Booth Theatre in New York – History, Seating Chart & Tickets

A relatively small Broadway theater designed for one-man shows. You can see the sgraffito decorations that gained popularity in Europe.

Address, opening, capacity
Seating chart
Directions to the theater
Map, location
Hotels near the thater
History
Architectural style
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Address, opening, capacity of Booth Theatre

Basic Information about the Booth Theatre in NYC

Address:	222 W 45th St, New York, NY 10036（ Map ） Located on 45 Street, between Broadway and 8th Avenue
Opened:	1913
Capacity:	806 seats

Seating Chart of Booth Theatre

The Booth Theatre has a seating capacity of 806 seats, divided into two main sections: Orchestra (1st level) and Mezzanine (2nd level).

*Click to view larger image

Directions to Booth Theatre

Access to Booth Theatre are most commonly by taking the New York City Subway (MTA).

The area around the theatre becomes very crowded close to showtime, so whether you are arriving by subway or taxi, please allow extra time to reach the venue.

Nearest Subway Station:

Lines, 49 Ststation (About a 5-minute walk)

Lines, 42 St – Times Square / Port Authority Stationstation (About a 5-minute walk)

The 42st – Times Square / Port Authority station is a large station complex, so plan to arrive early to avoid rushing.

Map, location of Booth Theatre

Here is the map of the Booth Theatre.

Best hotels near the Booth Theatre

Discover the best hotels near the Booth Theatre. Stay within walking distance of Broadway and enjoy easy access to shows, restaurants, and attractions.

The list of recommended hotels near the theater:

History of the Booth Theatre

The origins of the Booth Theatre

The Booth Theatre opened in 1913, built by the Shubert brothers and producer-director Winthrop Ames, who played a key role on Broadway in the early 20th century. Ames was known for staging Shakespeare and classical works, while the Shuberts were expanding their theater empire. You can learn more about the Shubert Organization at the link below.

The Shubert Theatre and Booth Theatre, designed back-to-back

When the Shuberts decided to expand their presence around 44th and 45th Street, they built the Booth Theatre and the larger Shubert Theatre at the same time, cutting construction time and costs. The two houses were designed back-to-back with a passageway between 44th and 45th Street, a unique layout that remains today.

The Booth Theatre has been home to many Pulitzer Prize-winning plays, including “You Can’t Take It With You,” “The Time of Your Life,” “That Championship Season,” “Sunday in the Park with George,” and “Next to Normal.” Today, it continues to operate under the Shubert Organization as one of Broadway’s most historic playhouses.

Learn more about the Shubert Organization >>

Named after Shakespearean actor Edwin Booth

The theater is named after Edwin Thomas Booth, one of America’s most famous Shakespearean actors, celebrated for bringing faithful performances of works like “Hamlet” to the stage. Booth was hailed as “the prince of players” and the greatest actor of the 19th century. Ironically, his younger brother, John Wilkes Booth, is remembered for assassinating President Abraham Lincoln.

The Booth name had been used earlier for a theater built in 1869 at 23rd Street and 6th Avenue, but the name was later given to the current Booth Theatre, ensuring Edwin Booth’s legacy lives on in the heart of Broadway.

Architecture and design of the Booth Theatre

Shared structure with the Shubert Theatre

The Booth Theatre and Shubert Theatre share the same structure

Designed by architect Henry Herts, a mentor of Herbert Krapp, the Booth Theatre was built as a twin to the Shubert Theatre. From the outside, the two playhouses appear seamless, with no clear dividing line between them.

The Booth was intentionally built on a smaller, more intimate scale than the Shubert, with a refined classical style rather than grand ornamentation. Because of this, the Booth Theatre has always been especially suited for smaller dramas and one-person shows.

Learn more about Henry Herts >>

Sgraffito details on the Booth Theatre

Producer Winthrop Ames was fascinated by European theater design and brought the decorative technique of sgraffito to New York. This Renaissance-inspired method involves layering plaster and scratching through to reveal designs beneath.

The Booth Theatre remains the only Broadway theater in New York with original sgraffito decoration still visible on its facade. The highlighted areas in the image above show where this rare detail has been preserved.