The Richard Rodgers Theatre was built by Irwin Chanin in 1925. When it was first opened, it was called Chanin's 46th Street Theatre. Chanin almost immediately leased the theatre to the Shuberts, who eventually bought the building outright in 1931 and rechristened it as simply the 46th Street Theatre. In 1982, it was purchased and renovated by the Nederlander Organization, who in 1990 renamed it the Richard Rodgers Theatre, in memory of composer Richard Rodgers. The building is located at 226 W 46th Street, New York City, New York, between Broadway & 8th Avenue. Tarzan will open in this theatre on Maz 10, 2006.

Chanin's Seating Plan

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The Richard Rodgers Theatre is notable in that it was the first to feature Chanin's 'democratic' seating plan. In most earlier Broadway theatres, patrons seated in the cheaper balcony and mezzanine sections utilized separate entrances from patrons who had purchased the more expensive orchestra section seats. Instead, all patrons entered the new theatre through the same doors, and a series of steps inside the house led to the upper seating areas.

Notable Broadway Premiers

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• The Greenwich Village Follies (December 24, 1925)
• Of Thee I Sing (October 10, 1932)
• Anything Goes (September 30, 1935)
• Knickerbocker Holiday (February 13, 1939)
• Finian's Rainbow (January 10, 1947)
• Guys and Dolls (November 24, 1950)
• Damn Yankees (May 5, 1955)
• Donnybrook! (May 18, 1961)
• How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (October 14, 1961)
• Chicago (June 3, 1975)
• The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (June 19, 1978)
• Nine (May 9, 1982)
• Fences (March 26, 1987)
• Steel Pier (April 24, 1997)
• Side Show (October 16, 1997)
• Footloose (October 22, 1998)
• Seussical (November 30, 2000)
• Movin' Out (October 24, 2002)
• ''Tarzan

External links

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• Broadway Theatre Guide with full show details for the Richard Rodgers Theatre
• New York City Landmark Guide

Broadway theatres