Neil Simon Theatre, Broadway theatre in Manhattan, United States
The Neil Simon Theatre at 250 West 52nd Street has a red brick upper facade in English bond with terracotta trim above a rusticated terracotta base. Three double-height arched windows with black railings and a round stone medallion sit above a flat orange-banded marquee. Inside are an orchestra and one balcony with boxes, under a domed ceiling.
Herbert J. Krapp designed the house, which opened on November 22, 1927, as the Alvin Theatre, its name combining the first names of producers Alex A. Aarons and Vinton Freedley. Aarons and Freedley owned it from 1930 to 1932. CBS operated the theater from 1946 until 1959, when Max and Stanley Stahl bought it; the Nederlanders took over in 1975. It was renamed for playwright Neil Simon in 1983.
The venue takes its name from the American playwright who saw several of his comedies staged here. Today the house continues to present large ensemble shows before audiences drawn from around the world.
Wheelchair users can access seating in the orchestra level, and hearing devices are available for those with hearing challenges. Drinks and snacks can be purchased in the lobby before the show begins.
CBS used the Alvin as a radio studio from 1946 until 1959, not just briefly in the 1930s, while the theater stayed in operation. The 1935 premiere of George Gershwin's opera Porgy and Bess took place on this stage. The building was sold to Max and Stanley Stahl in 1959, ending the CBS years.
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