Interestingly, the Belasco Theatre started its life under a different name. Back in 1907, it was known as the Stuyvesant Theatre. Now, standing here on West 44th Street it’s hard to believe this Broadway gem has such a rich and varied past.
David Belasco, a major figure in American entertainment, had this theater built. The Belasco Theatre isn’t just any theater. It is a testament to Belasco’s vision and passion for the stage.
Originally, the Belasco Theatre was named to honor Peter Stuyvesant. He was the last Dutch Director-General of New Netherland. It wasn’t until 1910 that Belasco renamed the venue after himself. This change marked a significant moment in the theater’s history.
David Belasco wasn’t interested in building a massive theater. Instead, he wanted a more intimate space. He aimed to bring actors closer to their audience. What he might have saved in size, he invested in the interior. The Belasco Theatre boasts rich woodwork, expansive murals, and Tiffany Studios lighting. Belasco was also an early adopter of advanced stagecraft tools.
The Belasco Theatre opened its doors in 1907 with a musical called A Grand Army Man. Early on, the theater found consistent success. For example, The Concert in 1910 and Return of Peter Grimm in 1911 both exceeded 200 performances. Impressively, most of the nearly 50 shows Belasco directed or produced here ran for at least 100 performances.
After Belasco died in 1931, the theater went through several owners. Still, the Belasco Theatre continued to host notable productions. Dead End, shown by the Guild Theatre, ran for 684 performances from 1935 to 1937. This made it the longest-running show for decades. In 1945, controversy erupted when the owners evicted Max Jelin. His play Trio touched on lesbianism. The New York Supreme Court eventually reinstated Jelin in 1946.
The Shubert Organization took over the Belasco Theatre in 1948. For a short time, NBC used it as a broadcast studio. By 1953, the Belasco Theatre returned to being a stage for Broadway shows. All the Way Home even won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1960.
Broadway declined in the late 1960s. The Belasco Theatre suffered. The Shuberts began using it for final runs of shows from their other theaters.
In the 1980s, New York City began preserving Broadway theaters. The Belasco Theatre’s interior and facade became landmarks in 1987. The Shubert Organization and others fought these landmark designations in court. They claimed the restrictions limited their ability to modify the theaters. The Supreme Court ultimately upheld the landmark status in 1992.
Since the 1980s, the Belasco Theatre has continued to host various shows. One notable exception was Hedwig and the Angry Inch. It ran for 507 performances starting in 2014. Interestingly, the show mentions David Belasco. It references the theater’s reputation for being haunted. Legend says Belasco’s ghost brings good luck. Every performance, the lead character asked audience members if they had seen him.
In 2019, Netflix leased the Belasco Theatre to screen The Irishman. This required some retrofitting. Girl From the North Country proved popular, surviving the COVID-19 pandemic to return in 2021 and 2022. The Belasco Theatre continues to be a significant venue on Broadway. It stands as a testament to the enduring power and magic of live theater.