August Wilson Theatre (Broadway) - Theater Information
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| Address: 245 W. 52nd St. New York, NY 10019 BUILT: 1925 SEATING CAPACITY: 1228 |
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August Wilson Theatre (Broadway) History
The theatre first opened as the Guild Theatre in 1925 with a revival of George Bernard Shaw's Caesar and Cleopatra. The theatre was leased to WOR-Mutual Radio as a studio in 1943, and then purchased in 1950 by The American National Theater and Academy and renamed the ANTA Theatre. In 1981, the theatre was purchased by Jujamcyn Theaters and named the Virginia Theatre for owner and Jujamcyn Board member Virginia McKnight Binger. In 2005, just days after playwright August Wilson's death, the theatre was renamed in his honor.
The longest running show at the August Wilson was Jersey Boys! Jersey Boys ran from November 6, 2005 to January 15, 2017 (4,642 performances!) Jersey Boys is currently the 12th longest-running show in history, sandwiched between Rent at number 11 and Miss Saigon at number 13. Jersey Boys, the behind-the-music story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, originally starred Christian Hoff (Tommy DeVito), Daniel Reichard(Bob Gaudio), J. Robert Spencer (Nick Massi) and John Lloyd Young (Frankie Valli). The production won four Tony Awards, including Best Musical.
Other notable performances include Humphrey Bogart in The Mask and the Face in 1933; Rosalind Russell made her Broadway debut in The Garrick Gaieties in 1930; Henry Fonda starred in Our Town in 1969, just to name a few! Some of the August Wilson Theatre's best-known shows include The Owl and the Pussycat, Purlie, Copperfield, Carrie, City of Angels, Jelly's Last Jam, Smokey Joe's Cafe, The Wild Party, Groundhog Day and more!
What Shows Played the August Wilson Theatre (Broadway)
DATES PRODUCTION ? - ? Funny Girl (2022) ? - ? Slave Play (2021) ? - ? Pass Over (2021) ? - ? Home for the Holidays (2017) 3/16/2017 - ? Groundhog Day (2017) ? - ? Mean Girls (2018) 10/16/2006 - 10/16/2006 The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (2006) 10/4/2005 - 1/15/2017 Jersey Boys (2005)
Frequently Asked Questions
Accessible seating is available for this performance as indicated on the seating map.
The August Wilson Theatre is not completely wheelchair-accessible. There are 8 steps down into the main entrance of the theatre from the sidewalk and 25 steps up from there to the Orchestra level. However, there is an entrance via a Stair Lift that provides direct access from the entrance on 52nd Street to the Orchestra level. A person does not have to be confined to a wheelchair to use the lift. The Stair Lift does have a weight capacity of 500 pounds.
There is a wheelchair accessible unisex restroom located near the upper landing of the Stair Lift in the Orchestra. All other restrooms (not wheelchair accessible) are located in the Lower Lobby, one flight down from the Orchestra.
Wheelchair seating is in the Orchestra only.
Reservations for assisted-listening devices are not necessary. Driver’s license or ID with printed address required as a deposit.
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