Times Square Theatre?

[Lily Garland2]

Posted: 9/3/18 at 3:30pm

Any updates on this? I saw some scaffoldings on it a week ago.

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 9/3/18 at 8:31pm

To be honest, if I had a boatload of money, restoring this theatre would be something I'd do.

[Justin D]

Posted: 9/4/18 at 8:41am

again, sadly, as an operating theatre it is a lost cause unless they change that asinine no loading dock on 42nd street rule. 

[pacificnorthwest]

Posted: 9/5/18 at 7:58am

I'm just curious -- how would that work? Where would a loading dock go? I generally stay at a hotel on that block and given the traffic, it seems impractical. But maybe there's a solution. I take it there's no access via 43rd? It's a beautiful facade. What a shame it hasn't been used for so long.

[Justin D]

Posted: 9/5/18 at 8:32am

sadly there is no 43rd street access so the stage door and loading dock would be 42nd street.

But I get that its a busy street, but honestly its a 3 lane either direction, with a very wide sidewalk, im sure if the powers that be really wanted to they could build in a lay-by on the sidewalk for the trucks to offload. worse case, close 1 lane when loading, you still have 2 lanes to use.

But i guess its a gamble esp. if it ends up being one of those unfortunate houses that just cant get a hit and have shows moving in and out all the time.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 9/5/18 at 8:59am

I wish the Ambassdor Group had bought it and worked the loading dock into the new Lyric theater reconfiguration.

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 9/5/18 at 9:31am

Let's say I was looking for something fun, and I wanted to look at blueprints of the theatre, etc. does anyone know where I look online?

[Justin D]

Posted: 9/5/18 at 11:13am

Im sure they are available someplace, i even think there was a tread about it where i put up some photos. But no matter what they did with the Lyric, it would never work because the stage of 42nd st. buts against the auditorium so they would not have been able to do anything about access (it hits about where the proscenium is and side boxes)

the only radical thing that might have worked would be to remove the lyric's 42nd street entrance all together and keep that as a mini alley for the trucks to back into, but even that idea would probably have been shot down

[MayAudraBlessYou2]

Posted: 9/5/18 at 2:20pm

Unfortunately there is no possible way to give the Times Square Theatre access to 43rd Street without completely reconstructing the Lyric. The Lyric Theatre was actually made out of two old theatres, and when they combined them it landlocked the Times Square Theatre onto 42nd st. And landlocked it will stay.

Broadway 4D fell through after the producer's sexual harassment issues. Shame that no one else took up the idea b/c its a great option for the space. But the building finally has a tenant and renovations are currently under way. It will keep elements of the theater which have been deemed historical landmarks (like the facade and the mezzanine), but the space will ultimately be used for retail.

[pacificnorthwest]

Posted: 9/6/18 at 7:33am

It's too bad it couldn't be a go-to theater for one-person shows with minimal (at most) set design. Some of my favorite shows have been one-person performances. Seems like it could be a perfect theater for that.

[Justin D]

Posted: 9/6/18 at 8:35am

Or (at least partially because lets face it, it is prime real estate) some sort of broadway museum. 

[pacificnorthwest]

Posted: 9/6/18 at 11:18am

Justin D said: "Or (at least partially because lets face it, it is prime real estate) some sort of broadway museum."

That's a great idea!

[MayAudraBlessYou2]

Posted: 9/14/18 at 1:04pm

Strangely enough, after recently responding to this thread I actually just saw the latest concept art for the space. I have to say it looks fabulous. The facade and proscenium will be used in really interesting ways, and the overall design is going to incorporate the historic architecture with more modern design elements. If they pull off what is depicted in these drawings, its going to be a stunning building. 

[JudyDenmark]

Posted: 9/14/18 at 1:37pm

Justin D said: "Or (at least partially because lets face it, it is prime real estate) some sort of broadway museum."

It is absolutely insane to me that in a city that has the Museum of Mathematics, Museum of the American Gangster, and Morbid Anatomy Museum... that there's no Museum of Broadway. There could be SO much there - costumes & props, obviously multimedia experiences, a place for special performances and cast recording releases, a space for rotating special exhibits...

Powers that be, please make it happen!! 

[lightguy06222]

Posted: 9/14/18 at 2:22pm

what powers that be????  Give me a million bucks, I'll make it happen for you.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 9/14/18 at 2:47pm

I love theater, bway, the arts...but a museum for it sounds pretty boring.  Theater is alive, changing, telling stories, I personally feel like a museum would be like looking through a text book.  SO much of props and costumes gets thrown away, that I'm not sure how much "there" is there - and how many props are that special?   The phone they used in Can on a Hot Tin Roof?

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure I'd check it out if it ever existed -- it just doesn't seem to be necessary.

[JudyDenmark]

Posted: 9/14/18 at 2:58pm

Museums are no longer dusty and boring, they're filled with multimedia and new ways to interact with history. I mean, rock and roll is alive, changing, telling stories... and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is badass. Personally I think a Broadway Museum could be incredible!

Powers that be are powers that have investment money. :) 

Posted: 9/14/18 at 3:34pm

MayAudraBlessYou2 said: "Strangely enough, after recently responding to this thread I actually just saw the latest concept art for the space. I have to say it looks fabulous. The facade and proscenium will be used in really interesting ways, and the overall design is going to incorporate the historic architecture with more modern design elements. If they pull off what is depicted in these drawings, its going to be a stunning building."

Can you please share what it will be used for?!

[Dollypop]

Posted: 9/14/18 at 4:36pm

dramamama611 said: "I love theater, bway, the arts...but a museum for it sounds pretty boring. Theater is alive, changing, telling stories, I personally feel like a museum would be like looking through a text book. SO much of props and costumes gets thrown away, that I'm not sure how much "there" is there - and how many props are that special? The phone they used in Can on a Hot Tin Roof?

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure I'd check it out if it ever existed -- it just doesn't seem to be necessary."

 

Mama, have you been to the Boston Tea Party Museum? It is hands-on and features holographic actors and animated  portraits. It's easily one of the most enjoyable museums I've ever been in.

 

With the theater's creative's, a museum about Broadway would be a knock-out.

 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 9/14/18 at 4:47pm

No, I haven't, but I'll take a look...thanks for mentioning it.

As I said, I'd be willing to try it, but....I think to so many interactive exhibits I've seen where 1/2 the stuff doesn't work, or its crowded by rude children that don't know how to behave.

Updated On: 9/14/18 at 04:47 PM

Posted: 9/15/18 at 6:49am

MayAudraBlessYou2 said: "Unfortunately there is no possible way to give the Times Square Theatre access to 43rd Street without completely reconstructing the Lyric. The Lyric Theatre was actually made out of two old theatres, and when they combined them it landlocked the Times Square Theatre onto 42nd st. And landlocked it will stay.

Broadway 4Dfell through after the producer's sexual harassment issues. Shame that no one else took up the idea b/c its a great option for the space. But the building finally has a tenant and renovations are currently under way. It will keep elements of the theater which have been deemed historical landmarks (like the facade and the mezzanine), but the space will ultimately be used for retail."

Who is the tenant Audra?

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 9/15/18 at 6:09pm

Broadway4D fell through due to financing issues, not due to Bryan Singer’s allegations. It fell through long before those came out

[MayAudraBlessYou2]

Posted: 9/15/18 at 11:46pm

The space is being used for a massive retail experience. It’s going to be multiple floors, and they will actually be building up from the pre-existing building. The new portion/floors that they are building up are for a beautiful looking restaurant and rooftop bar area. The design is gorgeous, as it looks like a modern glass-based design is sprouting out from the theatre architecture. The stage area, proscenium, etc will be preserved and incorporated in the design.

The only part of the concept art I didn’t love are the appearance of some big digital billboards on the building. But alas, it’s Times Square. And dedicating a certain portion of your building for these type of lights is required. Luckily they do not obstruct any part of the original Times Square Theatre or the historical architecture, they will just be on the new construction/higher up floors.

[Robbie2]

Posted: 9/18/18 at 5:57pm

Stillman reveals pricey revamp of long-shuttered Times Square Theater

It’s the latest act for a space that has sat vacant for decades

https://therealdeal.com/2018/09/18/stillman-development-reveals-pricey-revamp-of-long-shuttered-times-square-theater/

[zainmax]

Posted: 9/18/18 at 7:58pm

More details in Forbes, which broke the story. https://www.forbes.com/sites/marchershberg/2018/09/18/jinxed-times-square-theater-to-reopen-as-retail-space/#5b1d7bc65072