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.
