Belasco Theatre

Opened in 1907

111 W. 44th Street
New York, NY

Monday - Saturday: 10am - 8pm
Sunday: 10am - 6pm

Theater History

Belasco Theatre History

The Belasco Theatre, a legendary Broadway venue, has a fascinating history. The Shuberts took ownership of the theater in 1948 and continue to run it today, but it was originally opened by David Belasco in 1907 and called the Stuyvesant. Belasco soon renamed it after himself and even lived above the theater in an apartment where he kept his many souvenirs from his life in the theater. After his passing, his ghost was said to haunt the theater until a particularly racy production of “Oh, Calcutta!” - that featured nude performers - was said to drive his ghost from the premises.  Let’s dive into some of the Belasco Theatre’s most memorable productions over the years:

Early Days and David Belasco's Productions

  • The theater opened in 1907 with a production of “A Grand Army Man” starring Antoinette Perry, who the Tony Awards are named after. 
  • David Belasco produced, directed, and wrote many shows at the theater. Some of his most notable productions include "The Warrens of Virginia" in 1907 starring Cecil B. DeMille and Mary Pickford, "Polly with a Past" in 1917, "Lulu Belle" in 1926, and "It’s a Wise Child" in 1929 starring Humphrey Bogart.
  • Belasco's last production was "Tonight or Never" in 1930.

The Group Theatre:

  • The Group Theatre was a collective that included such theater greats as Luther Adler, Stella Adler, Elia Kazan, Sanford Meisner, and Howard da Silva. 
  • Productions included Clifford Odet’s "Awake and Sing!" and “Waiting for Lefty” 1935, "Golden Boy" in 1937, and "Rocket to the Moon" in 1938.

Mid-20th Century Highlights

  • John Barrymore made his final Broadway appearance in "My Dear Children" in 1940, Judy Holliday starred in “Kiss Them for Me” in 1945, and “The Madwoman of Chaillot” ran in 1948. 
  • After a brief pause when the theater acted as a radio playhouse for NBC, the Belasco returned to producing live theater in 1953 with "The Solid Gold Cadillac" starring Josephine Hull.
  • Arthur Hill, Lillian Gish, and Colleen Dewhurst starred in “All the Way Home” in 1960. 

70s and Beyond

  • "Oh Calcutta!" in 1971 was said to banish David Belasco’s ghost from the theater with its risqué nude revue.
  • The Belasco Theatre was transformed into a nightclub for its production of "The Rocky Horror Show" in 1975.
  • The 1990s saw productions from Tony Randall’s National Actors Theatre and British productions of "Hamlet" starring Ralph Fiennes in 1995 and "A Doll’s House" starring Janet McTeer in 1997.

Recent Years

  • The first revival of Stephen Sondheim’s "Follies" ran at the Belasco in 2001, Terrance McNally’s "Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune" ran in 2002 starring Edie Falco and Stanley Tucci, and Denzel Washington starred in “Julius Caesar” in 2005. 
  • Two Tony-winning revivals ran back to back: "Awake and Sing!" in 2006 and "Journey’s End" in 2007.
  • The theater hosted Tony-nominated productions like "End of the Rainbow" in 2012, "Golden Boy" in 2012, and "Twelfth Night / Richard III" starring Mark Rylance in 2013, followed by a Tony Award-winning revival of "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" in 2014 starring Neil Patrick Harris.
  • Bryan Cranston won a Tony Award for his performance in “Network” in 2018, and Sean Hayes won a Tony for his performance in “Good Night, Oscar” in 2023.

FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE

Parking

Reserve a spot using SpotHero: https://spothero.com

Restrooms

Restrooms are located down one flight of stairs as well as on mezzanine and balcony levels.

Coat Check

Coat check is available at the downstairs bar. No strollers or furs.

Wi-Fi

Free Wi-Fi Available

Where is the stage door?

To your right as you exit the main 44th Street entrance.

NEAR THE THEATRE

Junior's Restaurant & Bakery, 1515 Broadway. For other restaurant recommendations, read our article on the Best Theater District Restaurants!

CURRENT/UPCOMING SHOW

Maybe Happy Ending

Maybe Happy Ending

Emmy® and Golden Globe Award® winner Darren Criss (Little Shop of Horrors) returns to Broadway alongside Helen J Shen in the new romantic musical comedy MAYBE HAPPY ENDING. Inside a one-room apartment on the outskirts of Seoul, Oliver lives a happily quiet life, listening to jazz records and caring for his favorite plant. But what else is there to do when you’re a Helperbot 3, a robot that has long been retired and considered obsolete? When his fellow Helperbot neighbor Claire asks to borrow his charger, what starts as an awkward encounter leads to a unique friendship, a surprising adventure, and maybe even…love? Winner of the Richard Rodgers Award, MAYBE HAPPY ENDING is the offbeat and captivating story of two outcasts near the end of their warranty who discover that even robots can be swept off their feet. Helmed by visionary director and Tony Award® winner Michael Arden (Parade, Once on This Island), with a dazzling scenic design by Dane Laffrey (A Christmas Carol) and book, music, and lyrics by the internationally acclaimed duo Will Aronson and Hue Park, MAYBE HAPPY ENDING is a fresh, original musical about the small things that make any life worth living.

SEATING

Best Seats in the House

The best views will be in the center orchestra and front mezzanine, but there are very few bad seats in this theater.

Number of Seats

The estimated capacity is 1,059 seats

Preview Seat View

ACCESSIBILITY

Is there wheelchair accessible seating available?

Wheelchair accessible seating is located in the orchestra section. No steps to designated seating location. Note there are two steps to reach the box office/lobby. There is a side entrance with no steps.

Is there a wheelchair accessible restroom available?

Yes

Are there assistive devices available?

Infrared assistive listening devices available for every performance; audio description and closed captioning devices will be available beginning four weeks after the show's opening night. Before this date, live-caption via CART using a hand-held device can be requested with two weeks advance notice. Contact Shuebrt Audience Services at 212-944-3700 or audienceservices@shubertorg.com for more information.

RULES & REGULATIONS

What is the Belasco Theatre bag policy? 

All bags are inspected by security prior to admission to the Belasco Theatre. While small bags and purses are typically permitted, we recommend you contact the theater directly at (212) 239-6200 as policies may change on a day-to-day basis. There is no outside food or drink permitted. 

Does the Belasco Theatre enforce a dress code? 

No, not formally, though the Belasco Theatre reserves the right to not admit ticket holders at their own discretion. If you have specific questions about dress code, we encourage you to contact the theater directly at (212) 239-6200. If you are seeking general advice about what to wear to a Broadway performance, make sure to check out our article on the topic.

When do the Belasco Theatre Doors Open? 

Doors open 45 minutes prior to the scheduled show time on your ticket. The theater suggests arriving at least 15 minutes before the show to provide enough time to pass through security and to find your seats. 

Does the theater have an age restriction?

Children under 4 are not permitted in the theater. 

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