The Neil Simon Theatre, formerly the Alvin Theatre, is a Broadway venue built in 1927 and located at 250 West 52nd Street in the Theater District. [7], The facade consists of two sections, which are connected to each other. which is decorated with plasterwork in the Adam style.
The theater reopened in December 2021 with previews of MJ the Musical,[336][337] which officially opened in February 2022.[338][339]. (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1988)", "Reviews/Theater; O'Neill's Idealistic 'Ah, Wilderness! There are rectangular coffers above either staircase, with crystal chandeliers and surrounding cornices. [18] These staircases were placed in the lounge, rather than within the auditorium itself, to minimize disruption from latecomers. [222][223] The renaming was unrelated to Brighton Beach Memoirs; the Nederlanders had offered to rename the theater after Simon in 1982, but the playwright had declined at the time. Broadway Musical Original", "Oh Captain! The promenade and the orchestra seating are separated by two columns, designed to resemble marble pillars; they are topped by Doric-style capitals. A triangular gable rises above these windows; there is a terracotta oculus at the center of the gable, surrounded by wreaths and floral decorations. [44][45] Brooks Atkinson, the theater critic for The New York Times, wrote: "If Funny Face had been less engrossing, the audience might have had more time to appreciate the new theatre. Each pair of pilasters supports a terracotta entablature and pediment on the fifth floor, as well as a cornice above that story. [218] The Alvin's next non-flop was Your Arms Too Short to Box with God with Al Green and Patti LaBelle, which opened in September 1982. [12][16][17] The western (right) wall has ticket windows, while the eastern (left) wall has a recessed niche to the inner lobby, containing a glass-and-bronze double door flanked by small sconces. The auditorium consists of a ground-level orchestra and one balcony with boxes. Both men hailed from Philadelphia. [11][16] White paint covers many of the original interior decorations. [12][16], The ceiling contains groin vaults on the side walls, separated by ribs with plasterwork decorations. [27][31] Aarons was a producer of musical comedies, while Freedley was "the only Broadway producer whose name was listed in the social register". In the stage-house section of the facade, there are several recessed doorways, including a stage door. January', "Feigay-Smith Show Will Open Tonight; 'Billion Dollar Baby' to Arrive at the Alvin--Mitzi Green, Joan McCracken in Cast", "Billion Dollar Baby Broadway Musical Original", "Billion Dollar Baby (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1945)", "Feigay-Smith Show to Close Saturday; 'Billion Dollar Baby' Leaving Alvin After Run of 219-- CBS in Theatre Deal CBS Trades Theatres Stanton, Rubber Sponsors", "CBS Is Negotiating for Alvin Theatre; Report Radio System Offers $850,000 for House--Jan. 5 'Strange Fruit' Finale Taylor Holmes in Play On and Off the Stage", "Life With Father Broadway Play Original", "Life with Father (Broadway, Empire Theatre, 1939)", "Shaw Play Opens at Alvin Tonight; ' Man and Superman' Marking Return of Maurice Evans -- Frances Rowe in Cast", "Evans Play Moves to Hudson Feb. 16; ' Man and Superman' Leaving Alvin for 'Mister Roberts,' Henry Fonda Vehicle", "Fonda Wll Return to Stage Tonight; Film Actor Is Star of 'Mister' Roberts,' Bowing at Alvin With $300,000 in Till", "Mister Roberts Broadway Play Original", "Mister Roberts (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1948)", "Theatre Owners to Continue Deal; Cullman, Hayward Again Will Exchange Hammerstein Lease With C.B.S. It's Superman (1966),[190][191] Dinner At Eight (1966),[192][193] and Sherry! From the mezzanine lounge, staircases lead down to the north, connecting with the inner lobby, and south, connecting with the orchestra. [222] Members of the theatrical community expressed that the Alvin should have been renamed for the Gershwins; that name had been applied to the Uris Theatre. The Neil Simon Theatre, originally the Alvin Theatre, is a Broadway theater at 250 West 52nd Street in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City. [208] By July 1974, Matthaei had defaulted on the theater's mortgage loan, and the Bowery Savings Bank acquired the Alvin in foreclosure. The exterior is designed in the neo-Georgian style,[3][6] while the interior is designed in the Adam style typical of most of Krapp's designs. [73][74] The original production of the Gershwins' American folk opera Porgy and Bess opened at the Alvin in October 1935.
The undersides of the boxes include crystal lamps and console brackets, while the front railings of the boxes contain swags, urns, and cameo patterns. [18] The space also originally contained a fireplace. The Neil Simon Theatre was designed by Herbert J. Krapp for the real estate mogul Alexander Pincus. New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, The Maid as Mistress/The Secret of Suzanne, Laurie Anderson on Broadway: The Nerve Bible, Danny Gans on Broadway: The Man of Many Voices, Harry Connick Jr.: In Concert on Broadway, List of New York City Designated Landmarks in Manhattan from 14th to 59th Streets, Landmarks Preservation Commission Interior 1985, New York City Department of City Planning, "The Alvin Is Sold to Rock-Time Inc.; Deal for Theater Figures in Redevelopment Plan", "The City Performs: An Architectural History of NYC Theater", "Alex A. Aarons, 52, Theatrical Producer", "Vinton Freedley, Producer, Dead; Offered 'Anything Goes' and 'Girl Crazy'Led ANTA", "Neil Simon, Broadway Master of Comedy, Is Dead at 91", "Two Americans Who Prefer London -- Miss Lillie Goes Abroad -- Success for Miss Le Gallienne -- Varied Items", "Funny Face Broadway Musical Original", "Funny Face (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1927)", "Alvin Theater to Mark 50th Year As Playhouse for Musical Comedy", "Treasure Girl Broadway Musical Original", "Treasure Girl (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1928)", "Realty Finacing; Alvin Theatre Mortgaged for $570,000-Other Loans", "Spring is Here Broadway Musical Original", "Spring Is Here (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1929)", "Heads Up (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1929)", "Girl Crazy Broadway Musical Original", "Girl Crazy (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1930)", "Aarons and Freedley Buy Alvin Theatre; Purchase Ground Also From Pincus and Goldstone, Who Built Playhouse for Them", "Builders Take Over the Alvin Theatre; Control of West 52d Street Play- house Passes From Aarons and Freedley", "Uncle Tom's Cabin Broadway Play Original", "Uncle Tom's Cabin (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1933)", "Uncle Tom to Stay; Will Continue Its Run at Alvin Theatre Two Additional Weeks", "Mary of Scotland Broadway Play Original", "Mary of Scotland (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1933)", "Helen Hayes and Philip Merivale in 'Mary of Scotland' -- Opening of 'The Scorpion. Both the facade and the auditorium interior are New York City landmarks. The original name was an amalgamation of Aarons's and Freedley's first names; the theater was renamed for playwright Neil Simon in 1983. [11][15] At the orchestra level, there is an opening on either wall, corresponding to the locations of the boxes above. [210][211] The sale involved $100,000 in cash and a $1.16 million mortgage loan.
Copyright 2022 New York Show Tickets Inc. 52nd Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue. The closest parking garages for Neil Simon Theatre are located at: The closest parking is not always the best as it often takes longer to park and retrieve your vehicle as fellow theatre goers have the same idea. [67] This was followed in October 1936 by Porter's Red, Hot and Blue with Merman and Jimmy Durante,[69][79] which lasted 181 performances. [293][294] A revival of Ragtime was booked instead,[295] opening in November 2009.
[221] The Nederlanders renamed the theater for Simon shortly afterward on June 29, 1983. The north (right) wall has two sets of paneled wooden doors, separated by a panel with a sconce; the doors in the rear lead to the inner lobby, while those in the front lead to the ticket lobby. [234][235] Nol Coward's play Blithe Spirit opened at the Simon in March 1987;[236][237] the theater also hosted a tribute to one of the play's stars, Geraldine Page, who died mid-run. [333][334], After The Cher Show closed, MJ the Musical had been booked at the Simon for mid-2020. 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. [16][17] Backstage were 20 dressing rooms capable of accommodating 150 performers, as well as a pair of chorus "rest rooms" and a rehearsal room. [8][9] On the upper stories, the facade is made of red brick in English bond, with terracotta trim. [61][62], Pincus and Goldstone took over the Alvin's operations in May 1932 for unknown reasons. A better choice of parking may be the second choice or further away by a couple of Avenues. The middle of the ceiling has a pair of crystal lamps. Each bay contains a double-height arched window at the second story, with terracotta imposts and keystones near the top of each arch. [12][16] Behind the opening, the stage was 100 feet wide and 35 feet deep, with a gridiron 68ft (21m) tall. [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. [162][163] The Stahls quickly hired a new manager for the Alvin. Above the rear balcony is a half-dome with ornamental bands and technical-booth openings. [335] However, the Simon did not host another show for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City. [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. The ground floor is clad with terracotta blocks and contains an entrance with a marquee. Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up? Between these pilasters are double-height niches at the second story, each surrounded by terracotta imposts and keystones. (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? [325][326] A revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber's hit musical Cats opened at the Simon in August 2016 and ran until the end of the next year. Broadway Vacancies Are Up", "Big Fish (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 2013)", "A Dad's Tall Tales and a Down-to-Earth Son", "All The Way (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 2014)", "The Last Ship Broadway Musical Original", "The Last Ship (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 2014)", "Gigi (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 2015)", "Review: Vanessa Hudgens in a Squeaky Clean 'Gigi' on Broadway", "Dream Hotel Developers Buy Neil Simon Theatre's Air Rights for $9M", "Broadway Oxygen Sells For $450 Per Square Foot In Nederlander Deal", "Theater District Will Get Taller, if Not Richer", "The Illusionists - Live on Broadway Broadway Special Original", "The Illusionists - Live On Broadway (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 2015)", "Review: 'The Illusionists' Showcases Magicians and Stagecraft", "Cats (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 2016)", "Review: Does 'Cats' Have Nine Lives on Broadway? The best seats in the theatre are located in orchestra rows C thru K as well as the first the front mezzanine rows. [164] In 1960, the theater hosted the musical Greenwillow,[156][165][166] the dance troupe Les Ballets Africains,[167][168] and a transfer of the musical West Side Story from the Winter Garden. [214] The next five musicals in 1981 and 1982 were short runs. [305] The musical Catch Me if You Can opened in April 2011,[306][307] running for 170 performances. [13][14], The stage house is to the right of the auditorium.



