Neil Simon Theatre

The Neil Simon Theatre, formerly the Alvin Theatre, is a Broadway theatre built in 1927 and located at 250 West 52nd Street in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City.

Neil Simon Theatre
Alvin Theatre[1]
(1927-1983)
Neil Simon Theatre showing The Cher Show, 2019
Address250 West 52nd Street
New York City
United States
OwnerNederlander Organization
TypeBroadway
CapacityApprox. 1,362
Construction
OpenedNovember 22, 1927
ArchitectHerbert J. Krapp
Website
neilsimontheatre.com

As of 2011, the record for its longest running show is held by the musical Hairspray, which opened August 15, 2002, and ran for 2,642 performances before closing on January 4, 2009.

History

The building was designed by architect Herbert J. Krapp. The developer, real estate mogul Alexander Pincus, originally named it the "Alvin Theatre" as an amalgam of the names of producers ALex Aarons and Vinton Freedley. It opened on November 22, 1927, with George and Ira Gershwin's Funny Face starring Fred and Adele Astaire.[1] In 1930, Ethel Merman made her Broadway debut in Girl Crazy; in 1934, she appeared again in Cole Porter's Anything Goes and again in 1936 in Porter's Red, Hot and Blue.[2] In 1935, the Gershwins' American folk opera Porgy and Bess had its world premiere at the venue.[3] Due to the Great Depression, Aarons and Freedley lost control of the venue in 1932. For a period, CBS used it as a radio studio. In 1960, Lucille Ball appeared in her only Broadway show, the musical Wildcat.[4] In 1965, Liza Minnelli made her Broadway debut in Flora the Red Menace.[5] The original Broadway production of Annie opened in 1977 and ran for nearly six years, setting a record for the Alvin.

In 1977, the Nederlander Organization purchased the structure and renamed it in honor of American playwright Neil Simon on June 29, 1983, while his play Brighton Beach Memoirs was playing.[3][6] In 1985, its sequel Biloxi Blues also played at the theatre.

The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission designated the building a New York City landmark in 1985. Historical records show that the original seating capacity was 1,362;[1] in 2002, it expanded from 1,328 to a potential 1,467 after the May 27, 2002, closing of Elaine Stritch at Liberty. (To use the orchestra pit, 26 seats must be removed.)[3] Robin Williams was to perform five shows of his comedy tour, Weapons Of Self-Destruction at this theatre in early April 2009, but he was forced to cancel the engagement due to his health.[7] In lieu of Williams, the revival of Ragtime, opened November 15, 2009, after a successful run at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. It closed January 10, 2010, due to low ticket sales after only 28 previews and 57 regular performances.[8][9]

The new musical Catch Me if You Can began previews on March 11, 2011, and opened on April 10, 2011.[10] On September 4, 2011, Catch Me If You Can closed after 32 previews and 170 regular performances.

A revival of Jesus Christ Superstar opened on March 22, 2012, at the theater and ran through July 1, 2012.[11]

In July 2015, the Nederlander Organization sold the structure's air rights to a consortium planning a highrise tower on Seventh Avenue between 41st and 42nd Streets. The sale will have no impact on the facility.[12]

Notable productions

See also

References
  1. Morrison, William (1999). Broadway Theatres: History and Architecture (trade paperback). Dover Books on Architecture. Mineola, New York: Dover Publications. pp. 154–55. ISBN 978-0486402444.
  2. Ethel Merman at the Internet Broadway Database
  3. Jones, Kenneth (May 21, 2002). "A New 'Do: Capacity of Neil Simon Theatre Will Increase for Hairspray". Playbill. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved February 11, 2009.
  4. Wildcat at the Internet Broadway Database
  5. Flora, the Red Menace at the Internet Broadway Database
  6. Calta, Louis (November 26, 1975). "Nederlander Family Adds Alvin to Its Holings". The New York Times. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
  7. Gans, Andrew (July 8, 2009). "HBO to Air Robin Williams' Weapons of Self-Destruction". Playbill. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
  8. Marks, Peter (January 3, 2010). "'Ragtime's' closing: A sign of Broadway's thirst for crowd-pleasers". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
  9. Kuchwara, Michael (December 28, 2009). "Revival of 'Ragtime' set to close Sunday on Broadway". USA Today. Associated Press. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
  10. Hetrick, Adam (March 11, 2011). "Live in Living Color": Catch Me If You Can Lands on Broadway March 11". Playbill. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
  11. "It's Official! JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR to Open on Broadway March 2012!". Broadway Worldwide. October 4, 2011. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
  12. Viagas, Robert (July 29, 2015). "Nederlanders Sell Air Rights Above Neil Simon Theatre". Playbill. Retrieved July 29, 2015.

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