Booth Theatre

Opened in 1913

222 W. 45th Street
New York, NY

Theatre Website

Monday - Saturday: 10am - 8pm
Sunday: 12pm - 6pm

Theater History

Booth Theatre History

The Booth Theatre, named after the renowned actor Edwin Booth, was built by Lee Shubert in collaboration with producer Winthrop Ames. This historic venue, the second in New York to bear the name, pays homage to Booth's legacy and has been a stage for some of Broadway's most prestigious productions.

Early Success:

  • The theater opened in 1913 with a production of The Great Adventure by Arnold Bennet.
  • Other early productions included A Successful Calamity by Clare Kummer in 1917, Not So Long Ago by Arthur Richman starring Eva Le Gallienne and Sidney Blackmer in 1920, Bird in Hand by John Drinkwater in 1929, and Laburnum Grove by J. B. Priestley in 1935.
  • You Can’t Take It with You by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart ran in 1936, was a huge commercial success, and won the Pulitzer Prize. 

Star-Studded Talent:

  • Shirley Booth starred in Come Back, Little Sheba in 1950. 
  • Henry Fonda and Anne Bancroft starred in Two For the Seesaw by William Gibson in 1958, and Alan Arkin, Eli Wallach, and Anne Jackson starred in Luv directed by Mike Nichols in 1961.
  • Butterflies Are Free in 1969 starred Blythe Danner, Eileen Heckart, Keir Dullea, and Paul Michael Glaser.

Modern Classics:

  • That Championship Season by Jason Miller in 1972 and For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow Is Enuf by Ntozake Shange in 1976 both transferred to the Booth after off-Broadway runs at the Public Theater. 
  • The Booth Theatre hosted The Elephant Man in 1978, Sunday in the Park with George by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine in 1984, Once on This Island by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty in 1990, and The Most Happy Fella in 1992.
  • Judd Hirsch starred in I’m Not Rappaport in 1985, Robert Morse starred in Tru in 1989, and Barry Humphreys starred in Dame Edna: The Royal Tour in 1999.

Recent Times:

  • Lily Tomnlin starred in The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe in 2000, Bea Arthur starred in Bea Arthur on Broadway in 2002, Paul Newman starred in Our Town in 2003, and Ralph Fiennes and Cherry Jones starred in Faith Healer in 2006.
  • The theater hosted The Year of Magical Thinking with Vanessa Redgrave in 2007, the Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical Next to Normal in 2009, and the Tony-winning revival of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? in 2012.

Recent productions include I'll Eat You Last with Bette Midler in 2013, The Elephant Man with Bradley Cooper in 2014, Hand to God in 2015, The Boys in the Band in 2018, American Son with Kerry Washington in 2018, For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow Is Enuf in 2022, and the Tony Award-winning musical Kimberly Akimbo in 2022.

FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE

Parking

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

Restrooms

Restrooms are located on the basement level.

Coat Check

Coat check is available.

Wi-Fi

Free Wi-Fi Available

Where is the stage door?

Turn right as you exit the front entrance on 43rd Street, and turn right at Shubert Alley. The door will be on your right, and will be marked as the stage door.

NEAR THE THEATRE

W New York - Times Square, 1567 Broadway. For other hotel recommendations, read our article on the Best Hotels Near Broadway!

CURRENT/UPCOMING SHOW

The Roommate

The Roommate is a new comedy by Jen Silverman, directed by Jack O’Brien. Sharon’s never had a roommate before. In fact, there’s a lot Sharon’s never done before, but Robyn’s about to change all that. Jen Silverman’s The Roommate shatters expectations with its witty and profound portrait of a blossoming intimacy between two women from vastly different backgrounds, as they navigate the complexities of identity, morality, and the promise of reinvention. Being bad never felt so good as it does in this riveting one-act about second acts. The cast includes: Patti LuPone and Mia Farrow.

Get Tickets

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 cozy theater.

Number of Seats

The estimated capacity is 766 seats

Preview Seat View

AViewFromMySeat.com

ACCESSIBILITY

Is there wheelchair accessible seating available?

Wheelchair accessible seating is located in the orchestra section. No steps to designated seating location.

Is there a wheelchair accessible restroom available?

Yes, a wheelchair accessible (unisex) restroom is located on main level.

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 Booth Theatre bag policy? 

All bags are inspected by security prior to admission to the Booth 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 Booth Theatre enforce a dress code? 

No, not formally, though the Booth 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 Booth 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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