The George Gershwin Theatre (commonly known as simply the Gershwin Theatre), located at 222 West 51st Street in New York City, was originally built as the Uris Theatre in 1972. It was the first theatre built on Broadway since 1928 and at 1900 seats is currently the largest theatre on Broadway. It was designed by Ralph Alswang and opened November 28, 1972 with the musical Via Galactica.
The name of the theatre was changed to the Gershwin Theatre on June 5, 1983 during the Tony Awards ceremony to honor composer George Gershwin. It is run by Nederlander and Oestreicher.
Currently, the theatre is the home of the smash hit musical Wicked.
External links
- Gershwin Theatre Gershwin Theatre
- Broadway Theatre Guide with full show details for Wicked The Musical
To avoid confusion , it should also be stated that in New York City (in the Borough of Brooklyn) there is another theatre of the same name -- the George Gershwin Theatre -- a 500 seat proscenium theatre which opened its doors in 1953 and is one of four theatres in the Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts complex. Located on the Brooklyn College campus at 2900 Campus Road in Brooklyn NY, Brooklyn's George Gershwin Theatre (also commonly known as the Gershiwn Theatre and named after the famous composer, himself a Brooklynite) is the home of the college's Theatre Department and in front of whose footlights such stars as Jimmy Smits (LA Law, West Wing) and Bernie Barrow (Ryan's Hope, Serpico) plyed their craft. In 1996, when President Bill Clinton unveiled his AmeriCorps initiative to New Yorkers, he chose Brooklyn Center's George Gershwin Theatre to do so.
The George Gershwin Theatre has been in continual operation since its opening in 1953 (it's never changed its name) and mounts four fully staged theatrical productions each season as well as dozens of music concerts, recitals and film screenings, many of which are offered free to the public.