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

Theatre that is home to the headquarters of the Shubert Organization, the largest theatre operator on Broadway.

Address, opening, capacity
Seating chart
View from the seat
Directions to the theater
Map, location
Hotels near the thater
History
Around the Shubert Theatre
Broadway Musical Discount Tickets – On Sale Now!

Address, opening, capacity of Shubert Theatre

Basic Information about the Shubert Theatre in NYC

Address:	225 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036（ Map ） Located on 44 Street, between 7th Avenue and 8th Avenue
Opened:	1913
Capacity:	1,468 seats

Seating Chart of Shubert Theatre

The Shubert Theatre has a seating capacity of 1,468 seats, divided into three main sections: Orchestra (1st level), Mezzanine (2nd level), and Balcony (3rd level).

*Click to view larger image

View from the seat of Shubert Theatre

You can view real seat photos from inside the the Shubert Theatre to see the stage from sections. These images help you choose the seating option that best suits your Broadway experience.

Orchestra Side Row N

Directions to Shubert Theatre

Access to Shubert 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, 42 St – Times Square / Port Authority Stationstation (About a 8-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 Shubert Theatre

Here is the map of the Shubert Theatre.

Best hotels near the Shubert Theatre

Discover the best hotels near the Shubert 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 Shubert Theatre

Built alongside the Booth Theatre

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

The Shubert Theatre was built in 1913 right next to the Booth Theatre, sharing the same block. The Shubert brothers, who were rapidly expanding their theatre business, partnered with producer and director Winthrop Ames to create the venue. Constructing the two theatres side by side allowed the developers to maximize the use of their land, shorten construction time, and reduce costs.

While the Booth Theatre was designed as a simpler, two-level playhouse with 806 seats for dramas and solo performances, the Shubert Theatre was created as a grander, three-level house with 1,468 seats to stage large-scale musicals. It is the second-oldest surviving theatre built by the Shubert brothers.

Learn more about the shared boundary with the Booth Theatre >>

Named in memory of Sam S. Shubert

Portrait of Sam S. Shubert, who died in a train accident

Located in the very heart of the Broadway district, the theatre was originally named the Sam S. Shubert Theatre in honor of Sam Shubert, the second of the three brothers, who tragically died in a train accident in 1905 at the age of 26.

After Sam’s passing, his brothers expanded the family business and eventually built what became Broadway’s largest theatre organization. Sam had been the one who first encouraged them to enter the theatre business, making the name a fitting tribute.

Famous as a Tony Awards venue and home to the Shubert Organization

Until the late 1990s, the Shubert Theatre was frequently used as the venue for the Tony Awards, Broadway’s most prestigious ceremony. Its selection was a natural recognition of the Shubert family’s immense contributions to the industry.

Today, the Shubert Organization owns and operates 17 Broadway theatres and several Off-Broadway venues, with a much larger portfolio historically. Among them, the Shubert Theatre is unique as it houses the organization’s corporate headquarters on its top floors, making it the symbolic heart of Broadway’s largest theatre company.

The Shuberts, whose company was founded in 1900, continue to play a defining role in Broadway more than a century later. For more background, see our Broadway history page.

“A Chorus Line” and the revival of Broadway

By the 1970s, Times Square had fallen into decline, with crime and vice driving away audiences. Broadway theatres struggled to survive as attendance dropped.

In this climate, director and choreographer Michael Bennett created *A Chorus Line*, a groundbreaking musical celebrating dancers and their stories. He conceived, choreographed, and directed the show himself.

Opening on July 25, 1975, *A Chorus Line* became an unprecedented hit. It ran for 6,137 performances over 15 years until April 28, 1990, setting a new Broadway record for longest-running show at the time. The production won nine Tony Awards including Best Musical, as well as the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the first Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical.

The creative team behind *A Chorus Line* included James Kirkwood Jr. and Nicholas Dante, who won the Drama Desk Award for their book, Marvin Hamlisch, who composed the score and went on to achieve EGOT status, and Edward Kleban, who wrote the lyrics and won the Tony Award for Best Original Score.

The massive success of *A Chorus Line* not only brought audiences back to Broadway but also helped spark efforts to revitalize Times Square. It is often credited with laying the groundwork for the urban renewal initiatives of Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, which transformed the district into the safe, vibrant Broadway we know today.

Learn more about Mayor Giuliani’s crime reduction efforts >>

Around the Shubert Theatre

Shubert Alley

Next to the Shubert and Booth theatres runs Shubert Alley, a 300-foot-long pedestrian passageway connecting 44th and 45th Streets. Originally created as a fire exit route under safety codes, the Shubert brothers even parked their cars there.

Though named Shubert Alley, the land was leased for decades from the Astor estate rather than owned outright by the Shuberts. Over the years, it served as a bus stop for the New Jersey bus line, a hangout for actors during breaks, and a backdrop for televised musicals and public events. It has even appeared in Guinness World Records and news reports, such as during the 2010 attempted Times Square bombing when security cameras captured the suspect walking through the alley.

Shubert Alley today

Today, Shubert Alley remains a fire exit passage but also serves as a popular gathering spot for theatre-goers during intermission. Each year during Tony Awards week, it hosts “Stars in the Alley,” a free outdoor concert that features Broadway performers and draws large crowds.