Circle in the Square Theatre

Circle in the Square Theatre is a Broadway playhouse at 235 West 50th Street in Manhattan with a stage that extends into the audience and holds 840 spectators. This arrangement creates a closeness between performers and visitors where no seat is far from the action.

The house opened on November 15, 1972, at its current Broadway address after relocating from its original 1951 location at 5 Sheridan Square in Greenwich Village. The move marked a shift from a smaller playhouse to a commercial Broadway theater.

The stage thrusts deep into the seating rows and brings the action very close to the audience. Performers such as James Earl Jones and Colleen Dewhurst appeared here in works by Tennessee Williams and Eugene O'Neill.

The stage layout means all spectators have a different perspective on the action and performers are visible from several sides. The theater presents several productions each year and sits within walking distance of other playhouses.

An attached acting school was founded in 1961 and continues to train professional stage actors in an accredited conservatory. Many graduates have gone on to work on Broadway stages and in film and television.

Location: Manhattan

Inception: 1972

Official opening: 1972

Capacity: 840

Address: 235 West 50th St.

GPS coordinates: 40.76225,-73.98536

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:24