, the Alvin hosted Joan of Lorraine with Ingrid Bergman, Sam Wanamaker, and Romney Brent. The facade is divided into two sections: the six-story stage house to the west and the five-story auditorium to the east. [25][26] The Alvin Theatre was one of the later theaters to be built before the Depression. [246][247] Around that time, the LPC had held a hearing on whether a hotel developed by Silverstein Properties could be cantilevered over the Simon. The building was rewarded with New York City landmark status in 1985. The Neil Simon Theatre has a red brick facade, dominated by three double height arched windows. [109][110] Howard S. Cullman, who owned Hammerstein's, intended to return that theater to legitimate use. [63][64] That year, the theater hosted a transfer of Eugene O'Neill's play Mourning Becomes Electra, as well as Jerome Kern's musical Music in the Air. The producers lost control of the Alvin Theatre in 1932, due to the failure of the show Pardon My English and the Great Depression that engulfed the U.S. in the early thirties. [134][135][136] Point of No Return was followed in December 1952 by the revue Two's Company, with Bette Davis in her first Broadway appearance in 22 years,[137][138] but it only lasted about 90 performances. [11] Above the auditorium were three stories of offices. The theater reopened in December 2021 with previews of MJ the Musical,[336][337] which officially opened in February 2022.[338][339]. It is accessed by the niche on its western wall, which leads from the ticket lobby, as well as from the six glass-and-bronze doors on the north wall, which lead from the street. (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1958)", "First Impressions Broadway Musical Original", "First Impressions (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1959)", "The Theatre: 'First Impressions'; Austen Book Acted as Musical at Alvin", "Jerome Robbins' Ballet: U.S.A. Broadway Special Original", "Jerome Robbins' Ballet: U.S.A. (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1958)", "Dance: Robbins; Choreographer's New 'Ballets: U.S.A.' Home From Abroad -- Week's Events", "Bells Are Ringing Broadway Musical Original", "Bells Are Ringing (Broadway, Sam S. Shubert Theatre, 1956)", "Greenwillow Broadway Musical Original", "Greenwillow (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1960)", "Les Ballets Africains Broadway Special 1960 Revival", "Les Ballets Africains (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1960)", "West Side Story Broadway Musical 1960 Revival", "West Side Story (Broadway, Winter Garden Theatre, 1960)", "Wildcat (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1960)", "Theatre: Tame 'Wildcat'; Lucille Ball Musical Arrives at Alvin", "The 'Wildcat' Episode, or, Did Broadway Love Lucy? [73][74] The original production of the Gershwins' American folk opera Porgy and Bess opened at the Alvin in October 1935. theatre neil simon theater says york [313] Big Fish only ran from October to December 2013. [12] The orchestra pit in front of the stage could fit 48 people.

On the eastern side of the ground-floor facade is a pair of recessed metal doors. neil simon theatre york tripadvisor [208] By July 1974, Matthaei had defaulted on the theater's mortgage loan, and the Bowery Savings Bank acquired the Alvin in foreclosure. Both the facade and the auditorium interior are New York City landmarks. Each bay contains a double-height arched window at the second story, with terracotta imposts and keystones near the top of each arch. Whereas the eastern (left) pavilion is capped by a parapet, the western (right) pavilion rises for another story, the same height as the stage house. [24] The rear of the orchestra contains a promenade with a paneled wall to the east, with sconces. [253] Another Neil Simon play opened at his namesake theater in March 1992, Jake's Women,[254][255][256] which had 245 performances amid mixed reception. [19], The auditorium has an orchestra level, one balcony, boxes, and a stage behind the proscenium arch. [18], Times Square became the epicenter for large-scale theater productions between 1900 and the Great Depression. [55] The Players brought their production of Uncle Tom's Cabin to the Alvin in May 1933;[65][66] the play was so popular that it was extended two weeks past its original one-week run. neil simon theatre york tripadvisor The front rail of the balcony contains swags, urns, and cameo patterns, which have been partly covered over with light boxes. Other nearby buildings include the August Wilson Theatre to the north; the Broadway Theatre and 810 Seventh Avenue to the northeast; Axa Equitable Center to the east; the Winter Garden Theatre to the southeast; and Paramount Plaza (including Circle in the Square Theatre and the Gershwin Theatre) to the south. It was named after producers Alex Aarons and Vinton Freedley, as an amalgamation of their first names. The Shubert Organization purchased the Alvin Theatre, and in 1983 named it the Neil Simon Theatre for one of the worlds most successful playwrights. [335] However, the Simon did not host another show for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City. [17] Aarons and Freedley received a $570,000 mortgage loan on the theater in January 1929. There is a cornice and paneling above the fifth floor, as well as a parapet with a balustrade above the sixth floor. neil simon theatre york tripadvisor [40] Pincus and Goldstone awarded a general contract for the theater's construction to the O'Day Construction Company that March.

This was done to create the impression that theater-goers were "entering the producer's home". Through the 1960s and 1970s, the Alvin hosted long runs of shows such as A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, High Spirits, The Great White Hope, Company, Shenandoah, and Annie. neil theatre simon seating tickets york charts endstage chart stub ny [46] In 1928, the theater hosted the Gershwin musical Treasure Girl with Gertrude Lawrence. Paneled piers separate the boxes from each other, supporting a smaller entablature directly above the boxes; each small entablature has a broken pediment with scrolls flanking an urn. [261][262] This was followed by concerts from musicians Basia in November 1994[263][264] and Laurie Anderson in May 1995,[265][266] as well as a limited performance by Danny Gans in November 1995. [15], Next to the boxes is a flat proscenium arch, which consists of fluted Ionic pilasters on either side of the opening, as well as an entablature above. [210][211] The sale involved $100,000 in cash and a $1.16 million mortgage loan. The crossover aisle connects to exit doors on both of the side walls, which in turn are topped by friezes with lyres and griffins.

The undersides of the boxes include crystal lamps and console brackets, while the front railings of the boxes contain swags, urns, and cameo patterns. The best seats in the theatre are located in orchestra rows C thru K as well as the first the front mezzanine rows. The fifth-story windows also have rectangular terracotta frames; their sills are connected by a terracotta band course. [149][153] The theater hosted several moderately successful productions in the late 1950s, including the musicals Oh, Captain! simon theatre [94][95][96], The Alvin hosted Porter's musical Something for the Boys with Ethel Merman in January 1943,[97][98] appearing for 422 performances. neil simon theatre york tripadvisor [156][161], CBS sold the Alvin in 1959 to Max and Stanley Stahl, who also owned the neighboring Hellinger Theatre. [30][32] Since 1983,[20][33] it has been named for Neil Simon (19272018), one of Broadway's most prolific playwrights. [38][39] The same month, Pincus submitted plans to the New York City Department of Buildings for a theater at the site, designed by Herbert J. Broadway theater owners are allowed to sell their air rights to developers of any lot between Sixth and Eighth Avenues north of 40th Street, regardless of whether the land lots were contiguous. ", "Natalie Merchant Broadway Special Original", "Natalie Merchant (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1999)", "Pop Review; A Bit of Defiance Amid the Sweetness and Light", "The Scarlet Pimpernel Broadway Musical Original", "The Scarlet Pimpernel (Broadway, Minskoff Theatre, 1997)", "Theater Review; Derring-Do Redone, Once More", "Theater Review; Rogue Sells Horns; Hope Is Free", "The Music Man Broadway Musical 2000 Revival", "The Music Man (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 2000)", "Music Review; A World Where All Is Not Sweetness and Light", "Elaine Stritch At Liberty Broadway Special Original", "Elaine Stritch at Liberty (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 2002)", "Critic's Choice/Theater; A Production Writ Large, Like Its Subject and Star", "A New 'Do: Capacity of Neil Simon Theatre Will Increase for, "Theater Review; Through Hot Pink Glasses, a World That's Nice", "Hairspray Broadway Musical Original", "Hairspray (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 2002)", "A Look Back at Hairspray in Celebration of Its Broadway Anniversary", "HBO to Air Robin Williams' Weapons of Self-Destruction", "Robin Williams Plans Return in September", "Ragtime Broadway Musical 2009 Revival", "Ragtime (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 2009)", "Revival of 'Ragtime' set to close Sunday on Broadway", "Harry Connick, Jr. in Concert on Broadway Broadway Special Original", "Harry Connick, Jr. in Concert on Broadway (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 2010)", "Harry Connick, Jr. The Alvin Theatre (later renamed to the Neil Simon Theatre) was opened in 1927 and named for Alex Aarons and Vinton Freedley who produced a string of hits such as Lady Be Good, Tip Toes and Oh Kay, with scores by George and Ira Gershwin.



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