Inside the Theatre, the photo feature series that documents Broadway’s historic playhouses, continues with the Music Box Theatre.
Playbill’s photo series Inside the Theatre captures the dazzling architecture and unseen details of the world’s most famous theatres, taking you inside all 41 of the Broadway houses.
The Music Box Theatre opened in 1921. Architect C. Howard Crane designed the theatre for producer Sam H. Harris and composer Irving Berlin, whose musical revues dominated the Music Box’s first years. With its seating capacity of 860, it remains a popular setting for intimate productions.
Flip through photos of the theatre below:
Step Inside Broadway’s Music Box Theatre
Step Inside Broadway’s Music Box Theatre
Inside the Theatre, the photo feature series that documents Broadway’s historic playhouses, continues with the Music Box Theatre.
19 PHOTOS
Described by Moss Hart as “everyone’s dream of a theatre,” the Music Box Theatre was built in 1921 by seminal composer Irving Berlin and producer Sam H. Harris as a home for Berlin’s lavish revues.
Marc J. Franklin
Designed by C. Howard Crane, the theatre opened on September 22, 1921 with the theatre’s first Music Box Revue starring Berlin, Sam Bernard, Florence Moore, Joseph Santley, and — in the chorus — young Miriam Hopkins.
Marc J. Franklin
Four editions of the Music Box Revue, starring such luminaries as Fanny Brice, Grace Moore, Bobby Clark, Robert Benchley and Charlotte Greenwood, brought fame to Berlin and the Music Box.
Marc J. Franklin
In 1925 the theatre departed from its revues-only policy to present a smash hit comedy called Cradle Snatchers, starring Mary Boland, Humphrey Bogart, Edna May Oliver and Raymond Guion.
Marc J. Franklin
While the depression stunted other theatres, the Music Box flourished, giving audiences comedic relief with shows such as Of Thee I Sing, which became the first musical comedy to win a Pulitizer Prize, Dinner at Eight, and the satire As Thousands Cheer.
Marc J. Franklin
Throughout its history, the theatre ushered in new works from legendary theatre writers including George S. Kaufman, Moss Hart, and George Gershwin as well as contemporary writers such as Tracy Letts and Aaron Sorkin.
Marc J. Franklin
The theatre also has been the home of performances from iconic actors including Angela Lansbury, Julianne Moore, and Phylicia Rashad.
Marc J. Franklin
After sharing ownership of the Music Box Theatre, the Shubert Organization purchasing it from Irving Berlin’s daughters in 2007.
Marc J. Franklin
Music Box Theatre auditorium
Marc J. Franklin
Music Box Theatre auditorium
Marc J. Franklin
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The theatre is currently home to Dear Evan Hansen, which features a score by the Tony- and Oscar-winning songwriting team of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (Dogfight, A Christmas Story), a book by Tony winner Steven Levenson (Masters of Sex), choreography by Danny Mefford (Fun Home), and direction by multiple Tony nominee Michael Greif (Rent, Next to Normal, If/Then).
Inside the Theatre, the series that documents Broadway’s historic playhouses, continues with the Mark Hellinger Theatre, currently functioning as the home of the Times Square Church.
