Address, opening, capacity of Palace Theatre
Basic Information about the Palace Theatre in NYC
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Address: |
1564 Broadway, New York, NY 10036（
Map ）
Located on 7th Avenue, between 46 Street and 47 Street
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Opened: |
1913 |
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Capacity: |
1,743 seats |
Seating Chart of Palace Theatre
The Palace Theatre has a seating capacity of 1,743 seats, divided into three main sections: Orchestra (1st level), Mezzanine (2nd level), and Balcony (3rd level).
*Click to view larger image
Directions to Palace Theatre
Access to Palace 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.
Map, location of Palace Theatre
Here is the map of the Palace Theatre.
Best hotels near the Palace Theatre
Discover the best hotels near the Palace 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 Palace Theatre
Born as a vaudeville house
The Palace Theatre opened in 1913. Producer Martin Beck built it to challenge the East Coast vaudeville network operated by the Keith Albee Orpheum organization. To gain access to that booking system, Beck transferred three quarters of the theatre’s ownership to Keith Albee Orpheum and continued to handle bookings.
What is vaudeville
Vaudeville began in Paris as a variety stage form. In the United States it came to mean mixed bills of dance, song, magic, comedy, and other popular acts presented in a single program.
The ultimate vaudeville stage
Early finances were shaky even with comedian Ed Wynn headlining opening week, yet the Palace soon became the dream destination for performers. Appearing at the Palace signaled real success, and the prestige was so great that managers could sometimes negotiate lower fees in exchange for the honor of appearing there.
Decline and revival
The Great Depression reduced interest in live variety while radio and film grew. In 1932 the Palace converted to films and became RKO Palace. Stage programs returned from time to time but stability did not. A turning point came in 1965 when James Nederlander purchased the theatre and restored the auditorium to its original red and gold splendor. Major live engagements by Shirley MacLaine, Eddie Fisher, and Diana Ross followed, and the stage soon hosted musical runs including
La Cage aux Folles from 1983 to 1987, Disney’s
Beauty and the Beast from 1994 to 1999, and
Aida with a total of 1,852 performances from 2000 to 2004.
The Palace steadily regained its shine, with bookings filling far in advance. The theatre reasserted its role as a prime musical venue in the heart of Times Square.
Evolving with Times Square
Set at the very center of Times Square, the Palace has grown with the district. A hotel rose above the theatre in the late nineteen eighties. From the nineteen nineties onward the square became a round the clock landmark filled with brilliant digital signs.
Renovation through 2024
Beginning in 2018 the Palace was integrated into the TSX Broadway redevelopment. The project introduced a new entrance on Forty Seventh Street, renewed the lobby and front of house areas, expanded back of house facilities, modernized stage and building systems, and enhanced accessibility. The historic auditorium was carefully restored. The entire theatre volume was lifted by nearly ten meters within the new podium so it now sits above street level while preserving its original character. The redevelopment invested on the order of billions of dollars and positions the Palace for the next era of Broadway.
About the Keith Albee Orpheum organization
A vast network of vaudeville and cinemas
Keith Albee Orpheum was established in 1928 by Benjamin Franklin Keith and Edward Franklin Albee the Second. The company operated more than seven hundred vaudeville theatres and cinemas in the United States and Canada and cast many thousands of performers.
Benjamin Franklin Keith
Born in New Hampshire in 1846, Keith worked in the circus trade before turning to vaudeville. With Edward F. Albee he began operating the Bijou Theatre in Boston in 1885 and expanded into New York, Philadelphia, and beyond, building a dominant chain across the East and Midwest.
After vaudeville’s decline
As vaudeville faded, Keith Albee Orpheum was acquired by the Radio Corporation of America and merged with Film Booking Offices to form RKO Pictures. With studio production and nationwide distribution, plus radio and later television interests, RKO helped define the classic studio era.
Ghost stories of the Palace
Like many Broadway houses, the Palace has its legends. Reports speak of a mysterious cellist in the orchestra seats, a sad little girl glimpsed from the balcony, a man in a brown suit near the offices, a boy with a toy truck by the mezzanine, and even sightings linked to Judy Garland near the rear of the orchestra. Another tale follows acrobat Louis Borsalino, injured in a fall in the nineteen thirties, who is said to be seen leaping among the rafters when the house is empty.
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Lines,
49 Ststation (About a 3-minute walk)
