New York theater is a long-standing tradition. Every year, thousands of people flock to New York's "Broadway" and "off-Broadway" stage productions. For stage actors, being recognized or cast on a New York stage is a mark of achievement. As one of New York City's oldest playhouses, the New Amsterdam Theatre is a large part of that lifestyle.
The New Amsterdam Theatre was built in 1903 by A.L. Erlanger and Marcus Klaw. The theater was designed in art nouveau style. When it was built, the New Amsterdam was the largest theater in New York City. It opened in November 1903, with Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Since then, it has housed the "Ziegfeld Follies," "Midnight Frolics (the smaller cousin of the Follies)" and "Julius Caesar," to name only a few.
In 1936, during the Great Depression, many New York theaters were forced to close their doors. This included the New Amsterdam. In 1937, however, the New Amsterdam was reopened as a movie theater. Almost 50 years later, the Nederlander Organization purchased the theater for renovations, but the group was never able to start the project due to court cases. In 1990, the State of New York assumed ownership of the New Amsterdam, along with several other theaters in the district. Disney signed a 99-year lease on the theater, and now uses the New Amsterdam for Disney movie and stage premieres. Most recently, the New Amsterdam Theatre has hosted the openings for the animated movie "Hercules" and stage productions of both "The Lion King" and "Mary Poppins."
The New Amsterdam Theatre is located at 214 W 42nd Street in New York. This area is known as the Theater District, on the south side of 42nd. The New Amsterdam hosts productions on its main stage, and has a second, more private stage on its roof. This roof stage hosts small productions during the warm summer months.
Not only is the New Amsterdam New York City's oldest standing theater, as well as a New York City landmark, but when it was built, it was also the city's largest theater, with a seating capacity of more than 1,700. Upon its opening, the theater was given the nickname "The House Beautiful" by the New York Times. It is known as the theater that brought art nouveau to Broadway.