The Stephen Sondheim Theatre (formerly Henry Miller’s Theatre) was reconstructed with the goal of creating a modern Broadway playhouse that captures the intimacy and proportions of the original 1918 theatre designed by Allen, Ingalls & Hoffman
Housed within One Bryant Park, this Broadway Theatre was renovated and revitalized to provide audiences with excellent sightlines, spacious and accessible audience amenities, and a newly configured auditorium. The historic, Neo-classical style landmarked façade was preserved and restored; the oval reception room, doors, and decorative plasterwork, including the iconic urns marking the 43rd Street entrance, were salvaged and incorporated into the new design; and seating was increased to 1,000. A sophisticated acoustics system was integrated, as well as a larger orchestra pit and a fully functional fly-tower and scene loading facilities. The mezzanine is at street level in the theatre and patrons go down one level to the orchestra, where two-thirds of the seating is located.
New amenities include improved public circulation, box office and concessions areas, with a spacious lobby bar at the orchestra level, a bar, and café at the ground level, a restaurant on the upper mezzanine. The new theatre is fully accessible with 20 wheelchair viewing positions. This project, which was designed to LEED Gold standards, was the first theatre in New York to meet the environmental standards of the U.S. Green Building Council.
