Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (Broadway) - Theater Information
 Marquee |  Stage Door | ||||||
| Address: 261 W. 47th St. New York, NY 10036 BUILT: 1925 SEATING CAPACITY: 622 |
View Larger Map |
||||||
Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (Broadway) History
The Samuel J. Friedman Theatre was designed by architect Herbert J. Krapp and opened as the Biltmore Theatre with the play Easy Come Easy Go in 1925. The theatre was used by Federal Theatre's Living Newspaper project in the 1930s, and CBS leased the theatre for use as a radio and television studio from 1952 until 1961. It then returned to use as a legitimate theatre. In 1987, the building caught fire and sat vacant for 14 years. In 2001, the theatre was assumed by the Manhattan Theatre Club, and was renamed the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre in 2008 after Broadway publicist Samuel J. Friedman.
Shows to have been performed at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre include No Exit (1946) starring Claude Dauphin, Peter Kass, Ruth Ford, and Annabella; Hair (1968) starring James Rando, Gerome Ragni Ragni, Lynn Kellogg, Sally Eaton, Shelley Plimpton and more; Jitney (2017 starring Harvy Blanks, Anthony Chisholm, Brandon J. Dirden, Andre Holland and more; The Little Foxes (2017) starring Laura Linney and Cynthia Nixon; Choir Boy (2019) starring Jeremy Pope, Austin Pendleton and more!
Frequently Asked Questions
Accessible seating is available for this performance as indicated on the seating map.
The entrance to the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre is located on street level at 261 West 47th Street (between Broadway and 8th Avenue). An elevator, located at the right of the Box Office lobby, provides easy access to all levels of the theatre, as well as the Susan and Peter J. Solomon Family Lounge (which has restrooms, concessions, coat lockers, and the MTC gift shop) and the Mezzanine lounge/restroom area.
Orchestra: There are steps between the rows in the Orchestra.
Premier Circle/Mezzanine (second level/third level): The entrance to the second level at row AA is up two flights of stairs (19 steps). The rear entrance to the second-level seating is considered the third level. It is up four flights of stairs (35 steps) from street level.
Wheelchair-accessible restrooms available on lower level and Mezzanine level.
Assisted listening devices and hearing-aid-compatible devices are available free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis. At the Friedman, these devices are located at the podium to the left as you enter the inner lobby of the theatre. The house manager or staff on duty will provide you with a headset in exchange for a credit card, driver’s license, or other form of identification, which will be returned to you at the end of the performance. Please note: Headsets not obtained at the theatre will not work with our enhanced listening systems.
Audio description is available on-demand at any performance beginning three weeks after opening night. The pre-recorded audio description is delivered via a headset and a small receiver, using advanced technology to synchronize with the action on stage. The house manager or staff on duty will provide you with the equipment in exchange for a credit card, driver’s license, or other form of identification, which will be returned to you at the end of the performance. Devices are available free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis.
Using the latest technology, closed captioning is now available on-demand at any performance at the Friedman Theatre, beginning three weeks after opening night. The action on stage is synchronized with captions on a small handheld device displaying in real time. The house manager or staff on duty will provide you with the equipment in exchange for a credit card, driver’s license, or other form of identification, which will be returned to you at the end of the performance. Devices are available free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis.
Manhattan Theatre Club will provide braille and large-print versions of all Playbills for audience members with vision impairments. At the Friedman, these are located at the podium to the left as you enter the inner lobby of the theatre.
.
