Longacre Theatre

The Longacre Theatre opened May 1, 1913 — designed by Henry B. Herts and built for Harry Frazee, a baseball personality best known outside theatre circles as the Boston Red Sox owner who sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees. The theatre is named for Longacre Square, the pre-Times-Square name for the intersection of Broadway and 7th Avenue at 42nd–47th Streets.

The house has an unusual mid-20th-century wrinkle in its history: per the Shubert Organization’s page, WOR leased it from 1943 to 1953 as a radio and television playhouse, before it returned to legitimate stage productions. A multimillion-dollar restoration in 2007–08 restored the original plasterwork and architectural detail and expanded patron amenities. Facade and auditorium interior are both New York City landmarks (designated December 1987).

Capacity is 1,077 seats across three levels: 508 orchestra, 304 mezzanine (the second level, two flights up) and 249 balcony (the third level, four flights up from the orchestra), plus 16 box seats, per the Shubert Organization’s figures. Shubert’s page says that restoration improved sightlines. In our view, the mezzanine is worth pricing against the rear orchestra, and for a small-cast show like its current tenant, the two-hander Two Strangers, centre orchestra and the front of the mezzanine are the seats to want.

Address: 220 W 48th Street, between 8th Avenue and Broadway.