Any tips on restrooms and bars at Shubert Org venues?

[Alice147]

Posted: 2/13/19 at 9:35am

Hi everyone! Some of you were very helpful a couple of weeks back with some tips on Broadway seating, so I'm hoping you've got some handy restroom and bar knowledge you can pass on too. 

Some background: I work for a seating and ticketing website called SeatPlan - we're pretty well established in the UK as a resource for seat reviews and info, and tickets for West End shows. Kind of like A View From My Seat or Theatremonkey, but with our own style :) 

We're currently expanding to Broadway and taking on the big task of writing information for every theater. There's lots of useful hints, tips and info online from official websites, reviews and forums... a lot of places!

There's one particular area that's proving a bit trickier to pin down...Shubert Organization restrooms and bars. This information isn't listed comprehensively on their website, and a search through forums, reviews and unofficial sources is giving me mixed results. 

So - can anyone offer any insight into the restroom and bar situation at any Shubert theater they've been to?

If you can remember them being especially good (or bad) even better - I'd love to be as accurate and helpful as possible for our users. I think it’s pretty important that we don’t send someone to a broom cupboard when they just want a drink, after all...

Thanks again, everyone!

(Mods - if this isn't appropriate please delete) 

[Alice147]

Posted: 2/13/19 at 9:36am

I’ve put a list below of what I’ve found so far for various venues – if anyone has five minutes and could give me a thumbs up or down, that’d be absolutely fab.

Belasco– accessible restroom on ground floor; others one flight down from Orchestra & in the Mezzanne. Bar in the basement, on flight down from Orchestra.

Broadhurst– accessible restroom on ground floor; others down one flight from the Orchestra. Bar is in the lobby.

Broadway– accessible restroom on Orchestra level; others in the Lower Lobby or on a landing between Orch & Mezzanine. Bar is in the lobby.

Gerald Schoenfeld– accessible restroom on ground floor; other down in Lower Lobby. Bar also in Lower Lobby.

Longacre– accessible restroom via elevator; others one floor below Orchestra. Not sure about bars but believe there is at-seat service available as well

Lyceum– accessible restroom on ground level; others on ground floor, basement and Mezzanine. Bar is in the ground floor lobby.

Majestic– accessible restroom on ground floor; others on ground floor and in Mezzanine. Bar on ground floor/lobby.

Music Box – accessible restroom on Orchestra/ground floor; others in Lower Lobby and Mezzanine. Bar is in the Lower Lobby.

Shubert – no accessible restroom (website advises to use Sardi’s restaurant); others one level below Orchestra or in the Mezzanine. Bar in the main lobby.

Winter Garden – accessible restroom on Orchestra/ground level; others on ground level, in the lobby. Bars are at the back of the Orchestra.

[SomethingPeculiar]

Posted: 2/13/19 at 9:50am

Get yourself a meeting with one of the Shubert Org veeps (Ticket Sales, Facilities, Theatre Operations, etc). Don't rely on information from this message board to run your website –– get first-hand information. Or buy the cheapest ticket at each show currently playing in a Shubert house and see for yourself.

Sounds like a potentially cool site. Good luck!

[Wick3]

Posted: 2/13/19 at 9:56am

I agree with SomethingPeculiar. Better credibility if you get the answers directly from the Shubert Org or by going to each of the theaters yourself.

Do note that at times renovations are done in between productions (hence why you probably got mixed results on your theater research.) Good luck! This is not an easy task but definitely a great idea!

A good statistic that may be helpful especially to females is the # of stalls in the female bathroom. Also, if you go in person to each of the theaters, please please please observe and report back on how orderly the line is for the female restroom during intermission.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 2/13/19 at 12:44pm

Actually . . .

"Belasco– accessible restroom on ground floor; others one flight down from Orchestra & in the Mezzanne. Bar in the basement, on flight down from Orchestra."

The accessible restroom is on the orchestra level (ground floor), house left, as is the bar. There are also bars in the lower lounge and in the Mezzanine. The restrooms are in the lower lounge and in the balcony. 

"Broadhurst– accessible restroom on ground floor; others down one flight from the Orchestra. Bar is in the lobby."

The accessible restroom is on the orchestra level, house right (ground floor). The restrooms are in the lower lounge. The bar is at the back of the orchestra and in the lower lounge.

"Broadway– accessible restroom on Orchestra level; others in the Lower Lobby or on a landing between Orch & Mezzanine. Bar is in the lobby."

The accessible restroom is on the orchestra level (ground floor). The other restrooms are in the lower lounge and also in the mezzanine lobby. There are bars on all three levels.

"Gerald Schoenfeld– accessible restroom on ground floor; other down in Lower Lobby. Bar also in Lower Lobby."

The accessible restroom is on the orchestra level in the box office lobby. The men's room is in the lower lounge, the women's room is in the lower lounge and in the mezzanine. There is a bar on all three levels.

"Majestic– accessible restroom on ground floor; others on ground floor and in Mezzanine. Bar on ground floor/lobby."

The accessible restroom is in the orchestra level lobby. The other restrooms are in the lower lounge and in the mezzanine. There are bars in the lower lounge, orchestra level lobby, and mezzanine lobby.

"Shubert – no accessible restroom (website advises to use Sardi’s restaurant); others one level below Orchestra or in the Mezzanine. Bar in the main lobby."

Staff direct people to Sardi's for the accessible restroom. Restrooms in the lower lounge. Additional women's rooms are in the mezzanine and balcony. There is an additional men's room in the fire stairwell between the mezzanine level and the ground level exit. There is a bar on all four levels.

"Winter Garden – accessible restroom on Orchestra/ground level; others on ground level, in the lobby. Bars are at the back of the Orchestra."

The accessible level is in the orchestra level lobby. The men's room entrance is on the orchestra level, but it's actually down a set of stairs. There are restrooms in the mezzanine level lounge (house right). There is a bar on both levels.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 2/13/19 at 1:59pm

Shubert's website should have this information, no?

[SherrieByTheSea]

Posted: 2/14/19 at 8:32am

Can’t add anything except I love SeatPlan and use it so much when I’m in London

[mailhandler777]

Posted: 2/14/19 at 11:07am

In seat service at the Longacre? I don't know of any theatre that has in seat service unless you are talking about before the show and intermission where concession people come around selling water and candy.

[Esther]

Posted: 2/14/19 at 1:57pm

You are missing the Cort Theater, the Golden & the Jacobs. There are no accessible restrooms in either the Cort or the Golden. The official alternate for the Cort are not even on the same side of the street:  

 

Accessible restrooms is located off premises at Chipotle Mexican Grill across the street. Additional accessible restrooms are located at the Renaissance Hotel, 714 Seventh Avenue at 48th Street. Assistance is available upon request.

 

I do think there is a (much-needed)  remodel in their future that will address the lack of an accessible restroom. 

 

The Golden:  They send you to the Schoenfeld

 

The Jacobs- accessible restroom is located inside the theater at the top of the steps that leads down to the other restrooms.  

 

 

[Niles Silvers]

Posted: 2/14/19 at 2:30pm

Seriously?  Your organization's "fact" finding techniques are a bit suspect.  

[Fosse76]

Posted: 2/14/19 at 4:01pm

Esther said: "The Golden: They send you to the Schoenfeld"

That's only when the Schoenfeld is open. I'm not sure where they go when it's dark. Possibly the Jacobs, Imperial, or Music Box.

[Esther]

Posted: 2/14/19 at 4:32pm

Fosse76 said: "Esther said: "The Golden: They send you to the Schoenfeld"

That's only when the Schoenfeld is open. I'm not sure where they go when it's dark. Possibly the Jacobs, Imperial, or Music Box."

 

I've been sent to both by them.  Generally, if I am going to the Golden, I  stop at the Schoenfeld first as long as they have a performance at the same time & just tell the staff I'm on my way to the Golden & need to use the restroom. 

 

When I saw A Time To Kill, the Schoenfeld was dark, so the Golden staff sent me to the Jacobs instead.  

[Alice147]

Posted: 2/22/19 at 6:24am

Thanks for the advice, SomethingPeculiar :)

We've had some contact with the Shubert Organization in the past and managed to get confirmation for a few venues, so asking on forums is a secondary way of confirming where we may have gaps, or just need to double-check. I completely understand your point though - thanks for the encouragement! 

 

[Alice147]

Posted: 2/22/19 at 6:57am

Wick3 - thank you for the advice! We've been in contact with Shubert Org and got some answers before posting on the forum, but given that it's a lengthy process it's been helpful to try a few different avenues for info. Women's restrooms seem to come up a lot as an issue, definitely! I'll make a note of it for future reference. 

[Alice147]

Posted: 2/22/19 at 7:01am

Thank you, Fosse76 - very kind of you to provide all that information and clarify a few parts. It's much appreciated.

[Alice147]

Posted: 2/22/19 at 7:05am

everythingtaboo said: "Shubert's website should have this information, no?"

Unfortunately I don't think it does - I've been using Shubert's website for a lot of research and whilst they have information on accessible restrooms, it seems quite rare that they provide details of other restrooms and bars at each venue. 

 

[Alice147]

Posted: 2/22/19 at 7:07am

SherrieByTheSea said: "Can’t add anything except I love SeatPlan and use it so much when I’m in London"

That's very kind of you, SherrieByTheSea! I hope we continue to be a handy guide for you in future :) 

[Alice147]

Posted: 2/22/19 at 7:10am

mailhandler777 said: "In seat service at the Longacre? I don't know of any theatre that has in seat service unless you are talking about before the show and intermission where concession people come around selling water and candy."

We were informed by the Shubert Org that their theaters provide in-seat (or at-seat) service to aid accessibility - I'm unsure of the specifics of this beyond that. Thanks for the tip, however!

[Alice147]

Posted: 2/22/19 at 7:11am

Esther said: "You are missing the Cort Theater,the Golden & the Jacobs. There areno accessible restrooms in either the Cort or the Golden.The official alternate for the Cort are not even on the same side of the street:



Accessible restrooms is located off premises at Chipotle Mexican Grill across the street. Additional accessible restrooms are located at the Renaissance Hotel, 714 Seventh Avenue at 48th Street. Assistance is available upon request.



I do think there is a (much-needed) remodel in their future that will address the lack of an accessible restroom.



The Golden: They send you to the Schoenfeld



The Jacobs- accessible restroom is located inside the theater at the top of the steps that leads down to the other restrooms.



"

Thanks for these tips, Esther - they're really helpful. 

[Alice147]

Posted: 2/22/19 at 7:28am

Thanks for replying, Niles - we never rely solely on one forum or resource, and use a variety of sources to make sure our information is accurate, including contacting the venues themselves when necessary. As you indicate, it's important to make sure we're aligned with official information from e.g. the Shubert website as well. 

[Alice147]

Posted: 2/22/19 at 7:32am

Esther said: "Fosse76 said: "Esther said: "The Golden: They send you to the Schoenfeld"

That's only when the Schoenfeld is open. I'm not sure where they go when it's dark. Possibly the Jacobs, Imperial, or Music Box."



I've been sent to both by them. Generally, if I am going to the Golden, I stop at the Schoenfeld first as long as they have a performance at the same time & just tell the staff I'm on my way to the Golden & need to use the restroom.



When I saw A Time To Kill, the Schoenfeld was dark, so the Golden staffsent me to the Jacobs instead."

This is very handy to know, thanks Fosse76 & Esther - I imagine best practice is to ask the staff for help if you're unsure, in these cases.