Biltmore Theatre
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The Biltmore Theatre is a Broadway theatre, located at 261 West 47th Street. It was designed by Herbert J. Krapp and opened on December 7, 1925. With a seating capacity of 903, it was one of Broadway's smaller venues.
In 1987, a fire struck the Biltmore. The blaze, which was later determined to be an act of arson, ravaged the landmarked interior. After the fire, Biltmore would sit vacant for fourteen years, suffering more structural damage from water, vandals and intruders, while its owners tried to decide what to do with it. The theatre's ownership changed hands several times between 1987 and 2001; many different plans were proposed for its future use.
In 2001, the property was purchased by the Manhattan Theatre Club as a home for its Broadway productions. The Biltmore was completely rehabilitated. Surviving parts of the original theatre were restored and missing parts were reconstructed. With 622 seats the new Biltmore has about two-thirds of the capacity of the old, though it now boasts conveniences such as elevators and meeting rooms.
[edit] Productions
- In the 1960s, the theatre hosted the long-running Broadway productions of Barefoot in the Park and Hair.
- The first production at the restore Biltmore, Richard Greenberg's The Violet Hour, opened on November 6, 2003.
- Between January 12 - April 9, 2006, the Biltmore was home to the world premiere production of Rabbit Hole, a production that earned five Tony Award nominations and resulted in a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress for Cynthia Nixon.
- As of April 2006, the next play, Shining City, began previews on April 20, 2006.
[edit] Trivia
In The Muppets Take Manhattan, Biltmore Theatre serves as the site where "Manhattan Melodies" is performed.
[edit] External links
- Broadway Theatre Guide with full show details for the Biltmore Theatre
- Biltmore Theatre at the Internet Broadway Database
- "At This Theatre" at Playbill.com
- "A Midsummer Night's Renovation", Iris Dorbian, Stage Directions'
- Seating chart
- Lost Broadway Theatres, Nicholas Van Hoogstraten, Princeton Architectural Press, 1997, ISBN 1-56898-116-3
