Neil Simon Theatre


Neil Simon Theatre The Neil Simon Theatre is a Broadway theatre located at 250 West 52nd Street in midtown-Manhattan.

Designed by architect Herbert J. Krapp, the theatre was built by producers Alex Aarons and Vinton Freedley, who combined their first names to christen it the Alvin Theatre. It opened on November 22, 1927 with George and Ira Gershwin's Funny Face starring Fred and Adele Astaire.

Due to the Great Depression, Aarons and Freedley lost control of their venue in 1932. For a period of time it was used as a radio studio by CBS.
In 1977, the building was purchased by the Nederlander Organization, and was renamed in honor of American playwright Simon in 1983 with the opening of Brighton Beach Memoirs.

The building was designated a New York City landmark in 1985. At present it has a seating capacity of approximately 1,400.

Notable productions since 1961
1961: Irma La Douce
1962: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
1965: Flora, The Red Menace
1967: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead; Sherry!
1968: The Great White Hope
1970: Company
1975: Shenandoah
1977: Annie
1981: Merrily We Roll Along
1982: Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?
1983: Brighton Beach Memoirs
1985: Biloxi Blues
1990: Jackie Mason: Brand New
1992: Jake's Women
1993: Cyrano: The Musical
1996: The King and I
1999: The Scarlet Pimpernel
2002: Elaine Stritch at Liberty
2002: Hairspray



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