A cornice surrounds the ceiling. [222][223] The renaming was unrelated to Brighton Beach Memoirs; the Nederlanders had offered to rename the theater after Simon in 1982, but the playwright had declined at the time. 
The western section, which contains the stage house, is six stories high. 
[46][47] Though the musical charged a top admission of $6, then an unprecedented price,[48] it managed 69 performances before it closed. [210][211] The sale involved $100,000 in cash and a $1.16 million mortgage loan. [308] A revival of Jesus Christ Superstar ran at the Simon from March to July 2012,[309][310] followed at the end of that year by the short-lived musical Scandalous. January', "Feigay-Smith Show Will Open Tonight; 'Billion Dollar Baby' to Arrive at the Alvin--Mitzi Green, Joan McCracken in Cast", "Billion Dollar Baby Broadway Musical Original", "Billion Dollar Baby (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1945)", "Feigay-Smith Show to Close Saturday; 'Billion Dollar Baby' Leaving Alvin After Run of 219-- CBS in Theatre Deal CBS Trades Theatres Stanton, Rubber Sponsors", "CBS Is Negotiating for Alvin Theatre; Report Radio System Offers $850,000 for House--Jan. 5 'Strange Fruit' Finale Taylor Holmes in Play On and Off the Stage", "Life With Father Broadway Play Original", "Life with Father (Broadway, Empire Theatre, 1939)", "Shaw Play Opens at Alvin Tonight; ' Man and Superman' Marking Return of Maurice Evans -- Frances Rowe in Cast", "Evans Play Moves to Hudson Feb. 16; ' Man and Superman' Leaving Alvin for 'Mister Roberts,' Henry Fonda Vehicle", "Fonda Wll Return to Stage Tonight; Film Actor Is Star of 'Mister' Roberts,' Bowing at Alvin With $300,000 in Till", "Mister Roberts Broadway Play Original", "Mister Roberts (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1948)", "Theatre Owners to Continue Deal; Cullman, Hayward Again Will Exchange Hammerstein Lease With C.B.S. [231], Brighton Beach Memoirs was followed by another play in the Eugene trilogy, Biloxi Blues, in 1985. (1967). [134][141][142], The musical The Golden Apple transferred to the Alvin from off-Broadway in April 1954,[143] running for 173 total performances. ', "Anything Goes Broadway Musical Original", "Anything Goes (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1934)", "News of the Stage; Gershwin's Folk Opera, 'Porgy and Bess', Opens Tonight -- Cooper-Merivale Repertory-to Close", "Porgy and Bess Broadway Musical Original", "Porgy and Bess (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1935)", "News of the Stage; ' Mid-West' Tonight at the Booth -- 'Porgy and Bess' Closing Jan. 18 -- Behrman Play Due Feb. 17", "Red, Hot and Blue Broadway Musical Original", "Red, Hot and Blue (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1936)", "THE PLAY; George M. Cohan as the United States President in 'I'd Rather Be Right', "I'd Rather Be Right Broadway Musical Original", "I'd Rather Be Right (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1937)", "THE PLAY in Review; George Abbott's 'The Boys From Syracuse' Opens With Music and Lyrics by Rodgers and Hart and Clowning by Jimmy Savo", "The Boys from Syracuse Broadway Musical Original", "The Boys from Syracuse (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1938)", "THE PLAY; Lunt's and Fontanne's 'Taming of the Shrew' Comes Back for the Finnish Relief Fund", "There Shall Be No Night Broadway Play Original", "There Shall Be No Night (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1940)", "THE PLAY in Review; Robert E. Sherwood's 'There Shall Be No Night' Brings Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne Back to Town in a Drama About Finland's Resistance", "Lady in the Dark' Is Closing May 30; Gertrude Lawrence Vehicle Is Scheduled to Halt at Alvin After 460 Performances", "Lady in the Dark Broadway Musical Original", "Lady in the Dark (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1941)", "News of the Stage; 'Lady in the Dark' to Have Premiere Tonight --Plymouth Gets 'The Doctor's Dilemma', "Todd Show Bows at Alvin Tonight; Musical, 'Something for the Boys,' Stars Ethel Merman -- 'Dark Eyes' Due Jan. 14", "Something for the Boys Broadway Musical Original", "Something for the Boys (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1943)", "Alvin Is Booked for the 'Jackpot'; Freedley to Open Musical in Favorite Theatre on Jan. 13 -- 'Inn' Premiere Moved Up", "Jackpot (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1944)", "Freedley Musical to Close Saturday; ' Jackpot' Will Depart After 67 Performances -- Belasco to House 'Mrs. (both with Colleen Dewhurst and Jason Robards), as part of the First New York International Festival of the Arts. 250 West 52nd Street (between Broadway and 8th Avenue), New York, NY 10019, 7 wheelchair spaces available on Orchestra level. Above the auditorium were three stories of offices. [27] The theater's name was an amalgamation of the first names of its original operators:[6][28] Alex A. Aarons (18911943[29]) and Vinton Freedley (18911969[30]). 29, 1983. [234][235] Nol Coward's play Blithe Spirit opened at the Simon in March 1987;[236][237] the theater also hosted a tribute to one of the play's stars, Geraldine Page, who died mid-run. Both men hailed from Philadelphia. [139][140] The next year, Norman Krasna's comedy Kind Sir opened at the Alvin with Mary Martin and Charles Boyer. The Neil Simon Theatre was designed by Herbert J. Krapp for the real estate mogul Alexander Pincus. [289][290] Hairspray set the house record for the theater, closing at the beginning of 2009. Opened in 1927, the theater was designed by Herbert J. Krapp and was built for Alex A. Aarons and Vinton Freedley. [253] The next November, the Dutch production Cyrano: The Musical opened at the Simon,[257][258] lasting 137 performances. [285] Elaine Stritch's one-woman show Elaine Stritch at Liberty then premiered at the Simon in February 2002. [55][56] Another Rodgers and Hart musical, Heads Up!, opened at the Alvin that November[57] for a 144-performance run. [333][334], After The Cher Show closed, MJ the Musical had been booked at the Simon for mid-2020. [18], Times Square became the epicenter for large-scale theater productions between 1900 and the Great Depression. The auditorium is wide and deep with a single balcony. The south wall contains paneled wooden doors to the auditorium, while the east wall contains a staircase to the mezzanine lounge. [210] The original Broadway production of Annie opened in 1977[212][213] and ran for five years before transferring. [177][182] Maurice Chevalier appeared at the Alvin in April 1965 for a month-long solo show, Maurice Chevalier at 77. The original name was an amalgamation of Aarons's and Freedley's first names; the theater was renamed for playwright Neil Simon in 1983. The inner lobby's ceiling is decorated with plasterwork in the Adam style and contains a pair of crystal chandeliers. [12][16][17] The western (right) wall has ticket windows, while the eastern (left) wall has a recessed niche to the inner lobby, containing a glass-and-bronze double door flanked by small sconces. [120][126], Cullman and CBS decided in 1951 to swap Hammerstein's and the Alvin for another three years, allowing the former to be used as a studio and the latter to be used for legitimate plays. The theatre has no elevators or escalators and the main bar of the concession stand is located on the lower lounge making accessibility often a challenge. [208] By July 1974, Matthaei had defaulted on the theater's mortgage loan, and the Bowery Savings Bank acquired the Alvin in foreclosure. [305] The musical Catch Me if You Can opened in April 2011,[306][307] running for 170 performances. Broadway Musical Original", "Oh Captain! [139][144] The Harold Arlen and Truman Capote musical House of Flowers was booked before Cullman's lease came up for renewal that year, indicating that the leases of the Alvin and Hammerstein's would again be swapped. A horizontal frieze with panels and vertical grooves runs above the base. [232][233] The next year, the musical Into the Light opened at the Simon, closing after six performances. The theater interiors are decorated with paneling and plasterwork, and the auditorium has a domed ceiling. The Neil Simon Theatre has a red brick facade, dominated by three double height arched windows. Broadway theater owners are allowed to sell their air rights to developers of any lot between Sixth and Eighth Avenues north of 40th Street, regardless of whether the land lots were contiguous. [31][41] The Alvin opened on November 22, 1927, with Funny Face;[42][43] that show ran for 250 performances. [73][74] The original production of the Gershwins' American folk opera Porgy and Bess opened at the Alvin in October 1935. [34] The Simon is operated by the Nederlander Organization. [177][183][184] This was followed the next month by Flora the Red Menace,[185][186] in which Liza Minnelli made her Broadway debut. Opens; Dolores Gray Scores in Musical at Alvin", "Theater: 'Rosenkrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead'; Play by Tom Stoppard Opens at the Alvin", "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead Broadway Play Original", "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1967)", "Theater: Howard Sackler's 'Great White Hope'; Play at the Alvin Stars James Earl Jones Edwin Sherin Staged Cheated Hero's Story", "The Great White Hope Broadway Play Original", "The Great White Hope (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1968)", "Theater: 'Company' Offers a Guide to New York's Marital jungle", "Company (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1970)", "3 Broadway Musicals to Close This Weekend After Long Runs", "Shenandoah Broadway Musical Original", "Shenandoah (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1975)", "Nederlander Family Adds Alvin to Its Holings", "Annie (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1977)", "The Little Prince and the Aviator Broadway Musical Original", "Nederlander Loses Appeal of 'Little Prince' Damages", "Your Arms Too Short to Box With God Broadway Musical Original", "Your Arms Too Short to Box with God (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1982)", "Landmarks Panel Listing Broadway Theaters", "Theater Owners Ask Board to Delay Landmark Status", "Board Acts to Evict Artists Occupying Brooklyn Lofts", "Biloxi Blues Broadway Play Original", "Biloxi Blues (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1985)", "Stage: 'Biloxi Blues,' Simon's New Comedy", "Into the Light Broadway Musical Original", "Into the Light (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1986)", "Blithe Spirit Broadway Play 1987 Revival", "Blithe Spirit (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1987)", "Theater: 'Blithe Spirit,' With Blythe Danner", "Tribute to Geraldine Page Fills Neil Simon Theater", "Mort Sahl on Broadway! (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1987)", "Breaking the Code Broadway Play Original", "Breaking the Code (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1987)", "Kenny Loggins on Broadway Broadway Special Original", "Kenny Loggins on Broadway (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1988)", "Review/Pop; Kenny Loggins, in Different Voices", "Orpheus Descending Broadway Play 1989 Revival", "Orpheus Descending (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1989)", "Review/Theater; Vanessa Redgrave in 'Orpheus': Matching Artistic Sensibilities", "Developer Plans 52-Story Hotel Atop 2 Theaters", "Luxury Hotel Planned Atop B'way Theaters", "Review/Dance; Don Cossacks Return For First Time Since 1976", "Jackie Mason: Brand New Broadway Special Original", "Jackie Mason: Brand New (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1990)", "Review/Theater; Some New Barbs From Jackie Mason", "Jake's Women Broadway Play Original", "Jake's Women (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1992)", "Theater Review; Simon's 'Jake's Women' Is Not Comedy Material", "Cyrano - The Musical Broadway Musical Original", "Cyrano - The Musical (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1993)", "Review/Theater: Cyrano: The Musical; Cyrano's Flights Have Touched Down On West 52d Street", "Review/Theater; A Tiny Voice in a Nasty World Sings for a Savior", "The Rise and Fall of Little Voice Broadway Play Original", "The Rise and Fall of Little Voice (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1994)", "Basia on Broadway Broadway Special Original", "Basia on Broadway (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1994)", "Pop Review; Echoes From All Over In the Songs of Basia", "Laurie Anderson on Broadway: The Nerve Bible Broadway Special Original", "Laurie Anderson on Broadway (The Nerve Bible) (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1995)", "Pop Review; Laurie Anderson, With Humanity", "Danny Gans on Broadway: The Man of Many Voices Broadway Special Original", "Danny Gans on Broadway: The Man of Many Voices (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1995)", "The King and I Broadway Musical 1996 Revival", "The King and I (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1996)", "Theater Review; Once Again, The Taming Of a Despot", "A View From the Bridge Broadway Play 1997 Revival", "A View from the Bridge (Broadway, Criterion Center Stage Right, 1997)", "Swan Lake Broadway Musical Original", "Swan Lake (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1998)", "Dance; 'Swan Lake': Is It Theater Or Dance, Gay Or Straight? [238] Comedian Mort Sahl made a limited appearance that October,[239][240] and the play Breaking the Code opened the next month. The five-story-tall eastern section is wider and is symmetrical, containing the auditorium entrance. The exit signs above each door are flanked by friezes that depict lyres and griffins. "[7][43], The Alvin's first few musicals had relatively short runs. [102][103] The Alvin's productions in 1944 and 1945 were mostly quick failures, including Helen Goes to Troy, The Firebrand of Florence, and Hollywood Pinafore. On the eastern side of the ground-floor facade is a pair of recessed metal doors. [23], The Tom Stoppard play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead opened at the Alvin in October 1967,[196][197] running for 421 total performances across two theaters. [38][39] The same month, Pincus submitted plans to the New York City Department of Buildings for a theater at the site, designed by Herbert J. [291][292] Robin Williams was to perform his comedy tour Weapons Of Self-Destruction at the Simon in April 2009, but he canceled his engagement after undergoing surgery. Through the 1960s and 1970s, the Alvin hosted long runs of shows such as A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, High Spirits, The Great White Hope, Company, Shenandoah, and Annie. [149][153] The theater hosted several moderately successful productions in the late 1950s, including the musicals Oh, Captain! [55][60] Aarons and Freedley bought the Alvin and the land underneath it that April. [11][16] White paint covers many of the original interior decorations. [11][15] According to the Nederlander Organization, the auditorium has 1,445 seats;[20] meanwhile, The Broadway League cites a capacity of 1,467 seats[21] and Playbill cites 1,380 seats.
The Neil Simon Theatre officially opened on Nov. 22, 1927 as the Alvin Theatre. [179], Hugh Martin and Timothy Gray's musical comedy High Spirits, with Beatrice Lillie and Tammy Grimes, opened in 1964[180][181] and ran for 367 performances. [12] The orchestra pit in front of the stage could fit 48 people. ", "Irma La Douce Broadway Musical Original", "Irma La Douce (Broadway, Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, 1960)", "Theatre: 'A Funny Thing Happened'; Musical at the Alvin Stars Zero Mostel", "Theater: 'High Spirits' and Bea Lillie; Musical Comedy Opens at the Alvin Theater", "Beatrice Lillie, Tammy Grimes in Bequiling Show, 'High Spirits', "Flora, The Red Menace Broadway Musical Original", "Flora, the Red Menace (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1965)", "Maurice Chevalier at 77 Broadway Special Original", "Maurice Chevalier at 77 (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1965)", "Article 3 -- No Title; Belated 77th Birthday Party at the Alvin", "The Theater: 'Flora, the Red Menace'; Spoof of Communists in U.S. Begins Run", "High Spirits Broadway Musical Original", "High Spirits (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1964)", "The Yearling Broadway Musical Original", "The Yearling (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1965)", "Theater: 'The Yearling,' a Musical, Opens at Alvin; Show Based on Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Novel Lloyd Richards Stages Story of Farm Famliy", "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Broadway Musical Original", "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1962)", "Theater: 'It's a BirdIt's a PlaneIt's Superman,' It's a Musical and It's Here; Comic-Strip Character Arrives at the Alvin Witty Point of View Is Basis of New Show", "Dinner at Eight Broadway Play 1966 Revival", "Dinner at Eight (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1966)", "Theater: 'Dinner at Eight' at the Alvin; Kaufman-Ferber Play Directed by Guthrie", "Sherry!
The western section, which contains the stage house, is six stories high. [46][47] Though the musical charged a top admission of $6, then an unprecedented price,[48] it managed 69 performances before it closed. [210][211] The sale involved $100,000 in cash and a $1.16 million mortgage loan. [308] A revival of Jesus Christ Superstar ran at the Simon from March to July 2012,[309][310] followed at the end of that year by the short-lived musical Scandalous. January', "Feigay-Smith Show Will Open Tonight; 'Billion Dollar Baby' to Arrive at the Alvin--Mitzi Green, Joan McCracken in Cast", "Billion Dollar Baby Broadway Musical Original", "Billion Dollar Baby (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1945)", "Feigay-Smith Show to Close Saturday; 'Billion Dollar Baby' Leaving Alvin After Run of 219-- CBS in Theatre Deal CBS Trades Theatres Stanton, Rubber Sponsors", "CBS Is Negotiating for Alvin Theatre; Report Radio System Offers $850,000 for House--Jan. 5 'Strange Fruit' Finale Taylor Holmes in Play On and Off the Stage", "Life With Father Broadway Play Original", "Life with Father (Broadway, Empire Theatre, 1939)", "Shaw Play Opens at Alvin Tonight; ' Man and Superman' Marking Return of Maurice Evans -- Frances Rowe in Cast", "Evans Play Moves to Hudson Feb. 16; ' Man and Superman' Leaving Alvin for 'Mister Roberts,' Henry Fonda Vehicle", "Fonda Wll Return to Stage Tonight; Film Actor Is Star of 'Mister' Roberts,' Bowing at Alvin With $300,000 in Till", "Mister Roberts Broadway Play Original", "Mister Roberts (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1948)", "Theatre Owners to Continue Deal; Cullman, Hayward Again Will Exchange Hammerstein Lease With C.B.S. [231], Brighton Beach Memoirs was followed by another play in the Eugene trilogy, Biloxi Blues, in 1985. (1967). [134][141][142], The musical The Golden Apple transferred to the Alvin from off-Broadway in April 1954,[143] running for 173 total performances. ', "Anything Goes Broadway Musical Original", "Anything Goes (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1934)", "News of the Stage; Gershwin's Folk Opera, 'Porgy and Bess', Opens Tonight -- Cooper-Merivale Repertory-to Close", "Porgy and Bess Broadway Musical Original", "Porgy and Bess (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1935)", "News of the Stage; ' Mid-West' Tonight at the Booth -- 'Porgy and Bess' Closing Jan. 18 -- Behrman Play Due Feb. 17", "Red, Hot and Blue Broadway Musical Original", "Red, Hot and Blue (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1936)", "THE PLAY; George M. Cohan as the United States President in 'I'd Rather Be Right', "I'd Rather Be Right Broadway Musical Original", "I'd Rather Be Right (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1937)", "THE PLAY in Review; George Abbott's 'The Boys From Syracuse' Opens With Music and Lyrics by Rodgers and Hart and Clowning by Jimmy Savo", "The Boys from Syracuse Broadway Musical Original", "The Boys from Syracuse (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1938)", "THE PLAY; Lunt's and Fontanne's 'Taming of the Shrew' Comes Back for the Finnish Relief Fund", "There Shall Be No Night Broadway Play Original", "There Shall Be No Night (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1940)", "THE PLAY in Review; Robert E. Sherwood's 'There Shall Be No Night' Brings Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne Back to Town in a Drama About Finland's Resistance", "Lady in the Dark' Is Closing May 30; Gertrude Lawrence Vehicle Is Scheduled to Halt at Alvin After 460 Performances", "Lady in the Dark Broadway Musical Original", "Lady in the Dark (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1941)", "News of the Stage; 'Lady in the Dark' to Have Premiere Tonight --Plymouth Gets 'The Doctor's Dilemma', "Todd Show Bows at Alvin Tonight; Musical, 'Something for the Boys,' Stars Ethel Merman -- 'Dark Eyes' Due Jan. 14", "Something for the Boys Broadway Musical Original", "Something for the Boys (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1943)", "Alvin Is Booked for the 'Jackpot'; Freedley to Open Musical in Favorite Theatre on Jan. 13 -- 'Inn' Premiere Moved Up", "Jackpot (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1944)", "Freedley Musical to Close Saturday; ' Jackpot' Will Depart After 67 Performances -- Belasco to House 'Mrs. (both with Colleen Dewhurst and Jason Robards), as part of the First New York International Festival of the Arts. 250 West 52nd Street (between Broadway and 8th Avenue), New York, NY 10019, 7 wheelchair spaces available on Orchestra level. Above the auditorium were three stories of offices. [27] The theater's name was an amalgamation of the first names of its original operators:[6][28] Alex A. Aarons (18911943[29]) and Vinton Freedley (18911969[30]). 29, 1983. [234][235] Nol Coward's play Blithe Spirit opened at the Simon in March 1987;[236][237] the theater also hosted a tribute to one of the play's stars, Geraldine Page, who died mid-run. Both men hailed from Philadelphia. [139][140] The next year, Norman Krasna's comedy Kind Sir opened at the Alvin with Mary Martin and Charles Boyer. The Neil Simon Theatre was designed by Herbert J. Krapp for the real estate mogul Alexander Pincus. [289][290] Hairspray set the house record for the theater, closing at the beginning of 2009. Opened in 1927, the theater was designed by Herbert J. Krapp and was built for Alex A. Aarons and Vinton Freedley. [253] The next November, the Dutch production Cyrano: The Musical opened at the Simon,[257][258] lasting 137 performances. [285] Elaine Stritch's one-woman show Elaine Stritch at Liberty then premiered at the Simon in February 2002. [55][56] Another Rodgers and Hart musical, Heads Up!, opened at the Alvin that November[57] for a 144-performance run. [333][334], After The Cher Show closed, MJ the Musical had been booked at the Simon for mid-2020. [18], Times Square became the epicenter for large-scale theater productions between 1900 and the Great Depression. The auditorium is wide and deep with a single balcony. The south wall contains paneled wooden doors to the auditorium, while the east wall contains a staircase to the mezzanine lounge. [210] The original Broadway production of Annie opened in 1977[212][213] and ran for five years before transferring. [177][182] Maurice Chevalier appeared at the Alvin in April 1965 for a month-long solo show, Maurice Chevalier at 77. The original name was an amalgamation of Aarons's and Freedley's first names; the theater was renamed for playwright Neil Simon in 1983. The inner lobby's ceiling is decorated with plasterwork in the Adam style and contains a pair of crystal chandeliers. [12][16][17] The western (right) wall has ticket windows, while the eastern (left) wall has a recessed niche to the inner lobby, containing a glass-and-bronze double door flanked by small sconces. [120][126], Cullman and CBS decided in 1951 to swap Hammerstein's and the Alvin for another three years, allowing the former to be used as a studio and the latter to be used for legitimate plays. The theatre has no elevators or escalators and the main bar of the concession stand is located on the lower lounge making accessibility often a challenge. [208] By July 1974, Matthaei had defaulted on the theater's mortgage loan, and the Bowery Savings Bank acquired the Alvin in foreclosure. [305] The musical Catch Me if You Can opened in April 2011,[306][307] running for 170 performances. Broadway Musical Original", "Oh Captain! [139][144] The Harold Arlen and Truman Capote musical House of Flowers was booked before Cullman's lease came up for renewal that year, indicating that the leases of the Alvin and Hammerstein's would again be swapped. A horizontal frieze with panels and vertical grooves runs above the base. [232][233] The next year, the musical Into the Light opened at the Simon, closing after six performances. The theater interiors are decorated with paneling and plasterwork, and the auditorium has a domed ceiling. The Neil Simon Theatre has a red brick facade, dominated by three double height arched windows. Broadway theater owners are allowed to sell their air rights to developers of any lot between Sixth and Eighth Avenues north of 40th Street, regardless of whether the land lots were contiguous. [31][41] The Alvin opened on November 22, 1927, with Funny Face;[42][43] that show ran for 250 performances. [73][74] The original production of the Gershwins' American folk opera Porgy and Bess opened at the Alvin in October 1935. [34] The Simon is operated by the Nederlander Organization. [177][183][184] This was followed the next month by Flora the Red Menace,[185][186] in which Liza Minnelli made her Broadway debut. Opens; Dolores Gray Scores in Musical at Alvin", "Theater: 'Rosenkrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead'; Play by Tom Stoppard Opens at the Alvin", "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead Broadway Play Original", "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1967)", "Theater: Howard Sackler's 'Great White Hope'; Play at the Alvin Stars James Earl Jones Edwin Sherin Staged Cheated Hero's Story", "The Great White Hope Broadway Play Original", "The Great White Hope (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1968)", "Theater: 'Company' Offers a Guide to New York's Marital jungle", "Company (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1970)", "3 Broadway Musicals to Close This Weekend After Long Runs", "Shenandoah Broadway Musical Original", "Shenandoah (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1975)", "Nederlander Family Adds Alvin to Its Holings", "Annie (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1977)", "The Little Prince and the Aviator Broadway Musical Original", "Nederlander Loses Appeal of 'Little Prince' Damages", "Your Arms Too Short to Box With God Broadway Musical Original", "Your Arms Too Short to Box with God (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1982)", "Landmarks Panel Listing Broadway Theaters", "Theater Owners Ask Board to Delay Landmark Status", "Board Acts to Evict Artists Occupying Brooklyn Lofts", "Biloxi Blues Broadway Play Original", "Biloxi Blues (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1985)", "Stage: 'Biloxi Blues,' Simon's New Comedy", "Into the Light Broadway Musical Original", "Into the Light (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1986)", "Blithe Spirit Broadway Play 1987 Revival", "Blithe Spirit (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1987)", "Theater: 'Blithe Spirit,' With Blythe Danner", "Tribute to Geraldine Page Fills Neil Simon Theater", "Mort Sahl on Broadway! (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1987)", "Breaking the Code Broadway Play Original", "Breaking the Code (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1987)", "Kenny Loggins on Broadway Broadway Special Original", "Kenny Loggins on Broadway (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1988)", "Review/Pop; Kenny Loggins, in Different Voices", "Orpheus Descending Broadway Play 1989 Revival", "Orpheus Descending (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1989)", "Review/Theater; Vanessa Redgrave in 'Orpheus': Matching Artistic Sensibilities", "Developer Plans 52-Story Hotel Atop 2 Theaters", "Luxury Hotel Planned Atop B'way Theaters", "Review/Dance; Don Cossacks Return For First Time Since 1976", "Jackie Mason: Brand New Broadway Special Original", "Jackie Mason: Brand New (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1990)", "Review/Theater; Some New Barbs From Jackie Mason", "Jake's Women Broadway Play Original", "Jake's Women (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1992)", "Theater Review; Simon's 'Jake's Women' Is Not Comedy Material", "Cyrano - The Musical Broadway Musical Original", "Cyrano - The Musical (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1993)", "Review/Theater: Cyrano: The Musical; Cyrano's Flights Have Touched Down On West 52d Street", "Review/Theater; A Tiny Voice in a Nasty World Sings for a Savior", "The Rise and Fall of Little Voice Broadway Play Original", "The Rise and Fall of Little Voice (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1994)", "Basia on Broadway Broadway Special Original", "Basia on Broadway (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1994)", "Pop Review; Echoes From All Over In the Songs of Basia", "Laurie Anderson on Broadway: The Nerve Bible Broadway Special Original", "Laurie Anderson on Broadway (The Nerve Bible) (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1995)", "Pop Review; Laurie Anderson, With Humanity", "Danny Gans on Broadway: The Man of Many Voices Broadway Special Original", "Danny Gans on Broadway: The Man of Many Voices (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1995)", "The King and I Broadway Musical 1996 Revival", "The King and I (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1996)", "Theater Review; Once Again, The Taming Of a Despot", "A View From the Bridge Broadway Play 1997 Revival", "A View from the Bridge (Broadway, Criterion Center Stage Right, 1997)", "Swan Lake Broadway Musical Original", "Swan Lake (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1998)", "Dance; 'Swan Lake': Is It Theater Or Dance, Gay Or Straight? [238] Comedian Mort Sahl made a limited appearance that October,[239][240] and the play Breaking the Code opened the next month. The five-story-tall eastern section is wider and is symmetrical, containing the auditorium entrance. The exit signs above each door are flanked by friezes that depict lyres and griffins. "[7][43], The Alvin's first few musicals had relatively short runs. [102][103] The Alvin's productions in 1944 and 1945 were mostly quick failures, including Helen Goes to Troy, The Firebrand of Florence, and Hollywood Pinafore. On the eastern side of the ground-floor facade is a pair of recessed metal doors. [23], The Tom Stoppard play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead opened at the Alvin in October 1967,[196][197] running for 421 total performances across two theaters. [38][39] The same month, Pincus submitted plans to the New York City Department of Buildings for a theater at the site, designed by Herbert J. [291][292] Robin Williams was to perform his comedy tour Weapons Of Self-Destruction at the Simon in April 2009, but he canceled his engagement after undergoing surgery. Through the 1960s and 1970s, the Alvin hosted long runs of shows such as A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, High Spirits, The Great White Hope, Company, Shenandoah, and Annie. [149][153] The theater hosted several moderately successful productions in the late 1950s, including the musicals Oh, Captain! [55][60] Aarons and Freedley bought the Alvin and the land underneath it that April. [11][16] White paint covers many of the original interior decorations. [11][15] According to the Nederlander Organization, the auditorium has 1,445 seats;[20] meanwhile, The Broadway League cites a capacity of 1,467 seats[21] and Playbill cites 1,380 seats. The Neil Simon Theatre officially opened on Nov. 22, 1927 as the Alvin Theatre. [179], Hugh Martin and Timothy Gray's musical comedy High Spirits, with Beatrice Lillie and Tammy Grimes, opened in 1964[180][181] and ran for 367 performances. [12] The orchestra pit in front of the stage could fit 48 people. ", "Irma La Douce Broadway Musical Original", "Irma La Douce (Broadway, Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, 1960)", "Theatre: 'A Funny Thing Happened'; Musical at the Alvin Stars Zero Mostel", "Theater: 'High Spirits' and Bea Lillie; Musical Comedy Opens at the Alvin Theater", "Beatrice Lillie, Tammy Grimes in Bequiling Show, 'High Spirits', "Flora, The Red Menace Broadway Musical Original", "Flora, the Red Menace (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1965)", "Maurice Chevalier at 77 Broadway Special Original", "Maurice Chevalier at 77 (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1965)", "Article 3 -- No Title; Belated 77th Birthday Party at the Alvin", "The Theater: 'Flora, the Red Menace'; Spoof of Communists in U.S. Begins Run", "High Spirits Broadway Musical Original", "High Spirits (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1964)", "The Yearling Broadway Musical Original", "The Yearling (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1965)", "Theater: 'The Yearling,' a Musical, Opens at Alvin; Show Based on Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Novel Lloyd Richards Stages Story of Farm Famliy", "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Broadway Musical Original", "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1962)", "Theater: 'It's a BirdIt's a PlaneIt's Superman,' It's a Musical and It's Here; Comic-Strip Character Arrives at the Alvin Witty Point of View Is Basis of New Show", "Dinner at Eight Broadway Play 1966 Revival", "Dinner at Eight (Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre, 1966)", "Theater: 'Dinner at Eight' at the Alvin; Kaufman-Ferber Play Directed by Guthrie", "Sherry!