Times Square Theatre Photos of Renovation

[Broadway Flash]

This is what it's gonna look like. Really sad, but at least it's going to be pretty. Thoughts?

Photos

[Huss417]

Here is the thread from February. :)

https://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.php?thread=1114986#5127063

[Justin D]

so weird, the interior being raised but the facade staying put, im glad its going to be used for something.

[Deena Jones]

An update....

https://ny.curbed.com/2019/6/14/18679074/times-square-theater-revival-project-nycedc-new-42nd-street

[SomethingPeculiar]

Thanks, I hate it!!!!!!

[theatregoer3]

This is not only sad, but poor planning. The theater industry is booming while brick-and-mortar retail stores are dying. If anyone has been to Hudson Yards Mall you’ll see that no one is in the stores shopping. They’re only going for the High Line and The Vessel.

[Justin D]

blame the zoning people that killed that theatre because of a silly thing of not allowing a loading dock on 42nd street. a 6 lane street, 3 lanes going in either direction, oh the inconvenience of closing off part of a lane while a show gets loaded in. the shame.

[dramamama611]

Hudson Yards is extreme high end stores, isn't it?   The average tourist isn't going to be shopping there.

[rg7759]

Look, the Broadway museum is going here isn't it it's not all bad. the reason Broadway is doing well is because demand is high. Any more theaters and the demand goes down, or supply goes up whatever. It hasn't been there for 30 years and it's not gonna be missed. No one will even touch that awful marquis theater for the same reason

[Mister Matt]

blame the zoning people that killed that theatre because of a silly thing of not allowing a loading dock on 42nd street. 

That theatre's been dead for decades because the space simply wasn't viable as a Broadway theatre.  It only ran live productions from 1920-1933 and it closed as a movie theatre in 1989.  The desire to reinstate a defunct theatre doesn't necessarily translate to a practical reality.

[theatregoer3]

dramamama611 said: "Hudson Yards is extreme high end stores, isn't it? The average tourist isn't going to be shopping there."

 

It’s H&M and Zara.

 

[MayAudraBlessYou2]

It's really not "sad" at all. It's the best use of a space. You can pine over a new Broadway house if you like, but this space has stood vacant for decades and no one saw a viable way to turn it into a functioning theater again. Trust me, plenty of potential buyers and developers looked into that option. But the logistics proved to be a nightmare. As has been stated on past threads, it is landlocked on 42nd St so load ins and outs are just not feasible.

I personally think the concept art does a great job of keeping the historical elements while incorporating modern touches. It's a unique building. Plus it will add much needed dining/drink options to the block for pre and post show gatherings (hopefully it doesn't go the way of Urbo). There's no need for a massive vacant or dilapidated structure on one of the busiest thoroughfares in the world. I'm excited to see the finished product.

[broadfan327]

I had read an article prior to the opening of Hudson Yards that only luxury malls have a chance of succeeding in NYC, that malls for average people are failing.  The article cited the mall at the World Trade Center as an example of a mall that has not succeeded.  It may have to do with the location of it.  Budget shoppers are more and more buying from online.

The photos looked jarring to me at first, but it is better they are doing something with the space instead of leaving it vacant.

[RippedMan]

Too bad they couldn’t move the facade to the empty lot next to the Imperial and build a new playhouse there. Broadway needs more medium sized houses instead of this giant barns where nothing can succeed. But I’m sure that would cost an insane amount of money.