Cort Theatre

Cort Theatre
Philip Romano · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	Cort Theatre
Address	138 West 48th Street, New York City
Country	United States
Architect	Thomas W. Lamb
Opened	1912
Yearsactive	1912-present
Capacity	1080

Cort Theatre. The Cort Theatre is a Broadway theatre located in the Theater District, Manhattan, New York City, and is one of the many theaters designed by renowned architect Thomas W. Lamb. It was built by John Cort, a vaudeville producer, and opened on December 20, 1912, with a production of Peg O' My Heart, starring Laurette Taylor. The theater has hosted numerous notable productions, including works by Eugene O'Neill, Tennessee Williams, and Arthur Miller, and has been home to the New York City Center's Encores! series, which has featured performances by Christine Baranski, Audra McDonald, and Neil Patrick Harris.

● History

The Cort Theatre has a rich history, having been built during the Vaudeville era, when Keith-Albee and Orpheum Circuit were prominent vaudeville chains. The theater was originally intended to be a vaudeville house, but it soon transitioned to hosting legitimate theater productions, including plays by George Bernard Shaw, Oscar Wilde, and Noel Coward. In the 1920s, the theater was home to the Ziegfeld Follies, which featured performances by Fanny Brice, W.C. Fields, and Eddie Cantor. The Cort Theatre has also hosted numerous Broadway productions, including The Iceman Cometh, starring Jason Robards, and A View from the Bridge, directed by Elia Kazan and starring Anthony Quinn and Maureen Stapleton.

● Architecture

The Cort Theatre was designed by Thomas W. Lamb in the French Renaissance style, with a beaux-arts exterior and a baroque interior. The theater features a grand proscenium arch, a large orchestra pit, and a balcony with box seats. The building's exterior is adorned with limestone and granite, and features a large marquee with a neon sign. The theater's interior design was influenced by the works of Louis Comfort Tiffany, and features intricate moldings, carvings, and ornamentation. The Cort Theatre is one of the few remaining Broadway theaters that still retains its original architectural features, and has been designated as a New York City landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.

● Productions

The Cort Theatre has hosted a wide range of productions over the years, including plays, musicals, and revivals. Some notable productions include The Front Page, starring Nathan Lane and John Slattery, and The Little Foxes, starring Elizabeth Taylor and Maureen Stapleton. The theater has also been home to numerous musicals, including The Boy Friend, starring Julie Andrews, and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, starring Angela Lansbury and Len Cariou. The Cort Theatre has also hosted productions by the Roundabout Theatre Company, including Cabaret, starring Alan Cumming and Natasha Richardson, and Assassins, starring Neil Patrick Harris and Marc Kudisch.

● Restoration

In the 1980s, the Cort Theatre underwent a major restoration project, which aimed to restore the theater to its original architectural glory. The project was led by the Shubert Organization, which owns and operates the theater, and was funded by a combination of public and private funds. The restoration included the repair and replacement of the theater's ornate plasterwork, moldings, and carvings, as well as the installation of new seating and lighting systems. The project also included the restoration of the theater's historic marquee and neon sign. The restoration was completed in 1986, and the theater was rededicated with a production of The House of Blue Leaves, starring John Mahoney and Swoosie Kurtz.

● Notable Events

The Cort Theatre has hosted numerous notable events over the years, including benefit performances for charitable organizations such as the Actors' Fund of America and the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. The theater has also been the site of numerous award ceremonies, including the Tony Awards and the Drama Desk Awards. In 2011, the Cort Theatre hosted a benefit performance of The Normal Heart, starring Larry Kramer and Joel Grey, to raise funds for the Gay Men's Health Crisis. The theater has also been the site of numerous concerts and recitals, including performances by Patti LuPone, Audra McDonald, and Kristin Chenoweth. The Cort Theatre has also hosted productions by the New York City Opera, including La Bohème and Madama Butterfly. Category:Theatres in New York City