“A Moorish and Byzantine marvel” someone whispered. That’s the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. Right here on West 45th Street.
This magnificent building opened in 1924. It was then known as the Martin Beck Theatre. Vaudeville star Martin Beck had it built. He owned it outright. No mortgage. Imagine that in New York City.
The architect was G Albert Lansburgh. He designed movie palaces on the West Coast. The Al Hirschfeld’s style is unique for Broadway. It’s Byzantine. Most theaters were neoclassical. Lansburgh collaborated with Albert Herter a muralist. Herter designed much of the interior. The original decorative scheme was lavish. It featured mythological scenes.
The facade is a single unit. Unlike most Broadway theaters. The auditorium and stage house are one design. There’s a double-height arcade. It has cast-stone columns. Red brick is used for the upper stories.
Inside the main entrance is a square ticket lobby. It leads to a vaulted inner lobby. There’s an L-shaped mezzanine lounge. The auditorium is stunning. Ornamental plasterwork decorates the walls. There’s a sloped orchestra level a mezzanine and a curved sounding board. Box seats are near the front of the balcony. The ceiling is octagonal. A multicolored dome tops it all.
The theatre hosted many shows. Some were long-running hits. Think The Teahouse of the August Moon. Or Dracula starring Frank Langella. Guys and Dolls had a successful revival. Into the Woods charmed audiences. Kinky Boots had a remarkably long run. Currently Moulin Rouge! holds the stage.
The Martin Beck Theatre was renamed in 2003. It’s now the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. Named for the famous Broadway caricaturist. He was the first visual artist to have a Broadway theater named after him. A new marquee was added. It featured an illuminated version of Hirschfeld’s self-portrait.
The Al Hirschfeld Theatre isn’t just a place to see a show. It’s a piece of history. A testament to architectural design. A stage for countless stories. So step inside. Experience the magic for yourself.