Cort Theatre
| Cort Theatre 138 West 48th Street New York, NY 10019 Click Here For More Info On The Theatre |
Location
The Cort Theatre is located on
48th Street, between Sixth and Seventh Avenue.
Parking
See our discount parking guide for parking near this theater
Background
Located on the east side of Broadway, in the upper regions of the Times Square area, the Cort Theatre is easy to miss. But once you give it a good look, you'll see it's actually a wonderfully intimate and attractive theater. The Cort opened in 1912 and was named after the man who built it, Seattle-based actor-turned-producer John Cort. At about 1,000 seats, it has been primarily a playhouse, though perhaps none of the many productions that have been there over the years is as well-known as the debut play, Peg o' My Heart. The Jazz Singer and Room Service both went on to become memorable movies (the former being the first "talkie" and the latter starring the Marx Brothers); more recently, actress Nicole Kidman created a sensation at the Cort when she appeared nude onstage in David Hare's The Blue Room. For awhile, the Cort Theatre was even home to a beloved television production, "The Merv Griffin Show", when the theater served as a TV studio in the late '60s and early '70s. But in 1974, the Shubert Organization renovated the Cort and brought it back to theatrical life again.
Design
The three-tiered Cort Theatre was designed by architect Edward B. Corey. The handsome interior is a soft gold with red seats, and a mural decorates the space above the stage. Beware, the bathrooms at this theater are tiny.
Directions
By Subway, take the 1/2/3/9 to 50th Street, walk south on Broadway and then make a left onto 48th Street. Or take the N/R/W to 49th Street, walk south on Seventh Avenue, and turn left onto 48th Street.
Best Seats
Most of the sightlines are good throughout the theater, but the upper level seating is pretty cramped. The best seats are in the center orchestra.
Previous Shows
Notable past productions at the Cort Theatre include Peg o' My Heart, Merton of the Movies, The Jazz Singer, Boy Meets Girl, The Male Animal, Cafe Crown, The Rainmaker, The Diary of Anne Frank, Roman Candle, Purlie Victorious, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, The Magic Show, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Sarafina!, Two Shakespearean Actors, Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992, An American Daughter, Freak, and The Blue Room.
Seating Chart:
