Neil Simon Theatre
| Neil Simon Theatre 250 West 52nd Street New York, NY 10019 Click Here For More Info On The Theatre |
Location:
The Neil Simon Theatre is located on the south side of 52nd Street, between
Broadway and 8th Avenue. It is number 3 on The Broadway Map
Background:
The Alvin Theatre (later renamed to the Neil Simon Theatre) was opened in 1927
and named for Alex Aarons and Vinton Freedley who produced a string of hits
such as Lady Be Good, Tip Toes and Oh Kay with scores by George and Ira Gershwin.
The producers lost control of the Alvin Theatre in 1932, due to the failure
of the show "Pardon My English" and the great depression that engulfed the US in the early thirties. The Schubert Organization purchased
the Alvin Theatre, and in 1983 named it the Neil Simon Theatre for one of the
world’s most successful playwrights. Neil Simon has four Tony Awards,
two Emmys, a Screen Writers Guild Award, and a Pulitzer Prize. Neil Simon had
back to back productions at the theatre in the 1980’s and the Neil Simon
Theatre is now part of the Nederlander Organization.
Design:
The Alvin Theatre has a red brick facade, dominated by three double
height arched windows. It was built with a spacious lobby in black marble.
The auditorium is wide and deep with a single balcony. Since it has a large
stage and an orchestra pit that can accommodate forty-eight musicians, the
Neil Simon Theatre is ideal for the production of large musicals.
Best Seats:
The Neil Simon Theatre has a seating capacity of 1,334. The best seats in the
theatre are located in orchestra C thru K as well as the front mezzanine.
Directions:
Take the C, E, 1, or 9 trains to 50th Street. Walk north to 52nd Street, then
east to the Neil Simon Theatre. It is across the street from the Virginia Theatre.
Parking
See our discount parking guide for parking near this theater
Miscellaneous:
The restrooms at the Neil Simon Theatre are located upstairs and downstairs,
however, there are no facilities on the orchestra level. The theatre has
no elevators or escalators and the main bar of the concession stand is located
on the lower lounge.
Previous Shows:
Many great musicals have opened at the Alvin Theatre. The Aarons/Freedley
hit musical Funny Face, by George and Ira Gershwin was the opening show
at the
Alvin Theatre. The 1934 production of Anything Goes was a Depression era
hit with Ethel Merman, in her Broadway debut, delivering the title song.
A Funny
Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum opened in 1962 and won six Tony Awards,
including one for Zero Mostel, the star of the show. The 1977 production
of Annie won the Tony for best musical; Brighton Beach Memoirs, a Neil
Simon production,
was the first show at the Neil Simon Theatre, and won a Tony for star Matthew
Broderick in 1983; and in 1985, Biloxi Blues, another Neil Simon hit won
a Tony for director Gene Saks.
Seating Chart:
