Walking Tour to Trace History of Broadway Theaters Mar. 3

The Theatre Museum and the Municipal Art Society will present a walking tour of Broadway theatres that spans the 20th century and traces theatres being constructed and stage moments as they were made. The tour will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 3, 2007, beginning at the New Victory Theatre on 42nd Street between 7th and 8th Avenues.

The walking tour is part of The Theatre Museum's inaugural exhibition, Times Square Theatres: A New Century/ A New Style, on view at the Municipal Art Society, 457 Madison Avenue near 51st Street. The tour costs $15 per person ($12 for MAS members). No reservations are required.

According to Urban Historian and Tour Guide Timothy White, "When Times Square was christened as the new theatre district in the early 20th century, architects abandoned Victorian traditions for a new Renaissance style. As the century progressed, architects changed design details, such as the number of balconies and boxes, to keep up with changing Broadway audiences. After WWII, a new generation of high-tech theatres arrived in Times Square, while older houses faced demolition or survived through preservation. The tour will follow these trends through the 20th century, with stops at the New Victory, New Amsterdam, Hudson, Lyceum, Shubert, Booth, Marriott Marquis and Palace Theatres."

The exhibition, which will run through March 7, 2007, focuses on the architectural trends in 20th century Broadway theatres. It displays these trends with 8-foot panels presenting photographs, architectural plans, artifacts from some of the 13 theatres highlighted and historical data. Many of these panels demonstrate the transformation theatres went through during this time period.

Founded in 2003, The Theatre Museum is New York State's first and only chartered, non-profit museum dedicated to the history of theatre. It is a museum-at-large presenting exhibitions in collaboration with other cultural institutions. The Museum's programs include community outreach, such as teaching children how to write, direct and stage live theatre, and the annual Theatre Museum Awards for Excellence ceremony. Its primary mission is to preserve, protect and perpetuate the legacy of theatre through innovative programming.

The Municipal Art Society of New York is a private, non-profit membership organization whose mission is to promote a more livable city. Since 1893, the MAS has worked to enrich the culture, neighborhoods and physical design of New York City. It advocates for excellence in urban design and planning, contemporary architecture, historic preservation and public art.

http://ttmnyc.org/