New 42nd Street
Encyclopedia
The New 42nd Street is a not-for-profit organization in Manhattan
, New York City
. In 1990, The New 42nd Street was formed to oversee the redevelopment of seven neglected and historic theatres on 42nd Street
between Seventh
and Eighth
Avenues, and to restore the block to a desirable tourist destination in Manhattan. The theatres were the Apollo Theatre, the Empire Theatre
, the Liberty Theatre, the Lyric Theatre
, the Selwyn Theatre
, the Times Square Theatre
, and the Victory Theatre
.
The New 42nd Street also operates the New 42nd Street Building at 229 West 42nd Street, designed by the firm of Platt Bayard Dovell, which opened in 2000 and is home to the New 42nd Street Rehearsal Studios as well as The Duke on 42nd Street – a 199-seat black box theater named for Doris Duke
– and three floors of office spaces used by seven non-profit organizations, including The New 42nd Street.
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. In 1990, The New 42nd Street was formed to oversee the redevelopment of seven neglected and historic theatres on 42nd Street
42nd Street (Manhattan)
42nd Street is a major crosstown street in the New York City borough of Manhattan, known for its theaters, especially near the intersection with Broadway at Times Square. It is also the name of the region of the theater district near that intersection...
between Seventh
Seventh Avenue (Manhattan)
Seventh Avenue, known as Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard north of Central Park, is a thoroughfare on the West Side of the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It is southbound below Central Park and a two-way street north of the park....
and Eighth
Eighth Avenue (Manhattan)
Eighth Avenue is a north-south avenue on the West Side of Manhattan in New York City, carrying northbound traffic. Eighth Avenue begins in the West Village neighborhood at Abingdon Square and runs north for 44 blocks through Chelsea, the Garment District, Hell's Kitchen's east end, Midtown and the...
Avenues, and to restore the block to a desirable tourist destination in Manhattan. The theatres were the Apollo Theatre, the Empire Theatre
Empire Theatre (New York City)
The Empire Theatre in New York City was a prominent Broadway theatre in the first half of the twentieth century. It opened in 1893 with a performance of The Girl I Left Behind Me by David Belasco. The Empire continued to present both original plays and revivals until 1953. Its final show, in May...
, the Liberty Theatre, the Lyric Theatre
Lyric Theatre (New York)
The Lyric Theatre was a prominent Broadway theatre built in 1903 in Manhattan, New York City in the 42nd Street Theatre District. It had two entrances, one at 213 West 42nd Street and another at 214-26 West 43rd Street and was one of the few New York houses that had two formal entrances. In 1934,...
, the Selwyn Theatre
American Airlines Theatre
The American Airlines Theatre is a Broadway theatre, located at 227 West 42nd Street, New York City.-Design:Originally named the Selwyn Theatre, it was constructed by the Selwyn brothers, Edgar and Archie, in 1918. It was one of three theatres they built and controlled on 42nd Street, along with...
, the Times Square Theatre
Times Square Theatre
The Times Square Theatre is a former Broadway theatre, located at 217 West 42nd Street, Manhattan, in New York City.-History:The Times Square Theatre was built in 1920 by the Selwyn brothers. It was one of three theatres they built and controlled on 42nd Street, including the Apollo and the Selwyn...
, and the Victory Theatre
New Victory Theatre
The New Victory Theater is an Off-Broadway theater located at 209 West 42nd Street, between 7th and 8th Avenues, in Midtown Manhattan. The New Victory is New York's first and only theater for children and family audiences...
.
- The Apollo and Lyric theatres were combined to form an 1,850-seat Broadway musical venue. On December 26, 1997, it opened as The Ford Center for the Performing Arts with the New York premiere of RagtimeRagtime (musical)Ragtime is a musical with a book by Terrence McNally, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, and music by Stephen Flaherty.Based on the 1975 novel by E. L. Doctorow, Ragtime tells the story of three groups in America, represented by Coalhouse Walker Jr., a Harlem musician; Mother, the matriarch of a WASP family in...
. Subsequently, it was renamed the Hilton Theatre and is now known as the Foxwoods Theatre.
- The Empire and Liberty became parts of an entertainment complex built by Forest City Ratner which includes the New York branch of Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum, Ripley's Believe It or Not!Ripley's Believe It or Not!Ripley's Believe It or Not! is a franchise, founded by Robert Ripley, which deals in bizarre events and items so strange and unusual that readers might question the claims...
and a very large McDonald'sMcDonald'sMcDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
.
- The Selwyn Theatre became the American Airlines TheatreAmerican Airlines TheatreThe American Airlines Theatre is a Broadway theatre, located at 227 West 42nd Street, New York City.-Design:Originally named the Selwyn Theatre, it was constructed by the Selwyn brothers, Edgar and Archie, in 1918. It was one of three theatres they built and controlled on 42nd Street, along with...
and is currently one of Roundabout Theatre CompanyRoundabout Theatre CompanyThe Roundabout Theatre Company is a leading non-profit theatre company based in New York City.-History:The company was founded in 1965 by Gene Feist and Elizabeth Owens and now operates five theatres, all in Manhattan: the American Airlines Theatre ; Studio 54 ; the Stephen Sondheim Theatre The...
's BroadwayBroadway theatreBroadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
venues.
- The Times Square Theatre remains closed.
- The Victory Theatre was the first theatre on the block to be restored, and reopened as the off-BroadwayOff-BroadwayOff-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...
New Victory TheatreNew Victory TheatreThe New Victory Theater is an Off-Broadway theater located at 209 West 42nd Street, between 7th and 8th Avenues, in Midtown Manhattan. The New Victory is New York's first and only theater for children and family audiences...
in 1995. The New Victory Theater is programmed by The New 42nd Street with a focus on children's entertainment, including theatre, circus, puppetry, opera and dance. The theatre's programming is complemented by an award-winning educational program in New York City schools.
The New 42nd Street also operates the New 42nd Street Building at 229 West 42nd Street, designed by the firm of Platt Bayard Dovell, which opened in 2000 and is home to the New 42nd Street Rehearsal Studios as well as The Duke on 42nd Street – a 199-seat black box theater named for Doris Duke
Doris Duke
Doris Duke was an American heiress, horticulturalist, art collector, and philanthropist.-Family and early life:...
– and three floors of office spaces used by seven non-profit organizations, including The New 42nd Street.