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COMING SOON
SMASH
SMASH, inspired by the hit TV show, is finally coming to Broadway!
A hilarious behind-the-scenes rollercoaster ride about the making of a Marilyn Monroe musical called Bombshell, it’s got all the iconic songs, kick-ass choreography, and backstage pandemonium that make Broadway the beloved institution it is today.
Our cast is stacked, because who better to play a bunch of wannabe Broadway big shots than actual Broadway big shots? Among them: Robyn Hurder, Brooks Ashmanskas, Krysta Rodriguez, John Behlmann, Kristine Nielsen, Caroline Bowman, Jacqueline B. Arnold, Bella Coppola, and Casey Garvin to name just a few.
HISTORY
The Shuberts conceived of the Imperial Theatre, their fiftieth New York venue, as a home to musical theatre hits, and their dream has been realized many times over. The playhouse was constructed as a replacement for the Shubert’s 20 year old (and out-of-date) Lyric Theatre.
ARCHITECTURE
Like many other Shubert theatres, the Imperial was designed by Herbert Krapp in his trademark Adam-style. The recessed ceiling and ornamental panels that grace the walls are elaborately decorated with a number of motifs, including florals and geometrics. The rectangular auditorium is wider than it is deep, which allows most audience members to feel close to the stage and performers.
Spotlight on Broadway: Imperial Theatre from Spotlight on Broadway on Vimeo.
Details on the Imperial Theatre's Accessibility
Access Information
Theatre is not completely wheelchair accessible. There are no steps into theatre from the sidewalk. Please be advised that where there are steps either into or within the theatre, we are unable to provide assistance.
Shubert Audience Services
The Imperial Theatre provides accommodations for patrons who are blind, deaf, partially sighted, and/or have hearing loss. The theatre provides infrared assistive listening devices for every performance at the theatre. In addition, beginning four weeks after a show’s official opening night performance, hand-held audio description devices, hand-held captioning devices, and unlimited access to downloadable audio description and/or captioning for personal mobile devices are all available free of charge. Prior thereto, we offer live-caption via CART using a hand-held device, upon request with two-weeks’ advance notice. For assistance, or If you have questions, contact Shubert Audience Services at 212-944-3700 or audienceservices@shubertorg.com. There is also a representative at the Shubert Audience Services kiosk at every performance to assist any patron with any of our devices, software, or technology. Hand-held devices are limited, although additional devices can be obtained with at least twenty-four hours’ notice.
Accessibility by Seating Section
Orchestra Location: Seating is accessible to all parts of the Orchestra without steps. There are no steps to the designated wheelchair seating location.
Mezzanine Location: Located on the 2nd level: up 2 flights of stairs (23 steps). Please Note: On the Mezzanine or Balcony level, there are approximately 2 steps up/down per row. Entrance to Front Mezzanine is behind row F.
Handrails: Available at the end of every stepped seat row in the Mezzanine.
Wheelchair | Companion Seat Locations:
Orchestra: U1 | U3, T1-3; O24 | O22. O18-20; K27 | K21-25; O23 | N23-27; O21 | O15-19
Aisle Seat with Folding Armrest | Companion Locations:
Orchestra: R101 | R102; R2 | R4; R1 | R3; H22 | H20; K26 | K24; L27 | L25
Elevators/Escalator
None Available
Restroom
There is a wheelchair accessible restroom (unisex) located on the main level.
Theatre Policies
The use of cameras, recording devices, cell phones, beepers, and other electronic devices during the performance is prohibited, except as permitted for accessibility services. Everyone attending a performance must have a ticket. Latecomers will be seated at the discretion of management. Wheelchair and mobility-impaired seating is intended for patrons with mobility disabilities. Children under the age of four years will not be admitted. No outside food or beverage permitted, unless medically necessary. No weapons permitted on the premises.
Over the years, the Imperial has witnessed a distinguished roster of hits. Its inaugural production was Mary Jane McKane (1923) followed by Broadway’s biggest grosser of the 1920s, the operetta Rose-Marie (1924). Next was George and Ira Gershwin’s Oh, Kay! (1926) starring Gertrude Lawrence, which included the now-classic “Someone to Watch Over Me.” Successes of the 1930s included two George and Ira Gershwin tuners, Of Thee I Sing (1933) and Let ‘Em Eat Cake (1933), Moss Hart and Cole Porter’s Jubilee (1935), which featured premieres of “Begin the Beguine” and “Just One of Those Things”, and Rodgers and Hart’s On Your Toes (1936). Mary Martin debuted on Broadway in Cole Porter’s Leave It to Me (1938), singing “My Heart Belongs to Daddy”, and backed up by a chorus boy named Gene Kelly.
Many of the 20th century’s most respected and successful composers and musical theatre stars played the Imperial Theatre. Irving Berlin had four hits here in the 1940s: Louisiana Purchase (1940), Miss Liberty (1949), Annie Get Your Gun (1946) and Call Me Madam (1950). Cole Porter had his collaboration with Herbert and Dorothy Fields Let’s Face It (1941), and Silk Stockings (1955).
Frank Loesser’s The Most Happy Fella (1956) led a new generation of hits, followed by Carnival (1960), Oliver! (1963) and the history-makingFiddler on the Roof (1964) starring Zero Mostel, which went on to become the longest running musical of its time in Broadway history. When Fiddler transferred to the Majestic to finish its run, two John Kander and Fred Ebb musicals moved in: Cabaret (1967) and Zorba (1968).
The most successful shows of the 1970s were Bob Fosse’s production of Stephen Schwartz’s Pippin (1972) starring Ben Vereen, and back-to-back Neil Simon hits: Chapter Two (1977) and They’re Playing Our Song (1979). Michael Bennett’s Dreamgirls (1981) was followed by two Shubert-produced musicals: Chess (1988) and Jerome Robbins' Broadway (1989). In 1990, Les Misérables moved to the Imperial from the Broadway, and completed its 6,680 performance run.
The Imperial welcomed Australian heartthrob Hugh Jackman in the Peter Allen musical biography, The Boy From Oz in 2003, followed by the award-winning musical Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (2005), Tracy Lett's acclaimed August: Osage County (2007), the Tony Award-winning Best Musical Billy Elliot (2008) and Nice Work if You Can Get It (2012) with Matthew Broderick and Kelli O'Hara, the revival of Les Miserables (2014) and Josh Groban's Broadway debut in The Great Comet of 1812 (2016).
Visit the Internet Broadway Database for a complete list.
Many of the 20th century’s most respected and successful composers and musical theatre stars played the Imperial Theatre. Irving Berlin had four hits here in the 1940s: Louisiana Purchase (1940), Miss Liberty (1949), Annie Get Your Gun (1946) and Call Me Madam (1950). Cole Porter had his collaboration with Herbert and Dorothy Fields Let’s Face It (1941), and Silk Stockings (1955).
Frank Loesser’s The Most Happy Fella (1956) led a new generation of hits, followed by Carnival (1960), Oliver! (1963) and the history-makingFiddler on the Roof (1964) starring Zero Mostel, which went on to become the longest running musical of its time in Broadway history. When Fiddler transferred to the Majestic to finish its run, two John Kander and Fred Ebb musicals moved in: Cabaret (1967) and Zorba (1968).
The most successful shows of the 1970s were Bob Fosse’s production of Stephen Schwartz’s Pippin (1972) starring Ben Vereen, and back-to-back Neil Simon hits: Chapter Two (1977) and They’re Playing Our Song (1979). Michael Bennett’s Dreamgirls (1981) was followed by two Shubert-produced musicals: Chess (1988) and Jerome Robbins' Broadway (1989). In 1990, Les Misérables moved to the Imperial from the Broadway, and completed its 6,680 performance run.
The Imperial welcomed Australian heartthrob Hugh Jackman in the Peter Allen musical biography, The Boy From Oz in 2003, followed by the award-winning musical Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (2005), Tracy Lett's acclaimed August: Osage County (2007), the Tony Award-winning Best Musical Billy Elliot (2008) and Nice Work if You Can Get It (2012) with Matthew Broderick and Kelli O'Hara, the revival of Les Miserables (2014) and Josh Groban's Broadway debut in The Great Comet of 1812 (2016).
Visit the Internet Broadway Database for a complete list.
THEATRE SPECS
Imperial Theatre
249 West 45th Street
Between Broadway and 8th Avenue
New York NY 10036
| Year Built | 1923 | |
| Seating Capacity | ||
| Orchestra | 759 | |
| Front Mezzanine | 283 | |
| Rear Mezzanine | 377 | |
| Boxes | 20 | |
| Total | 1457 | |
| Included in Numbers Above: | ||
| Orchestra Pit | 18 | |
| Wheelchair | 5 | |
| Aisle Transfer Arm | 15 | |
| Theatre Dimensions | |
| Proscenium Opening: | 39' 7" |
| Height of Proscenium: | 25' 0" |
| Depth to proscenium: | 33' 8" |
| Depth to front of stage: | 40' 2" |
| Stage Type: | Proscenium |
SEATING CHART
