Remember that marquee? The James Earl Jones Theatre has a great story. This Broadway theater stands at 138 West 48th Street in Midtown Manhattan. It is a beacon of theatrical history.
The James Earl Jones Theatre was originally named the Cort Theatre. Impresario John Cort hired Thomas W. Lamb to design it. The theater opened its doors on December 20, 1912. In 2022, it was renamed to honor actor James Earl Jones. It became the second Broadway venue named after a Black theatrical personality.
Lamb’s neoclassical design remains. The facade on 48th Street features a glass-and-metal marquee. The lobby boasts marble paneling and a coved ceiling. The auditorium includes an orchestra level and two balconies. The proscenium arch has art glass that can illuminate during performances.
John Cort secured the rights to operate the theater in 1912. The Cort Theatre quickly gained recognition. Despite being on the “wrong side” of Broadway, it hosted many hit productions. The Shubert Organization acquired the theater in 1927.
From 1969 to 1972, the theater served as a television studio for The Merv Griffin Show. Otherwise it remained a theater. The Cort closed temporarily in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Renovations took place during this time.
The James Earl Jones Theatre maintains its neoclassical style. The 48th Street facade includes a colonnade. The lobby features white Pavanozza marble. Tiffany Studios designed the lobby. The auditorium has plaster decorations in high relief. The Shubert Organization says the auditorium has 1,092 seats.
The proscenium arch measures 29 feet high and 37 feet wide. Latticed plasterwork and art glass adorn it. The art glass can be illuminated. The ceiling is divided into three sections. A bronze and crystal chandelier hangs at the center.
Between 2021 and 2022, a western annex was added. Kostow Greenwood Architects designed it. The annex provides lounges, restrooms, and backstage areas. It also improves accessibility.
Times Square became a theater hub between 1900 and the Great Depression. John Cort aimed to break away from New York syndicates. He decided to build new theaters.
The Cort Theatre opened with “Peg o’ My Heart” in 1912. Despite its location, the theater was considered beautiful. “Theatre Magazine” praised its lines and acoustics.
“Peg o’ My Heart” had over 600 performances. Other early hits included “Under Cover” and “The Princess Pat”. The Cort became known as a lucky venue.
In 1927, the Shubert Organization purchased the theater. Katharine Hepburn made her Broadway debut at the Cort in 1928. Jed Harris’s revival of “Uncle Vanya” also played here.
Richard Aldrich and Alfred De Liagre debuted in 1933 with “Three-Cornered Moon”. George Abbott’s plays, like “Boy Meets Girl”, also graced the stage. The Theatre Guild’s Shakespearean company performed “The Winter’s Tale” in 1946. Grace Kelly debuted in “The Father” in 1949.
The Diary of Anne Frank opened in 1955. James Earl Jones made his Broadway debut in Sunrise at Campobello in 1958. CBS leased the theater for The Merv Griffin Show in 1969. In March 2022, the Cort was renamed the James Earl Jones Theatre.
The James Earl Jones Theatre’s marquee was revealed on September 12, 2022. The theater’s $47 million renovation was complete. Ohio State Murders opened in December 2022. In April 2024, The Heart of Rock and Roll opened.
So, the James Earl Jones Theatre stands as a testament to Broadway’s rich past. It also shines as a beacon for the future.