Unless I am missing something, the theater interior will remain the same, but with much needed improvements in lobby and restroom needs. The backstage and dressing rooms will also be improved. If you have ever been backstage at the Palace you would know how tight and cramped they are for space.
Why do you think there should be protests? They are not gutting it and turning the interior into the style of Marquis Theater
Here we are 1 & 1/2 years later after the updated article was written, and with "Sponge Bob" coming to the Palace later this year, who knows when this will happen. And, according to the article, the entire renovation will take just about 3 years. Time will tell.
This was in the NY Times article which announced Spongebob taking the Palace:
"The show will open at the Palace before construction begins on a major renovation that is years in the making and would involve lifting the theater 29 feet to make room for retail space on Times Square. The Nederlander Organization, which owns the theater, said that because the project was still in development, the Palace was available to book “SpongeBob.”"
BroadMagTech said: "This was in the NY Times article which announced Spongebob taking the Palace:
"The show will open at the Palace before construction begins on a major renovation that is years in the making and would involve lifting the theater 29 feet to make room for retail space on Times Square. The Nederlander Organization, which owns the theater, said that because the project was still in development, the Palace was available to book “SpongeBob.”"
I usher for the company that owns the Palace. I wouldn't be shocked at all for this renovation project to end up not happening. Keep in mind, it was initially scheduled to start when American in Paris closed. The Illusionists came into town for a holiday run with them saying that it was gonna start after that show was done. Same with Sunset. This is, to me at least, starting to sound like the time they announced a big touristy 4D history of Broadway thing at the Times Square theatre, kept saying it was gonna happen and never did
There was a thread at one point that suggested the company paying for the lift may not have got the funding by some deadline.
In our millions, in our billions, we are most powerful when we stand together. TW4C unwaveringly joins the worldwide masses, for we know our liberation is inseparably bound.
Signed,
Theater Workers for a Ceasefire
https://theaterworkersforaceasefire.com/statement
They didn't get all the licensing they needed for the job from the city was what I heard as the reason for the first delay. But, There's been a few false starts at this point. They are also doing internal hiring for house staff there. I doubt that they would be doing that if the theatre is in fact shutting down for a few years.