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Please Note:
Children under 5 are not permitted in the theatre. 
No weapons permitted on the premises. No outside food or beverages, electric scooters, e-bikes, or battery-powered transportation devices, except when medically necessary. 
All items are subject to inspection. Anything brought into the theatre must fit on your lap or completely under your seat without blocking any aisles. 
The use of cameras, cell phones, and other recording devices during the show is strictly prohibited by law, except when used for accessibility services.

Ages 10+. Children under 5 are not permitted.

Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends on Broadway - NYC [40572]

Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends on Broadway

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Two performers on stage, one wearing a black suit, singing passionately with an arm raised. The other, in a sparkly dress, looks on. Background features a stylized decorative sign.

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Needing no introduction, Stephen Sondheim is one of musical theatre’s most acclaimed and Tony Award-winning composers and lyricists. His broad spectrum of work, from light-hearted farces with *A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum* to dark operettas with *Sweeney Todd* speak to his varied sensibilities and styles.

Regardless of genre, Sondheim is known for putting character first: beyond composing exquisite solos, duets, and ensemble numbers, he is adored for letting his characters figure out their emotions, motives, and futures in highly elaborate verbal musical puzzles. Sophisticated but accessible, his music has been the barometer for artistic success for generations of composers and lyricists who have followed. Now, audiences can delight in hearing his spellbinding scores sung anew at Manhattan Theatre Club’s Samuel J. Friedman Theatre this season. Bernadette Peters, long associated with Sondheim after star-making turns in *Into the Woods* and later *Gypsy*, sings alongside another highly accomplished vocalist, Lea Salonga.

## What to watch for

- Matthew Bourne, a director and choreographer known for his Olivier Award-winning work on *Mary Poppins*, stages this celebratory production.
- London reviews raved about *Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends* — [London Theatre](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/reviews/stephen-sondheims-old-friends-review-gielgud-theatre) called it a “rapturous musical tribute” in its five-star review.
- Cameron Mackintosh is most well-known as being a producer of spectacular shows, but here he gets to pay homage to a theatrical legend as a deviser of the evening’s sweeping entertainment. 
- Bernadette Peters was last on Broadway in 2018 with *Hello, Dolly!*, and now, years later, she returns, offering audiences a special treat to see the living legend back on stage.

Please Note:
Children under 5 are not permitted in the theatre. 
No weapons permitted on the premises. No outside food or beverages, electric scooters, e-bikes, or battery-powered transportation devices, except when medically necessary. 
All items are subject to inspection. Anything brought into the theatre must fit on your lap or completely under your seat without blocking any aisles. 
The use of cameras, cell phones, and other recording devices during the show is strictly prohibited by law, except when used for accessibility services.

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Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends on Broadway - NYC - TT

Get *Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends* tickets and see Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga headline a celebration of the legend himself. *Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends*, a musical celebration, comes to Manhattan Theatre Club this season.

Get *Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends* tickets to see two Broadway icons, Tony Award winners Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga, headline an extraordinary event dedicated to the legendary composer. Following its hit run in London, this musical celebration now comes to Manhattan Theatre Club’s Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on Broadway this season. Get *Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends* tickets on New York Theatre Guide now.

Curtain up, light the lights, and experience *Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends* on Broadway. Stephen Sondheim is the famed and multi-Tony Award-winning composer and/or lyricists of hit shows including *Into the Woods, Gypsy, West Side Story, Assassins, A Little Night Music*, and *Sunday in the Park with George*, for which he earned a Pulitzer Prize. Recently memorialized on stage with starry revivals of *Sweeney Todd* and *Merrily We Roll Along*, songs from the musical theatre giant now return to Broadway in this one-of-a-kind event.

*Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends* comes across the pond from London, where it earned a bevy of five-star raves and was hailed by The Times as “unmissable musical theatre.” Cameron Mackintosh, the acclaimed producer of *Les Misérables*, devised this production.

[London Theatre](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/reviews/stephen-sondheims-old-friends-review-gielgud-theatre) wrote, “There’s never a doubt that the creatives are gathered to honour the man of the title, whose life is pictorially documented on the way to a giddy rendition of the Old Friends that the cast and their audience by then have become. ‘Not a day goes by,’ sings Peters, that she isn’t thinking of Sondheim, and this show is an unforgettable reminder that she is in no way alone.”

Peters (*Into the Woods, Annie Get Your Gun, Gypsy*) and Lea Salonga (*Miss Saigon, Allegiance, Once on This Island*) are two of Broadway’s most indispensable performers, and their history with this production and Sondheim’s work honors his storied career in a dazzling evening of song and dance.

## Important information

Children under 5 are not permitted in the theatre. 
No weapons permitted on the premises. No outside food or beverages, electric scooters, e-bikes, or battery-powered transportation devices, except when medically necessary. 
All items are subject to inspection. Anything brought into the theatre must fit on your lap or completely under your seat without blocking any aisles. 
The use of cameras, cell phones, and other recording devices during the show is strictly prohibited by law, except when used for accessibility services.

Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends on Broadway - NYC - NYTG

 Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends Broadway Tickets | The Official NY Theatre Guide

Tony Award winners Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga star in Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends, a musical celebration of the master composer. Their history with this production and Sondheim’s work honors his storied career in a dazzling evening of song and dance.

Bernadette Peters was born Bernadette Lazzara on February 28, 1948 in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. She appeared on television shows such as Juvenile Jury,&nbsp;Name That Tune,&nbsp;and&nbsp;The Horn and Hardart Children's Hour&nbsp;from age 3, and in 1958 she received her Actors Equity Card at age 9. The following year, she made her New York stage debut in the New York City Center revival of&nbsp;The Most Happy Fella. During her teenage years, she attended&nbsp;Quintano's School for Young Professionals and appeared in the second National Tour of&nbsp;Gypsy, as well as regional productions of&nbsp;The Sound of Music&nbsp;and&nbsp;Riverwind.

After graduating from high school, she made her Off-Broadway debut in&nbsp;The Penny Friend&nbsp;in 1966. From then on, Peters became a regular on both the Broadway and Off-Broadway stage. At the end of the 1960s she starred off Broadway in&nbsp;Curley McDimple&nbsp;and originated the role of Ruby in&nbsp;Dames at Sea, winning her first Drama Desk Award. On Broadway, she worked as a standby on&nbsp;The Girl in the Freudian Slip&nbsp;(1967) and starred as&nbsp;Bettina in&nbsp;Johnny No-Trump&nbsp;later that same year. She went on to star as&nbsp;Josie Cohan in&nbsp;George M! in 1968, winning the Theatre World Award, and as&nbsp;Gelsomina in&nbsp;La Strada&nbsp;in 1969.

In the 1970s she received her first Tony Award nominations,&nbsp;firstly in 1972&nbsp;for her performance as Hildy in&nbsp;On the Town&nbsp;and again in 1975 for originating the role of Mabel Normand in Mack &amp; Mabel.

In 1982, Peters starred as Sally in the Off-Broadway production of&nbsp;Sally and Marsha,&nbsp;and the following year, she&nbsp;originated the dual roles of&nbsp;Dot and&nbsp;Marie in the Playwrights Horizons production&nbsp;of Stephen&nbsp;Sondheim's&nbsp;Sunday in the Park with George. Following the show's Broadway transfer in 1984, she earned&nbsp;her third Tony Award nomination. In 1985, she starred as Emma in Andrew Lloyd Webber's&nbsp;Song and Dance&nbsp;and finally won her first Tony Award in 1986. She then once again collaborated with Sondheim and starred as the Witch in&nbsp;Into the Woods&nbsp;on Broadway in 1987.

During the 1990s, Ms. Peters appeared in four Broadway productions:&nbsp;The Goodbye Girl&nbsp;in 1993 (earning her fifth Tony Award nomination), one-night-only revivals of&nbsp;Sunday in the Park with George&nbsp;in 1994 and Into the Woods&nbsp;in 1997, and as&nbsp;Annie Oakley in&nbsp;Annie Get Your Gun&nbsp;from 1999, winning her second Tony Award in the category of Best Actress in a Musical.

Peters starred as Mama Rose in the 2003 revival of&nbsp;Gypsy, earning her seventh Tony Award nomination. She returned to Broadway in 2010, assuming the role of&nbsp;Desiree Armfeldt in a&nbsp;revival of&nbsp;A Little Night Music, and again in 2011, starring as&nbsp;Sally Durant Plummer in the Broadway revival of&nbsp;Follies. She also received&nbsp;the Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award in 2012 for her humanitarian efforts. In 2016, she was honored with the Theatre World John Willis Award for Lifetime Achievement. She returned to Broadway from January 20 to July 15, 2018, assuming the title role in&nbsp;Hello, Dolly!&nbsp;from Tony Award winner Bette Midler.

Aside from her career on stage, Bernadette Peters has also enjoyed a prolific career on screen, winning a Golden Globe in 1982 for her performance as Eileen in&nbsp;Pennies in Heaven. In addition, she earned two Golden Globe nominations in 1977 for Silent Movie&nbsp;and All's Fair. She also earned Emmy Award nominations for her appearances on The Muppet Show&nbsp;(1978) and&nbsp;Ally McBeal&nbsp;(2001), and Bobbie's Girl&nbsp;(2003). Her other most notable screen credits over the course of her career include the roles of&nbsp;Lily St. Regis in Annie&nbsp;(1982), Marie in The Jerk&nbsp;(1979),&nbsp;Sophie in Anastasia&nbsp;(1997),&nbsp;Sarabeth Breyers in Grey's Anatomy&nbsp;(2008),&nbsp;Jodie Papadakis in Ugly Betty&nbsp;(2009),&nbsp;Leigh Conroy in Smash&nbsp;(2012-13),&nbsp;Lenore Rindell in The Good Fight&nbsp;(2017),&nbsp;and Gloria in Mozart in the Jungle&nbsp;(2014-18). From&nbsp;2020-2021, she&nbsp;guest starred&nbsp;on screen as Deb in&nbsp;Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist, and the role earned Peters her fourth&nbsp;Emmy Award nomination.

Bernadette Peters - NY

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Maria Lea Carmen Imutan Salonga was born on February 22, 1971 in Manila in the&nbsp;Philippines. In her native country, Lea made her professional stage debut in The King and I&nbsp;at the age of seven. She would go on to star in&nbsp;Annie&nbsp;in 1980, and a string of other Filipino productions followed, including&nbsp;Fiddler on the Roof, The Sound of Music,&nbsp;and&nbsp;The Fantasticks.

Lea's international breakthrough came in 1989 after being cast in Cameron Mackintosh's world premiere production of&nbsp;Miss Saigon&nbsp;in London's West End. She played the leading role of Kim and won the Olivier Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical&nbsp;in 1990. In March 1991, she reprised her role and made her Broadway debut in&nbsp;Miss Saigon&nbsp;at the <a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/broadway-theatre">Broadway Theatre</a>. She went on to become the first Asian woman to ever win a Tony Award, also picking up a Drama Desk Award and Theatre World Award in 1991.

In January 1992, she became the first Asian woman to play the role of&nbsp;Éponine in&nbsp;Les Misérables&nbsp;on Broadway. Later in her career, she returned to the musical in the 2006 revival, becoming the first actress of Asian descent to play the role of Fantine from March to October 2007. She also starred in both the 10th and 25th anniversary concerts&nbsp;of&nbsp;Les Misérables&nbsp;(as Éponine and Fantine, respectively)&nbsp;in London.

Lea has also garnered great acclaim for her work with the Walt Disney Company, providing the singing voices for two Disney princesses. She played Princess Jasmine in 1992's Aladdin&nbsp;and Fa Mulan in 1998's Mulan. The company awarded her "Disney Legend" status in 2011.

She returned to Broadway to play Mei-Li in the Broadway revival of&nbsp;Flower Drum Song&nbsp;from September 2002 to March 2003. Salonga later&nbsp;starred as Kei Kimura alongside George Takei and Telly Leung in the Broadway premiere of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/reviews/allegiance">Allegiance</a>&nbsp;from October 2015 to February 2016.

Since finding fame, Salonga&nbsp;has returned to the Philippines to perform on many occasions, with her credits including starring roles in&nbsp;My Fair Lady&nbsp;(1994),&nbsp;Miss Saigon&nbsp;(2000),&nbsp;Proof (2002),&nbsp;Baby&nbsp;(2004),&nbsp;Cats&nbsp;(2010),&nbsp;God of Carnage&nbsp;(2012), and&nbsp;Fun Home&nbsp;(2016). Other notable stage credits in Asia include the 1994 Singapore production of&nbsp;Into the Woods&nbsp;and the 2008 Asian Tour of&nbsp;Cinderella. She has also been a regular coach on the Filipino version of The Voice&nbsp;and The Voice Kids.&nbsp;

As a recording artist, Salonga has released a total of 10 studio albums since her debut,&nbsp;Small Voice,&nbsp;in 1981 and has sold over 19 million copies of her albums worldwide.&nbsp;

Lea returned to Broadway as&nbsp;Erzulie,&nbsp;Goddess of Love, in Michael Arden's&nbsp;2017 Broadway revival of&nbsp;Once on This Island,&nbsp;beginning&nbsp;performances on November 9, 2017. She continued in the role through&nbsp;June 24, 2018 and reprised the role for the production's final performances from December 27, 2018 through January 6, 2019.

Lea Salonga - NY

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Beth Leavel stars in [*Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/40572-stephen-sondheims-old-friends-on-broadway) on Broadway at the [Samuel J. Friedman Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/venues/samuel-j-friedman-theatre) from March 25 to June 1, 2025.

Since making her Broadway debut in *42nd Street* in 1980, Tony Award winner Beth Leavel has built an acclaimed and respected Broadway career. Highlights include her roles as Beatrice Stockwell in *The Drowsy Chaperone* (Tony win), Florence Greenberg	in *Baby It's You* (Tony nomination), and Dee Dee Allen	in *The Prom* (Tony nomination). All three roles also earned her Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award nods.

Leavel's Broadway credits also include beloved musicals like *Show Boat*, *Young Frankenstein*, and *Mamma Mia*. On TV, she has appeared in shows like *Law & Order: Criminal Intent*, *ER*, and *The Walking Dead: World Beyond*.

Beth Leavel - NY

Beth Leavel

Gavin Lee stars as Scar in [*The Lion King*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/42-the-lion-king-tickets) on Broadway at the [Minskoff Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/venues/minskoff-theatre).

Lee is best known for originating the roles of Bert in *Mary Poppins* and Squidward Q. Tentacles in *SpongeBob SquarePants*, as well as playing Thénardier in *Les Misérables*, all on Broadway. He has also appeared in numerous productions in London's West End, including the world-premiere run of *Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends*, reprising his performance in the Broadway transfer.

Gavin Lee - NY

gavin-200

Kyle Selig stars in [*Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/40572-stephen-sondheims-old-friends-on-broadway) on Broadway at the [Samuel J. Friedman Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/venues/samuel-j-friedman-theatre) from March 25 to June 1, 2025.

Selig made his Broadway debut in [*The Book of Mormon*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/127-the-book-of-mormon-tickets) in 2015 and went on to originate the role of Aaron Samuels in the 2018 Broadway musical adaptation of the hit film *Mean Girls*. He also played Jacob Jankowski in [*Water for Elephants*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/34684-water-for-elephants-on-broadway) on Broadway in 2024.

On screen, he played Mr. Komos in *Monster High: The Movie*.

Kyle Selig - NY

Kyle Selig Water For Elephants

The Samuel J. Friedman Theatre is a historic Broadway theatre located in New York City. Established in 1925, the theatre is managed by Manhattan Theatre Club (MTC), a leading professional theatre producer. Originally named the Biltmore Theatre, it was renamed Samuel J. Friedman in 2008 to honor the late American publicist. The theatre seats over 650 people and is renowned for its excellent acoustics and state-of-the-art light and sound systems. It has also been the host to several notable productions and has welcomed some of the finest actors and actresses in the industry.

**How to Get There**

In the heart of the city, the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre is easily accessible through multiple modes of transportation. If commuting by subway, take the 1, 2, 3, 7, S, A, C, E, N, R, Q, W, Fourth Street lines to 42nd Street. From the station, it's just a short walk to the theatre. For those driving, numerous parking garages are available nearby. The theatre is also well-served by numerous bus lines. However, due to the busy nature of the city, public transport is a recommended choice.

Samuel J. Friedman Theatre - Manhattan Theatre Club - NY

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Samuel J. Friedman Theatre

Samuel J. Friedman Theatre - TodayTix

The Samuel J. Friedman Theatre originally opened on December 7, 1925 as the Biltmore Theatre. Herbert J. Krapp designed the building for impresario Irwin Chanin. Its inaugural production was *Easy Come Easy Go*. 

From 1952 to 1962, CBS used the theatre for television and radio broadcasting purposes. In 1963, it reopened as a traditional theatre with Neil Simon's *Barefoot in the Park*.

In 1987, the theatre closed following an arson attack and sat vacant for 14 years. In 2001, Manhattan Theatre Club took over the venue and reopened the performance space in 2003 after renovations. MTC renamed it the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on September 4, 2008, to honor the Broadway publicist.

## How to get to the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on Broadway

The Samuel J. Friedman Theatre is closest to the 50th Street subway stop on the C and E line. The closest bus stops are 8 Av/W 46th St. on the M20 and M104 lines and 8th Ave/W 43rd St. on the M34A-SBS line.

## Restaurants near the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre

The Samuel J. Friedman Theatre is located across the street from three popular pre- and post-show restaurants: Trattoria Trecolori (Italian), Glass House Tavern (American), and Friedman's (American). Also nearby are the Irish pubs Mean Fiddler and Playwrights Celtic Pub, as well as Restaurant Row, the stretch of 46th Street between Eighth and Ninth Avenues lined with eateries.

Samuel J. Friedman Theatre - New York Theatre Guide

The Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, originally the Biltmore Theatre, was designed by Herbert J. Krapp. After being damaged by an arson attack, it was renovated and renamed by the Manhattan Theatre Club.

Theatre seating chart showing two sections, Orchestra and Mezzanine, with labeled rows and seats facing the stage at the top.

Samuel J. Friedman Theatre - NYC - 910 x1246 px

The Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, a historic Broadway theatre managed by Manhattan Theatre Club, accommodates over 650, with excellent acoustics and light systems.

Ages 8+. Children under 4 are not permitted in the theater.

Water For Elephants on Broadway - NYC [34684] 

Water For Elephants on Broadway

Water For Elephants on Broadway - Hero (TONY WRAP)

Water For Elephants on Broadway - NYC Product Media

Water for Elephants on Broadway  - Product Media - Header Image

Aerial performer in a bodysuit is suspended on a rope, reaching toward a standing man in a dimly lit setting.

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A theatrical performance with a group of actors on stage. A person in a sequined vest stands in front with arms outstretched; another performer is mid-air in a flip above the group.

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A vibrant circus performance with acrobats on ropes, a lively ensemble, and a backdrop of blue drapery and string lights on stage.

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A person stands in a spotlight on stage, surrounded by others in a dimly lit, dramatic theater setting.

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Circus performers in colorful costumes are on stage; a ringmaster stands on a platform holding a hoop, with an acrobat holding the hoop in the foreground.

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Three people sit on a bench against a dramatic purple sky backdrop, engaged in conversation.

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Two performers on stage: one in a blue dress sitting and cradling a bundle, the other in a white shirt kneeling, with white drapery nearby. The scene is dimly lit.

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Performers on stage jump rope in a circus-themed setting with a large Benzini Bros Circus poster featuring a lion in the background.

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water-for-elephants poster (TONY WRAP)

Immerse yourself in the spectacle and excitement of the traveling circus with *Water For Elephants* on Broadway, the seven-time Tony Award nominated musical based on the critically acclaimed 2006 book and 2011 film of the same name. Get *Water for Elephants* tickets now on New York Theatre Guide, and experience this thrilling Best Musical nominee. 

The *Water For Elephants* musical unfolds through the eyes of Jacob, an older man looking back and reminiscing on his life's adventures. When Jacob was young, amidst the Great Depression, his parents die and he hops a train to seek a new life, inadvertently joining a traveling circus called Benzini Bros Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Jacob, a veterinarian, quickly finds a place within the animal-heavy circus, and love finds him, too, when he falls for Marlena — the jealous ringmaster's wife.

Before its time on Broadway, Jacob's awe-inspiring story began as a novel by Sara Gruen. The New York Times bestseller was such a hit that in 2011, a film adaptation came out, starring Robert Pattinson, Reese Witherspoon, and Christoph Waltz. The film grossed $117 million worldwide, and in 2012, it won the People's Choice Award for Favorite Drama Movie. 

If you're looking for a circus experience even when the circus isn't in town, look no further than this unique Broadway musical featuring show-stopping choreography and circus costumes. It even includes circus acts like puppetry and aerial silk performance.

Get tickets to *Water For Elephants* on New York Theatre Guide.

Water for Elephants - NYC - NYTG

Sara Gruen's bestselling novel is now a high-flying musical-meets-circus spectacular. After tragedy strikes, Jacob quits vet school and stows away with a traveling circus — and ends up in a secret love affair with the ringmaster's wife that causes tension under the big top.

The *WATER FOR ELEPHANTS* musical tells the story of a Great Depression-era young man, Jacob, who hops on a train and ends up joining the traveling circus while trying to escape personal tragedy. He fits right into his new life, home, and family, but as he trains a new elephant, he gets more than he bargained for, falling in love with the woman helping him: the wife of the temperamental ringmaster.

The musical is based on the 2006 bestselling novel *WATER FOR ELEPHANTS*, written by Sara Gruen, and the subsequent 2011 award-winning film of the same name. The film, starring Robert Pattinson, Reese Witherspoon, and Christoph Waltz, won the 2012 People's Choice Award for Favorite Drama Movie.

The world premiere of the stage adaptation was met with similar success, selling out its 2023 run at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia.

## What to watch for

- Amid the high-flying acts, *WATER FOR ELEPHANTS* comments subtly on the cruelties of the circus industry, such as extracting a lion's teeth or feeding animals rotten meat.
- The lighting, set, and stage design are truly next-level. The rolling platforms, projections, and lighting all work together to make it seem like the actors are on a train, and lighting signifies the passing of time. 
- Circuses are known for their animals, and while this performance doesn't have live animals, you'll have the opportunity to witness masterful puppetry in action instead. Ray Wetmore, JR Goodman, and Camille Labarre are behind the animal puppetry design. Labarre's work has appeared in *Shrek*, *Into the Woods*, and *Sesame Street*. Wetmore and Goodman's work is in spring 2024 shows like *The Notebook*, *Hell's Kitchen*, and *Cabaret*.
- The *WATER FOR ELEPHANTS* book won numerous awards, including Book Sense No. 1 pick for June 2006 and the 2007 BookBrowse award for Most Popular Book. The novel was on the New York Times Best Seller list for 12 weeks and was number one on July 8, 2007. 
- Lighting designer Bradley King won Tony Awards for his work on *Natasha, Pierre, & The Great Comet of 1812* and *Hadestown*, and he earned a nomination for *Flying Over Sunset*.

__Important information__

Children under 4 are not permitted in the theatre. 

No weapons permitted on the premises. No outside food or beverages, electric scooters, e-bikes, or battery-powered transportation devices, except when medically necessary. 

All items are subject to inspection. Anything brought into the theatre must fit on your lap or completely under your seat without blocking any aisles. 

The use of cameras, cell phones, and other recording devices during the show is strictly prohibited by law, except when used for accessibility services.

Water for Elephants - NYC - TT

The circus comes to town in this new musical adaptation of Sara Gruen's bestselling novel. When a young man named Jacob leaves his old life behind and joins a traveling circus, he finds a home he never dreamed of — and a forbidden romance with the jealous ringmaster's wife.

Isabelle McCalla stars as Emma Tate in [*Schmigadoon!*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/45429-schmigadoon-on-broadway) on Broadway at the [Nederlander Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/venues/nederlander-theatre) from April 4 to September 6, 2026.

McCalla is best known for her extensive work in modern musicals. After making her Broadway debut as Jasmine in [*Aladdin*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/105-disneys-aladdin-tickets), she rose to prominence for originating the role of Alyssa Greene in *The Prom*, both in 2018. She later starred in the musicals [*Water for Elephants*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/34684-water-for-elephants-on-broadway) as Marlena and *Shucked* as Maizy.

She has also appeared in high-profile musical productions around the U.S., including *Footloose* at the Kennedy Center in D.C. and *Clue* and *Hercules* at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey.

Isabelle McCalla - NY

McCalla 200

The Imperial Theatre is an iconic Broadway theatre located in the heart of New York's theater district. Established in 1923 and built by the Shubert Organization, it boasts of a spectacular architectural design conceived by Herbert J. Krapp. The interior charm is harmonized by comfortable seating for around 1,417 spectators. Throughout its illustrious history, the theatre has hosted countless notable performances, including 'Les Misérables', 'Annie Get Your Gun', and the debut of 'Billy Elliot'.

### Getting to the Imperial Theatre ###

The theatre is conveniently sited at 249 West 45th Street, making it easy to reach by taxi, bus or subway. The nearest subway stations are 42 St - Port Authority Bus Terminal on lines A, C and E and Times Sq - 42 St on lines N, Q, R, W, S, 1, 2, 3, and 7. If you prefer a bus ride, M42 and M50 are the most proximate bus stops. There are multiple paid parking garages in the theater’s vicinity for those who decide to drive.


Imperial Theatre - NY

imperial theatre-1600x1200px

Imperial Theatre

Imperial Theatre - TodayTix

Designed by Herbert J. Krapp, the Imperial Theatre was built for the Shubert Organization and officially opened on December 25, 1923 with the musical *Mary Jane McKane*.

It was the Shuberts' 50th New York venue and was constructed as a replacement for their 20-year-old Lyric Theatre (which stood partly on the site of the current [Lyric Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/venues/lyric-theatre-ny)). The Imperial Theatre also held the first Ms. Globe Pageant in 1951.

## How to get to the Imperial Theatre on Broadway

The Imperial Theatre, located on the corner of 45th Street and Eighth Avenue, is closest to the 42nd Street - Port Authority Bus Terminal subway stop on the A, C, and E lines. The closest bus stops are 8th Ave/W 46th St. on the M20 and M104 lines and 8th Ave/W 43rd St. on the M20, M104, and M34A-SBS line.

## Restaurants near the Imperial Theatre

The Imperial Theatre in NYC is one block southwest of Restaurant Row, located on 46th Street between Eighth and Ninth Avenues. Popular restaurants on this stretch include Joe Allen (American), Becco (Italian), Le Rivage (French), Dim Sum Palace (Chinese), and a variety of others.

The theatre is also located one block east of Marseille (French), Nizza (Italian), and Five Napkin Burger (American), three popular restaurants for the theatregoing crowd all located between 44th and 45th Streets on Ninth Avenue.

Imperial Theatre - New York Theatre Guide

Imperial Theatre, designed by Herbert J. Krapp, opened on December 25, 1923 with the musical Mary Jane McKane. Nearby are popular restaurants.

Seating chart of a theater showing the stage, orchestra section with labeled rows, and mezzanine section with labeled rows.

Imperial Theatre Seating Plan - NYC - 1032 x324 px

The Imperial Theatre in New York is a historic venue which hosts significant performances. It's easily accessible by taxi, subway, or bus.

Kyle Selig's past shows