Ambassador Theatre (New York City)

The Ambassador Theatre is a Broadway theatre located at 219 West 49th Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue in Midtown Manhattan.

Ambassador Theatre
The Ambassador Theatre, showing Chicago
Address219 West 49th Street
Manhattan, New York City
United States
Coordinates40°45′40″N 73°59′06″W
OwnerThe Shubert Organization
Capacity1,125
ProductionChicago
Construction
OpenedFebruary 11, 1921
ArchitectHerbert J. Krapp
Website
shubert.nyc/theatres/ambassador/
DesignatedAugust 6, 1985[1]
Reference no.1308[1]
Designated entityAuditorium interior

Designed by architect Herbert J. Krapp for the Shuberts, the structure is noteworthy in that it is situated diagonally on its site to fit the maximum number of seats possible. Its external appearance, indistinguishable from many other Broadway houses, does not hint at the unusual layout within. The building has been designated a New York City landmark. The theatre's proscenium opening is 44 feet 11 inches (13.69 m) with a grid height of 54 feet 9 inches (16.69 m).

The theatre opened on February 11, 1921, with the musical The Rose Girl. The Shuberts sold the property in 1935, and for the next two decades it was used as a movie theater and television studio for NBC and later the DuMont Television Network, when it was known as the Ambassador Tele-Theatre. In 1956, the Shuberts assumed ownership again and returned it to strictly legitimate use.

The theatre closed on March 12, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It reopened with performances of Chicago on September 14, 2021.

Notable productions

See also

References

    Citations
    1. Landmarks Preservation Commission 1985, p. 1.
    2. Hobe, "Legitimate: Shows on Broadway – Eubie", Variety 292/8 (1978), 96.

    Sources
    • Bloom, Ken (2007). The Routledge Guide to Broadway (1st ed.). Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-97380-9.
    • Botto, Louis; Mitchell, Brian Stokes (2002). At This Theatre: 100 Years of Broadway Shows, Stories and Stars. New York; Milwaukee, WI: Applause Theatre & Cinema Books/Playbill. ISBN 978-1-55783-566-6.
    • Ambassador Theater [Overturned] (PDF) (Report). New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. August 6, 1985.
    • Ambassador Theater Interior (PDF) (Report). New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. August 6, 1985.
    This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.