Samuel J Friedman Theatre
261 West 47th Street, New York, NY 10036
Seats Approximately 950
The Biltmore Theatre was designed by Herbert J. Krapp and opened on December 7, 1925. In 1987, a fire struck the Biltmore. The blaze, which was later determined to be an act of arson, ravaged the landmarked interior. After the fire, Biltmore would sit vacant for fourteen years, suffering more structural damage from water, vandals and intruders, while its owners tried to decide what to do with it. The theatre's ownership changed hands several times between 1987 and 2001; many different plans were proposed for its future use.
In 2001, the property was purchased by the Manhattan Theatre Club as a home for its Broadway productions. The Biltmore was completely refurbished. Surviving parts of the original theatre were restored and missing parts were reconstructed. With 622 seats the new Biltmore has about two-thirds of the capacity of the old, though it now boasts conveniences such as elevators and meeting rooms.
Visit London and see Lion King Musical