Samuel J. Friedman Theater

The Samuel J. Friedman Theater is a theater building in Midtown Manhattan with neo-Renaissance facade of terracotta and buff brick. The entrance hall displays fluted pilasters and a central doorway with marquee.

Herbert J. Krapp designed this building, which opened in 1925 as the Biltmore Theatre. From 1952 to 1961, CBS used the space as a radio and television studio.

The Manhattan Theatre Club presents modern plays and new dramatic works by contemporary playwrights here. The stage serves as a venue for premieres and development programs for dramatists.

The theater sits on West 47th Street between Eighth and Ninth Avenue in the theater district. The hall offers 650 seats across two levels for performances during the season.

During the 1930s, the Works Progress Administration used the space for the Living Newspaper project. These productions showed current events in dramatic form for a broad audience.

Location: Manhattan

Inception: 1925

Architects: Herbert J. Krapp

Capacity: 650

Address: 261 West 47th Street, New York, NY 10036

GPS coordinates: 40.76050,-73.98670

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:27