St. James Theatre


Neil Simon Theatre The St. James Theatre is located at 246 W. 44th St. Broadway, New York City, New York. It was built by Abraham L. Erlanger, theatrical producer and a founding member of the Theatrical Syndicate, on the site of the original Sardi's restaurant. It opened in 1927 as The Erlanger. Upon Erlanger's death in 1930, control of the venue was taken over by the Astor family, who owned the land on which the theatre stood. The Astors renamed it the St. James Theatre.

The theatre was purchased by the Shuberts in the late 1930s. They were forced to sell it to the William L. McKnight in 1957 following the loss of an antitrust case. McKnight renovated the St. James and reopened it in 1958. In 1970, McKnight then transferred the theatre to his daughter Virginia and her husband James H. Binger, who had formed the Jujamcyn Amusement Corporation.

Notable productions since 1951
1951: The King and I
1954: The Pajama Game
1956: Li'l Abner
1958: Flower Drum Song
1960: Becket
1960: Do Re Mi
1964: Hello, Dolly!
1970: Two Gentlemen of Verona
1977: Vieux Carré
1978: On the Twentieth Century
1979: Carmelina
1980: Barnum (musical)
1980: 42nd Street
1991: The Secret Garden
1993: Tommy
1996: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
1999: Swing!
2001: The Producers
2007: Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas
2008: Gypsy



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