Gershwin Theater

[Kevn520]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 1:33am

I've been to a fair amount of the theaters on B'way this year, and I have to say, I wasn't impressed with the interior of the actual theater when I saw Wicked tonight. Was it purposely designed this way?

[Broadway Baby 2]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 1:35am

It is my least favorite theatre by far.

[TimeSquare3]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 1:43am

It's pretty dull.

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 1:45am

The wall paper was on purpose, and the set, well yes.
The rest is just the theatre, I personally like that, in other theaters with a ton of designs, I get distracted.

I thought this thread was going to be about the sound system, it's been horrible since June!

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 2:14am

Yeah, it's a pretty boring stadium.

[legally_popular]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 2:52am

True. Considering how large it is and how big Wicked is, you'd think they'd decorate it better.But in terms of comfort and leg room, I love that theater.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 3:04am

I really didn't find it to be that "large." I think the black helps make it seem smaller and less "barn like." Whereas the Hilton felt HUGE and the stage felt so far away from the mezz. And, I think the decor actually works for Wicked. The whole interior is black and the chandeliers have a sort of goth feel to them. I was surprised that the theater wasn't slightly more ornate, but I was surprised that the stage seemed so vast. What does the stage look like with out all of Wicked's extra scenic design on the wings? Eugene Lee worked wonders with it and helped incorporate it into the space at least.

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 3:17am

Even though it doesn't seat as many people as the Gershwin, I too though the Hilton felt huge. And the stage felt so far away. Our theater here, the Buell, seats over 2,800 people and I feel closer to the stage in the mezzanine and front balcony here than I did at the Hilton.

Updated On: 12/20/08 at 03:17 AM

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 3:22am

I think it's because the Hilton seems so much bigger and open. Even the entrance is huge and the halls are huge. And if you look at it from the 43rd St. exit, the theater does seem huge. You can see the old exterior and then you can see the rest of it and it's just gigantic. I can't imagine how something like "Hot Feet" could have played there.

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 4:13am

Its a heated barn.

[Byron Abens]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 8:51am

A lot of scenic designers have expressed a distaste for having to design a show for the Gershwin because it feels so cavernous and empty. Eugene Lee is one of the few who not only doesn't hate it, but actually really enjoys designing a show in there. Of course, considering the size of the shows he's put in there, Sweeney, Show Boat, and Wicked, it makes sense. He is also responsible for Ragtime, which I think is still the best looking show that the Hilton has had (though I haven't seen Young Frankenstein, which I've been told LOOKS amazing, and please note the emphasis on LOOKS).

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 8:54am

The Hilton is worse.

[James885]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 9:20am

As far as decor goes, the Gershwin is probably one of the most charmless theaters I've seen. The Hilton feels a lot bigger but IMHO, it also looks a lot better, both on the inside and the outside. The Gershwin is just so drab and dull.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 9:28am

It's very drab and dull inside, but I do LOVE the amount of leg room you get there. The seats (and space between the row in front of you) are very comfy.

[KathyGriffinLovesYou]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 9:41am

I went to the Gershwin in June and was in the veeery back of the orchestra seating, like the absolute last row. It was absolutely horrible because you don't see the Clock of the Time Dragon and when Elphaba goes up for Defy Gravity she gets a little cut off.
Besides that I didn't see any ridiculous 'format' problems in the theatre.

[bwaybri2]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 10:01am

The first time I saw a show at the Gershwin it reminded me of the Kennedy Center in DC - it feels like the interior of a concert hall as opposed to a Broadway Theatre -

Posted: 12/20/08 at 10:41am

Compared to what we have here in Dallas, The Music Hall at Fair Park, the Gershwin is intimate. Yes, it's ugly but so was everything else built in the 70's. Very ugly decade in my opinion. And it doesn't really have a procenium. That's why shows like starlight Express and Sweeney Todd went into that theater. They had scenic demands that most other Broadway theaters wouldn't have been able to accommodate. Also, if you really look at the Wicked set the actual playing area isn't much bigger than the average Broadway theater's stage. In other words, it's rather small. the set also isn't very deep which is a surprise. I'm sure they designed it with the tour production in mind.

[DefyGravity777]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 3:19pm

Who cares what the theatre looks like? As long as I am comfy and enjoying the show I have a good time. The Gershwin is the most comfortable theatre on Broadway IMO.

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 3:29pm

I agree, it is comfortable.

[TimeSquare3]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 3:35pm

I was completely shocked on how well I could see from the last row of the Gershwin. I always heard people saying that you would need to binoculars but the seats are GREAT!