Gershwin Theatre

The Gershwin Theatre, originally the Uris Theatre, is a Broadway theatre in Paramount Plaza at 222 West 51st Street in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. The theatre is named after brothers George Gershwin, a composer, and Ira Gershwin, a lyricist. It has the largest seating capacity of any Broadway theatre with 1,933 seats, host to large musical productions.[2] The Gershwin has been home to the Tony Award-winning blockbuster musical Wicked since October 30, 2003.

Gershwin Theatre
Uris Theatre
Address222 West 51st Street
New York City
United States
Coordinates40.76255°N 73.98510°W / 40.76255; -73.98510
OwnerParamount Group
OperatorNederlander Organization
TypeBroadway theatre
Capacity1,933[1]
ProductionWicked
Construction
OpenedNovember 28, 1972
ArchitectRalph Alswang
Website

History and architecture

Designed in an modernist Art Nouveau style by set designer Ralph Alswang, it is situated on the lower levels of Paramount Plaza, a towering office complex[3] on the site of the historical Capitol Theatre. Escalators lead from the street level through-block passageway entrance to the expansive lobby, home to The American Theatre Hall of Fame. With a 65-foot wide adjustable proscenium arch and 80-foot wide stage, it is one of the largest Broadway stages, ideal for very large musical productions.[4] A large orchestra with stadium seating, and mezzanine fill the expansive auditorium. It opened as the Uris Theatre on November 28, 1972 (named for the building developer Uris Buildings Corporation) with the musical Via Galactica starring Raul Julia. It proved to be an inauspicious start for the venue, with the first show to lose a million dollars closing after only seven performances. From 1974 to 1976 it served as a concert hall for limited engagements by a number of legendary pop music and jazz performers, before it began to host large musical productions with Porgy and Bess in 1976. The venue was host to the Tony Awards in 1983, 1984, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1999. During the 37th Tony Awards ceremony held June 5, 1983, the theatre was rechristened to honor the Gershwins.[5] The Gershwin was heavily modified for the Broadway production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Starlight Express in 1987, a massive production costing over $8 million. Starlight would go on to run nearly 800 performances at the Gershwin.[6]

On March 12, 2020, the theater closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[7] It reopened on September 14, 2021, with performances of Wicked.[8][9]

Notable productions

Box office record

Wicked set a box office record for the Gershwin Theatre. The production grossed $3,411,819 over nine performances for the week ending December 30, 2018.[10]

References
  1. "Seating Chart". The Gershwin Theater. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
  2. "Theatre 101". The Theatre Development Fund. Archived from the original on October 18, 2007. Retrieved June 9, 2009.
  3. "At This Theatre". Nederlander Organization. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  4. Turner, Adrienne; Barbara Janowitz (1999). Stage Specs: a technical guide to theatres. League of American Theatres and Producers. pp. 354–355. ISBN 978-0962584411.
  5. Lawson, Carol (June 6, 1983). "'Cats' And 'Torch Song Trilogy' Win Top Tonys". The New York Times. p. C11. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  6. Rothstein, Mervyn (August 20, 1988). "'Starlight Express' Out of the Tunnel?". The New York Times. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  7. Paulson, Michael (March 12, 2020). "Broadway, Symbol of New York Resilience, Shuts Down Amid Virus Threat". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on September 16, 2021. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  8. Paulson, Michael (September 14, 2021). "Broadway's Biggest Hits Reopen in Festive Night of Theater". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  9. Gans, Andrew (September 14, 2021). "Wicked Flies Back Into Broadway's Gershwin Theatre September 14". Playbill. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  10. , Production Gross, Playbill.com
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