Longacre Theatre
The Longacre Theater, named after Times Square's original name, Longacre Square, opened in 1913 and stands as one of the oldest venues in the district, with both its facade and auditorium interiors designated as New York City landmarks. Initially a theater for musicals, it later served as a radio and TV studio before being restored to its theatrical roots in the 1950s by the Shubert Organization. Since then, it has hosted notable productions such as The Pleasure of His Company, The Ritz, and Children of a Lesser God. The Longacre Theater seating chart will help you find the best seats in the theater.
About Longacre Theatre
- Capacity: The Longacre Theatre has a capacity of 1,077 seats.
- Layered seating: The seats are split across the Orchestra, Mezzanine, and Balcony sections.
- Great views and value for money: The Orchestra offers some of the best views of the stage, while front-row seats in the upper levels offer clear views at affordable rates.
- Accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible seats are in the Orchestra. The other sections offer partial accessibility.
Longacre Theatre Seating Chart >
The Longacre Theatre opened in 1913. It was named after Longacre Square, now known as Times Square, and was developed by agent, director, and producer Harry Frazee to host musicals. It opener with the play Are You a Crook? but unfortunately staged a string of flops, eventually coming to be known more for its lack of success than anything else.
Despite being over 100 years old, Longacre only began seeing more success in the 20th century with some moderate successes following its acquisition by the Shubert Organisation in the 50s. Nonetheless, it now stands proud as one of Broadway's premiere venues, hosting hit shows like Lempicka (2024).
- The brains behind the operation: Harry Frazee conceived the venue as a space to host his own productions. Outside of his own work, he hoped it would provide a home to musicals.
- The vision behind the design: The last theater designed by Henry Beaumont Herts, the Longacre is a stunning work in the French Neo-classical and Beaux Arts styles.
- Ornate and classic: The theater is known among audiences for its classic, vintage design, including an ornate French-style facade in gray limestone and painted terracotta and interiors made with an array of materials like stone, brick, steel, terracotta, and reinforced concrete.
- Grandeur and elegance: The interiors are swathed in lush Roman gold. The details include topaz carpets, wisteria seats, and gold draperies. The auditorium has a gold and green color scheme.
- Romeo and Juliet (1923)
- Wuthering Heights (1939)
- Children of a Lesser God (1980)
- Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (2005)
- La Cage aux Folles (2010)
- Of Mice and Men (2014)
- Macbeth (2022)
- Lempicka (2024)
Know before you go
- Address: 220 W 48th St, New York, NY 10036, United States
- Bike: There is a Citi Bike station on Broadway and West 48th Street.
- Bus: The nearest stops are on West 49th Street and 7th Avenue and West 49th Street and 8th Avenue, which cater to several lines including M50, M20 or M104.
- Subway: The closest station is on 49th Street, which services the N, Q, R, and W lines, and is just a few minutes away from the theater.
- Parking: The nearest parking garage is on West 46th Street. If this happens to be full, you can try one of many nearby lots like MPG: Manhattan Plaza Parking and Icon Parking.
- Recommended mode of transport: The subway is the quickest way to get to this venue, though all forms of public transport will get you within walking distance of it.
- Restrooms: Available across the venue, with one wheelchair-accessible unisex bathroom located on the Orchestra level.
- Water fountain: Located in the restrooms.
- Accessible seating: Designated wheelchair and companion seating (K20, M102, and N116) is in the Orchestra section. Transfer aisle seats are also available. All seats have step-free access.
- Hearing and visual assistance: The venue provides accommodations for patrons with hearing and/or visual needs, including assistive listening, captioning, and audio descriptiondevices.
- Arrive early: We recommend arriving 15-30 minutes before your show so you have plenty of time to park, explore, and get to your seat.
- Dress code: There is no set dress code to enter this venue, but we recommend smart casuals.
- Baggage: There is no cloakroom at this venue so leave the baggage at home and keep your belongings neatly tucked within your seating area.
- Food policy: Outside food and drink cannot be taken into the venue.
- Recording restrictions: You may not record any part of the show, though you are welcome to take pictures or video of the space outside the show times. All devices must be on silent during the show.
- Pets and service animals: Pets are not allowed but you may bring your service animal. We recommend contacting the venue to make sure your animal will be permitted and check whether any accommodations can be made beforehand.
Longacre is located near several delectable restaurants and eateries to suit a wide range of palates. Here are some we recommend:
- Bea: This brick-walled American restaurant and bar features a gorgeous courtyard and serves a menu of handcrafted cocktails and small plates to suit various dietary needs.
- Directions
to Bea
- At Nine Restaurant & Bar: As much a visual treat as a culinary one, this Thai restaurant and bar serves authentic dishes, including dumplings, Rangoon, and Thai coffee and tea, alongside drinks.
- Directions
- Chez Josephine: A tribute French-style restaurant dedicated to Josephine Baker serving classic dishes including burgers and pastries alongside a selection of wines.
- Directions
- Ellen's Stardust Diner: A vintage 50's diner serving burgers, fries, soda, and more known more widely for its friendly staff and excellent service.
- Directions
- Buena Vista Restaurant & Bar: Upscale and stylish Latin-American space serving signature dishes alongside cocktails.
- Directions to Buena Vista Restaurant & Bar
Frequently asked questions about Longacre Theatre
The theater is at 220 W 48th St, New York, NY 10036, United States, easily accessible by all modes of public and private transportation.
The theater is owned and operated by the Shubert Organization. It was originally conceived by Harry Frazee, a theater and baseball impresario, who wanted to showcase his own productions at this venue. It opened in 1913, making it one of the oldest venues currently operating on Broadway. The classic appeal of it was retained through its many refurbishments and it remains a popular vintage spot even today.
The venue has 1,077 seats split across the Orchestra, Mezzanine, and Balcony sections.
The Orchestra section is entirely accessible, including designated wheelchair-accessible, companion, and transfer seats. The accessible restroom is also on this level, and all designated areas have step-free access. The rest of the theater is partially accessible. There are no escalators or lifts.
Prices will vary across shows depending on the dates and seats selected.
The Orchestra section offers fantastic views and visibility across shows, while the elevated levels give you sweeping views of the whole stage, especially from the front rows. For intimate plays like dramas, being closer to the stage is better. But for larger ensemble productions, you get just as good views from the upper levels for cheaper rates.
Longacre sits in the midst of several other Broadway theaters as well as landmark towers like the Morgan Stanley Global Headquarters and the Rockefeller. Nearby are iconic sights like Madame Tussaud's, but there are plenty of lesser-known spots like The Channel Gardens that give you a quieter, more scenic experience of the otherwise bustling New York City.
