Jones Beach Theater

Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater (commonly known as the Jones Beach Theater) is an outdoor amphitheatre at Jones Beach State Park in Wantagh, New York. It is one of two major outdoor arenas in the New York metropolitan area, along with PNC Bank Arts Center. The theater was designed to specifications provided by Robert Moses, who created Jones Beach State Park.[2]

Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
The Beach
Exterior of venue viewed from Zachs Bay (c.2017)
Former namesNew Jones Beach Marine Stadium (1952-53)
Jones Beach Marine Theater (1954-94)
Jones Beach Amphitheater (1994-2000)
Jones Beach Theater (2000-02)
Tommy Hilfiger at Jones Beach Theater (2002-06)
Nikon at Jones Beach Theater (2006-16)
Address1000 Ocean Parkway
Wantagh, NY 11793-4800
LocationJones Beach State Park
Coordinates40.767269°N 73.549599°W / 40.767269; -73.549599
OwnerNYS OPRHP
OperatorLive Nation
Capacity15,000
Construction
BuiltOctober 1949
OpenedJune 26, 1952
Renovated
  • 1992
  • 2013
  • 2017
Expanded
  • 1998
  • 2009
Construction cost$4 million
($43 million in 2019 dollars[1])
Website
jonesbeach.com

History
Performance of A Night in Venice in July 1953

Opened in June 1952 as the New Jones Beach Marine Stadium, the venue originally had 8,200 seats and hosted musicals.[3] Moses had several boxes designated for his own use, and Moses' friend Guy Lombardo performed often in the early years.

The opening show was the operetta extravaganza A Night in Venice by Johann Strauss II, produced by film producer Mike Todd, complete with floating gondolas and starring Enzo Stuarti, Thomas Hayward, Norwood Smith and Nola Fairbanks.[4] During one of these Lombardo performances, the early phonograph recording star Billy Murray died of a heart attack in 1954.[5]

Lombardo's final show was the 1977 production of Finian's Rainbow, with Christopher Hewett in the title role. After Lombardo's death in 1977, the series resumed in 1978 with Annie Get Your Gun, starring Lucie Arnaz. Beginning in the 1980s, the primary focus of the venue would change to concerts.[6]

In 1991 and 1992, under contract from concert promoter Ron Delsener, the theatre underwent an extensive renovation, adding a second level and increasing the capacity to 11,200 seats. The capacity was expanded again in 1998 to hold 15,000 seats.[7]

The theater's original design featured a moat; the stage was actually situated on Zachs Bay and was separated from the beach. Performers used an underwater tunnel that connected the main theatre to the stage or was brought to the stage by boat, and some scenes had floating scenery. Each night, Guy Lombardo would arrive in one of his luxurious speed boats, hop out and take his place in front of the orchestra and the show would start. The Guy Lombardo Orchestra would pass through the moat on a yacht during the intermissions and play tunes while floating in front of the audience. The moat was covered or filled in during the first renovation and seats were installed closer to the stage.

Today
Aerial photo amphitheatre in 1959

In 2002, the company of clothing designer Tommy Hilfiger purchased the naming rights to the venue, renaming it "Tommy Hilfiger at Jones Beach Theater" for four years.[8] On April 13, 2006, Tommy Hilfiger's company, under new ownership, declined its option to keep the company's name on the theater, and naming rights were purchased by the camera company Nikon, which renamed the venue "Nikon at Jones Beach Theater".[9]

For a time the venue had a strict no-alcohol policy except in designated VIP boxes located behind the orchestra and the VIP tent area. Separate additional tickets are required to enter the popular VIP tent area.[10] Starting in 2014, alcohol was available for sale to the general public during certain shows and, in 2015, was available for sale to the general public in regular concession stands during most shows.

In 2009, Jones Beach introduced The Bay Stage, which has a general admission capacity of 5,000. The performances are staged behind the concessions on the theater property. The theater property is located a short distance from the VIP area but The Bay Stage events cannot be viewed or heard from the VIP area.[11]

In October 2012, Hurricane Sandy did major damage to the theater. Various structures were destroyed and much of the lower part of the arena was flooded, including the lower section of seats which were flooded more than halfway up.[12] The venue reopened on May 31, 2013, after a $20 million rehabilitation project.[13]

Starting January 2017, Jones Beach Theater will undergo a million dollar renovation plan, including energy-efficient LED lighting, more cafes, larger concourses for less crowding and more. Nikon's naming rights contract expired at the end of 2016, and in February 2017, New York health system Northwell Health purchased the naming rights to the venue, revealing the new name - "Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater."[14] The three-year deal includes an option for two additional years.

Among the most frequent performers at Jones Beach Theater are Jimmy Buffett, who has played the venue 30 times,[15] James Taylor, and Aerosmith, who have played the venue 21 times.[16]

See also
  • JonesBeach.com concert listings
  • Twitter Profile
  • Facebook Page
  • Live Nation site
  • "Explore LI: Zach's Bay (1 Ocean Parkway, Wantagh, NY)". Newsday. Retrieved 21 November 2012.

References
  1. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  2. Caro, Robert (1974). The Power Broker. Knopf. pp. 816–819.
  3. Dietz, Dan (2010). Off Broadway Musicals, 1910–2007. McFarland & Company: Jefferson, North Carolina. p. 315. ISBN 9780786433995.
  4. "Long Island's "A Night in Venice"" (PDF). Northport Journal. Northport, New York. July 31, 1952. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  5. The Official Website of Billy Murray
  6. "Jones Beach, the marvel by the sea". Newsday. Archived from the original on 2008-01-20.
  7. "JonesBeach.com". JonesBeach.com.
  8. "Universal, Nestles Ink Deal". PromoMagazine.com. Archived from the original on February 4, 2012.
  9. "Nikon new naming sponsor for Jones Beach Theater". Newsday.
  10. "Nikon at Jones Beach Theater". JonesBeach.com.
  11. "The Bay Stage at Jones Beach Theater". Baystage.JonesBeach.com.
  12. Jones Beach Looking to Rebuild After Wrath of Sandy Nicole Murphy, Wantagh-Seaford Patch, November 5, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2013.
  13. "Jones Beach Theater Reopens Friday Night". CBS News New York. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  14. "Jones Beach Theater Naming Rights Goes to Health Giant". Billboard. Retrieved 2017-02-07.
  15. "setlist.fm". Retrieved 2017-04-05.
  16. "setlist.fm". Retrieved 2017-04-05.
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