Address, opening, capacity of Studio 54
Basic Information about the Studio 54 in NYC
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Address: |
254 W 54th St, New York, NY 10019（
Map）
Located on 54 Street, between Broadway and 8th Avenue
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Opened: |
1927 |
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Capacity: |
1,006 seats |
Seating Chart of Studio 54
The Studio 54 has a seating capacity of 1,006 seats, divided into two main sections: Orchestra (1st level) and Mezzanine (2nd level).
*Click to view larger image
Directions to Studio 54
Access to Studio 54 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 Studio 54
Here is the map of the Studio 54.
Best hotels near the Studio 54
Discover the best hotels near the Studio 54. 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 Studio 54
Founded as the Gallo Opera House
Studio 54 began in 1927 when opera impresario Fortune Thomas Gallo built the Gallo Opera House as a dedicated venue for opera. Productions such as “Juno and the Paycock” and “Ballet Moderne” were staged, but most closed after only a few performances, and the theatre never became a bustling success.
By 1929, the Great Depression hit Broadway’s entertainment industry hard, keeping audiences away from theatres. Gallo was unable to find tenants for the building, and loan payments on construction costs fell behind. Eventually, the theatre was foreclosed. His name “Fortune,” meaning luck, was often ironically cited, as his venture was anything but fortunate.
In 1930, a new owner renamed it the New Yorker Theatre, but management struggled for the next decade. After “Medicine Show” closed in just three weeks, the theatre went dark in 1940 and remained unused for the next three years.
In 1943, CBS purchased the New Yorker Theatre and renamed it
Studio 52, their 52nd production facility. It was used for radio and television broadcasts and ran successfully until around 1970.
Studio 52 hosted some of the era’s most popular TV programs, including the long-running game show “What’s My Line?” (1950-1967), the quiz show “The $64,000 Question,” the comedy series “The Jack Benny Show” (1950-1965), and the children’s program “Captain Kangaroo” (1955-1984).
The legendary disco of the 1970s
In 1974, CBS sold Studio 52. Entrepreneurs
Ian Schrager and Steve Rubell, then newcomers to the nightclub business, seized the opportunity to ride the wave of the global disco boom. They purchased the venue and, after just six weeks of renovation, opened on April 26, 1977, as the legendary nightclub
Studio 54.
It quickly became the nightlife epicenter of New York, attracting actors, musicians, artists, and writers. The name combined “Studio” from Studio 52 with its location on 54th Street.
The list of celebrities who frequented Studio 54 is endless: Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Elton John, Mick Jagger, and Steven Tyler, among others. Stevie Wonder and Whitney Houston even performed concerts there. Fashion icons like Marc Jacobs, Tom Ford, Calvin Klein, and Yves Saint Laurent were regulars, as were Salvador Dali, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and even Donald Trump.
Studio 54 was also infamous for its strict door policy. Entry involved the “Velvet rope,” where owners personally selected guests at the velvet ropes outside.
Tax evasion scandal and closure
Within its first year, Studio 54 earned an unprecedented $7 million. One New York newspaper remarked that “only the Mafia could make this much money,” catching the attention of the IRS. An investigation revealed $2.5 million in unpaid taxes, forcing the club to close after only three years.
In 1980, new owner Mark Fleischman reopened it as a nightclub, hosting live music, but by 1989 the venue was sold to CAT Entertainment Corp and converted into a rock club called The Ritz.
In 1993, Cabaret Royale Corporation renovated the building and briefly reopened it as “Cabaret Royale at Studio 54.” In 1995, Allied Partners purchased the property for $2 million, restored parts of it, and reopened as a nightclub, but it closed again in 1996.
Revival with the Tony-winning Cabaret
In 1998, a crane accident forced the revival of “Cabaret” to vacate the Henry Miller’s Theatre (now the Stephen Sondheim Theatre). Roundabout Theatre Company moved the production into the long-abandoned Studio 54, reconstructing the stage to match its original setup. The production became a major hit, running 2,377 performances and winning multiple Tony Awards.
In 2003, Roundabout purchased Studio 54 for $22.5 million, and it remains one of the company’s Broadway theatres today.
Takarazuka Revue’s musical Studio 54
In 2010, Japan’s Takarazuka Revue Moon Troupe staged the original musical
“STUDIO 54”. Set in the iconic New York disco, the story followed a paparazzo who unexpectedly bonds with a famous actress he was pursuing. The production incorporated real-life figures such as Steve Rubell and Madonna, and even replicated Studio 54’s famous entrance doors and logo, creating a realistic and atmospheric tribute.
Architecture of Studio 54
Interior design preserved from its 1927 origins
Upon entering the front doors of Studio 54, guests are greeted by a long grand hall lined with wall-to-wall mirrors, deep green marble, and several chandeliers overhead leading toward the auditorium. This elegant design was created by Italian immigrant architect Eugene De Rosa, who also designed the Broadway Theatre and the Times Square Theatre.
Remarkably, Studio 54 has never been demolished. The building has remained intact since its creation in 1927, and visitors can still see the original grand hall and auditorium interiors. From its beginnings as the Gallo Opera House, to its years as a CBS studio, and later its legendary disco era of 1977, the venue continues to embody the layered history of New York.
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Lines,
50 Ststation (About a 9-minute walk)
