Palace Theatre

1554 Broadway, New York, NY 10036

Palace Theatre Information, Shows and Tickets

Directions & Box Office

  • Directions: Take the 1 subway to 50th street. Walk south to 47th street, then east to the theater.
  • Entrance: Broadway, between 46th and 47th Street The Palace Theatre is located on the southeast corner of 7th Avenue and 47th Street.
  • Box Office Hours:
    Monday - Saturday:
    10am - 8pm
    Sunday:
    Noon - 6pm

Best Seats In The House

  • Seats: 1743

The Palace Theatre has a seating capacity of about 1,740 seats. As with other theaters of this size, sitting in the center orchestra or front mezzanine is recommended.

Best Views of the Stage

The view from the first row of the balcony may be blocked by a large horizontal bar, so sitting in the rows behind the first row is recommended for the balcony.

As always, box seats are not recommended, as they do not provide a clear view of the stage.

Palace Theatre Seating Chart

Palace Theatre Seating Chart

Parking for Palace Theatre

The closest parking garages for Palace Theatre are located at:

Q P Theater Lots LLC
223 West 46th Street
New York, NY 10036
212-997-1636
Icon Parking Systems
164 West 46th Street
New York, NY 10036
212-997-9115

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. A better choice of parking may be the second choice or further away by a couple of Avenues.

Additional Notes

Major Reconstruction at The Palace Theatre Began in 2018

The Palace Theatre has been under major reconstruction since 2018. The theatre was lifted and moved into the TSX Broadway building development, a large retail space project in the middle of Times Square. The TSX project now occupies the location that previously housed The Palace Theatre, Doubletree hotel and an office building.

When Will The Palace Theatre on Broadway Reopen?

The Palace Theatre and the associated TSX Broadway development was scheduled to run from October 2018 - June 2022, but the contractors missed many milestones and the project is reportedly now 2 years behind.

The new expected reopening of the Palace Theatre and TSX Broadway is now June 2024. This date is not yet set in stone and may stretch out to 2025 if further construction delays are experienced.

There is also a risk that the TSX Broadway development goes bankrupt and the Palace Theatre would be lost, as it is now part of the bigger development.

Who Approved The Palace Theatre Being Moved?

The New York City Council signed off on the massive redevelopment of the Times Square site in early 2018. The site of the former Palace Theatre and the 54 floor Doubletree Hotel was demolished. The Palace Theatre was then moved up 35 feet in the air. It its new location will now be on 2nd floor of TSX Broadway.

Palace Theatre Past Performance Problems

In the past, the theatre has struggled to keep Broadway shows afloat for longer than a year because of its central location. The theatre however is perfectly located for tourists, as it is just across the street from the TDF TKTS ticket stand in Times Square.

Times Square Location Has Not proven To Be Asset in The Past

This geographic advantage can also be its biggest drawback in getting locals out to see a show at this theatre because both The Palace and The Marquis Theatre can be a nightmare to get through the throngs of tourist traffic that are turning Times Square into an impassable thoroughfare that no self respecting New Yorker wants to attempt to navigate.

The Palace Theatre is one of the few Broadway theaters actually located on Broadway itself and its is the only one in Times Square.

Landlord: Nederlander Organization

Official Ticketer: Ticketmaster

Notes:

Palace Theatre Incorporated into the TSX Broadway Building

The Palace Theater underwent a major reconstruction 2018-2022 and is now part of the TSX Broadway building, a large project in the middle of Times Square. The New York City Council signed off on a massive redevelopment of the site in early 2018 and the site of the former Palace Theatre and the Doubletree hotel looked very different when the construction completed in late 2022.

Details About the Palace Theatre Being Elevated

The official story is that the theater itself was raised about 30 feet and the TSX Broadway building will be built around it, but it appears from the approved plans that parts of the theatre are being demolished and then reconstructed inside a massive new structure that will house premium shopping, hotels, dining and a mall.

Times Square Outdoor Stage and Overlook

In addition to the Palace Theatre, a 4,000-square-foot performance venue was also built that is suspended 30 feet above the street on Times Square, which will make this a permanent outdoor stage in Times Square. This new 46-story complex is now known as TSX Broadway.

Post Construction Operation

The Nederlander Organization will continue to operate the Palace theater separately from the rest of the TSK Broadway project.

Palace Theatre Finds Itself in a New Home Without Moving Too Much

Although the theatre will only be raised about 30 feet, it is now be located on the 5th floor of the new building. The TSX Broadway development has over 75,000 square feet of retail space over 10 floors, with most of that directly above the theatre.

The main tower houses the 669-room hotel. The project cost $2.4 Billion and was finished in 2022.

Elevator: Yes

Escalator: No

Disabled Access Notes:

The theatre is fully accessible and provides an elevator to the left of the stage. Call in advance in order to ensure that accessible seating is provided.

Upcoming Shows

Ben Platt: Live At The Palace

  • Previews Begin: May 28, 2024
  • Opens: May 28, 2024
  • Show Closes: June 15, 2024
Ben Platt performs an exclusive 3-week concert residency presenting a number of Broadway favorites from past and present. The show will debut songs from Platt's upcoming album Honeymind. …more
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Previous Shows

The Spongebob Musical

  • Opened: December 4, 2017
  • Show Closed: September 16, 2018
The Nickelodeon cable channel came to the Great White Way with The Spongebob Musical. The widely popular television cartoon “SpongeBob SquarePants” was transformed for the stage and became a Tony …more

Sunset Boulevard 2017

  • Opened: February 9, 2017
  • Show Closed: June 25, 2017
The story of Sunset Boulevard is a timeless and heartbreaking tale about an aging actress. The musical is an adaptation of the 1950 film of the same name by Billy …more

The Illusionists: Turn of the Century (2016)

  • Opened: November 25, 2016
  • Show Closed: January 1, 2017
The Illusionists – Turn of the Century features seven of the world’s most talented illusionists performing feats of magic, remarkable stunts, and other breathtaking acts. This show has traveled around …more

An American in Paris

  • Opened: April 12, 2015
  • Show Closed: October 9, 2016
A recently separated US Army veteran tries to start over by moving to Paris and meets a French girl in a post-World War II landscape. …more

Legally Blonde

  • Opened: April 29, 2007
  • Show Closed: October 19, 2008
Legally Blonde tells the story of Elle Woods as she enrolls at Harvard Law School and discovers that her heart and knowledge of the law can help others. …more

Aida

  • Opened: March 23, 2000
  • Show Closed: September 5, 2004
Elton John and Tim Rice's musical, Aida, follows two lovers as they handle the perils of cultural expectation during the time of the Pharaohs in Egypt. …more

Palace Theatre History

The Palace Theatre opened as a vaudeville house in 1913 and quickly became one of the top Broadway Theatres.

Theatre Originally Conceived by Martin Beck

The theatre was conceived by theatre impresario Martin Beck, but he lost control of 75% of the Palace by the time it opened, Beck did manage to keep control of the booking of acts.

Theatre Languished Between 1940 and 1965

During the vaudeville era, the Palace Theatre had such stars as Harry Houdini, W.C. Fields, and the Marx Brothers grace its stage, but from the 1930s onwards it struggled for survival. From 1040 until 1965 the Palace was turned into a movie house. In April 1965 the Nederlander Organization bought the theatre and restored the theatre to former glory and Broadway legitimacy.

Theatre Renovations 2018 - 2022

Soon after the final show closed in September 16, 2018, demolition of the existing structure began and for the next four years the entire theatre was lifted 30 feet higher and incorporated into the TSX Broadway building on Broadway.

Renovations Experience Delays

The reconstruction was originally estimated to keep the Palace closed until 2021, with the pandemic and the construction problems, the theatre remained closed. The entire theatre was raised up and the lift process took eight weeks. During the lift, the bottom of the theater enclosure was cushioned by a 5-foot-thick layer of concrete, and 34 hydraulic posts. The original columns that supported the auditorium were also replaced.

New Theatre Entrance Now on 47th Street

Part of the renovation include a new theatre entrance on 47th Street, some amenities, and updates to the venue’s technology. The landmarked elements of the building were restored to their original glory, highlighting the beautiful stonework and the rich plaster details that harken back to its Vaudeville days. The chairs were changed from red to a deep blue velvet.

Palace Theatre Show History

The first big hit at the Palace Theatre after its 1966 restoration was Sweet Charity, starring Gwen Verdon and directed by Bob Fosse.

Other shows that followed included:

  • Woman of the Year, starring Lauren Bacall, went on to win four Tony Awards
  • La Cage aux Folles and the Will Rogers Follies
  • The spectacular Disney musical Beauty and the Beast opened there in 1994, but transferred to the Lunt-Fontanne five years later, in November 1999
  • Other successful musical productions at the Palace Theatre includes Elton John's Aida, All Shook Up, Lestat, Legally Blonde, West Side Story and Priscilla Queen of the Desert

Host of Special Showcases

The Palace Theatre has hosted many special showcases of some of the greatest entertainers of yesterday and of the late 20th century, including Sarah Bernhardt, Bob Hope, Danny Kaye, Judy Garland, Bette Midler, Josephine Baker, and Liza Minnelli.

Palace Theatre Design

The Palace Theatre, which was originally attached to a 12-story office building, that was designed by architects Kirchoff and Rose.

The façade is an example of Beaux Arts style. The original auditorium was decorated with lavish ornamental plasterwork, and the outer lobby was decorated with marble and bronze fittings.

Past Renovations

A major renovation in 1965 was done by the famed scene designer Ralph Alswang. The Palace Theatre was restored again in the 1980s when its old office building was replaced by the skyscraper Embassy Suites Hotel. A new entrance and Broadway marquee were designed by architects Fox & Fowle.

The 2018 reconstruction attempted to change as few theatre design details as possible, while moving the theatre 30 feet higher and changing the entrance to be on 48th Street instead of Broadway.