Shubert Theatre

Shubert Theatre. The Shubert Theatre is a Broadway theatre located in the Theater District, Manhattan, New York City, and is one of the oldest and most renowned theaters in the city, with a rich history dating back to 1913, when it was founded by the Shubert Organization, a company established by Lee Shubert, Jacob J. Shubert, and Sam S. Shubert. The theater has hosted numerous notable productions, including works by William Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde, and Tennessee Williams, and has been the venue of choice for many famous performers, such as Ethel Merman, Mary Martin, and Yul Brynner. The Shubert Theatre has also been the home of the Tony Awards and has been featured in various films and television shows, including The Producers and Smash (TV series).

● History

The Shubert Theatre was built in 1913 by the Shubert Organization, which was founded by Lee Shubert, Jacob J. Shubert, and Sam S. Shubert, and was designed by Henry Herts, a renowned architect who also designed the New Amsterdam Theatre and the Lyceum Theatre (New York). The theater was named after Sam S. Shubert, who was a key figure in the development of the Shubert Organization and played a significant role in the creation of the Broadway theatre scene, along with other notable figures such as Oscar Hammerstein I and David Belasco. The Shubert Theatre quickly became a popular venue for musicals and plays, hosting productions such as The Ziegfeld Follies and Oklahoma!, which was written by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II and featured Alfred Drake and Joan Roberts. The theater has also been the home of the New York City Center, which was founded by Mayor Fiorello La Guardia and George Balanchine, and has hosted numerous New York City Ballet productions, including The Nutcracker and Swan Lake.

● Architecture

The Shubert Theatre was designed by Henry Herts in the Beaux-Arts style, which was popular in the early 20th century, and features a grand proscenium arch and a ornate plaster ceiling, similar to those found in the Palace Theatre (New York City) and the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. The theater's exterior is adorned with a marquee and a canopy, which were designed by EverGreene Architectural Arts, a company that has also worked on the Radio City Music Hall and the Carnegie Hall. The Shubert Theatre's interior features a grand lobby with a chandelier and a staircase, which were designed by Warren and Wetmore, a firm that also designed the New York Public Library and the Grand Central Terminal. The theater's auditorium has a seating capacity of 1,500 and features a raked floor and a proscenium stage, similar to those found in the Gershwin Theatre and the Minskoff Theatre.

● Productions

The Shubert Theatre has hosted numerous notable productions over the years, including A Chorus Line, which was written by James Kirkwood Jr. and Nicholas Dante and featured Scott Allen and Pamela Blair, and Cats, which was written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and featured Ken Page and Betty Buckley. The theater has also hosted productions of Chicago, which was written by John Kander and Fred Ebb and featured Ann Reinking and Bebe Neuwirth, and The Phantom of the Opera, which was written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and featured Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman. The Shubert Theatre has also been the venue for numerous benefit concerts and galas, including the Tribute to Stephen Sondheim and the American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards ceremony, which has also been held at the Radio City Music Hall and the Beacon Theatre.

● Notable Performers

The Shubert Theatre has been the venue of choice for many famous performers, including Ethel Merman, who starred in Gypsy and Annie Get Your Gun, and Mary Martin, who starred in The Sound of Music and South Pacific. The theater has also hosted performances by Yul Brynner, who starred in The King and I, and Richard Kiley, who starred in Man of La Mancha and Kismet. The Shubert Theatre has also been the venue for numerous concerts and recitals, including performances by Leonard Bernstein, who conducted the New York Philharmonic, and Plácido Domingo, who has performed with the Metropolitan Opera and the Los Angeles Opera. The theater has also hosted performances by Audrey Hepburn, who starred in Ondine and My Fair Lady, and Julie Andrews, who starred in The Sound of Music and Victor/Victoria.

● Restoration and Preservation

The Shubert Theatre has undergone several restorations and preservation efforts over the years, including a major renovation in the 1990s, which was led by the Shubert Organization and the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. The theater's facade and interior were restored to their original Beaux-Arts style, and the theater's seating and stage equipment were upgraded to modern standards, similar to those found in the Gershwin Theatre and the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. The Shubert Theatre is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a designated New York City landmark, along with other notable theaters such as the New Amsterdam Theatre and the Lyceum Theatre (New York). The theater's preservation efforts have been recognized by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the American Institute of Architects, and the theater continues to be an important part of the Broadway theatre scene, hosting numerous productions and performances throughout the year, including those by the Roundabout Theatre Company and the Manhattan Theatre Club. Category:Theatres in New York City