Minskoff Theatre
200 West 45th Street, New York, NY10036
Seats Approximately 1620
Built in 1973, The Minskoff Theater, on the third floor of One Astor Plaza, the fifty-five-storey office tower on the site of Broadway's old Astor Hotel, derives its name from Sam Minskoff and Sons, builders and owners. The modern theater, with a seating capacity of 1621 seats, was designed by Kahn and Jacobs and offers a spectacular view of the Great White Way from the glass front of the building on all levels of the theatre. The theater features an arcade that runs from 44th to 45th streets. Inside the spacious lobby, dual escalators take theatergoers to the third level of the Grand Foyer of the house.
Hundreds of small, clear G lamps sparkle in the lobbies, and crystal-basket lights glow in the auditorium. The ceiling is broken into two sections with a narrow grid between them for the stage lights. The proscenium has removable mesh panels on both sides, and the mezzanine, with 590 seats, has narrow side projections instead of box seats. The stage has an innovation: all the flies are on the upstage wall instead of on the side wall. Part of the stage is trapped and can be extended out over the orchestra pit. The Minskoff Theatre opened on March 13th, 1973, with a lavish revival of the 1919 musical "Irene." Debbie Reynolds played the title role and sang the show's classic "Alice Blue Gown." The cast also included Patsy Kelly, Monte Markham, Janie Sell, Ruth Warrick, Carmen Alvarez, and George S. Irving, who won a Tony Award for his performance.
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