New York City Center

New York City Center: Where Broadway Musicals Are Reborn

The New York City Center is one of New York's premier venues for live entertainment. Located at 131 W 55th Street, New York, NY 10019, this performing arts center has a capacity of 2,257 and has been a fixture of the city's cultural landscape since 1943.

History of New York City Center

New York City Center opened on December 11, 1943, in a building originally constructed between 1922 and 1924 as the Mecca Temple for the Ancient Accepted Order of the Mystic Shrine (the Shriners). Designed in a beautiful Moorish Revival style by Harry P. Knowles with Clinton and Russell, the building features multi-pointed stars, lancet windows, ornamental chandeliers, and intricate tilework that make it one of the most visually distinctive performance venues in New York.

Mayor Fiorello La Guardia converted the building into a municipal performing arts center in 1943, establishing it as a home for opera, ballet, and theater at affordable prices. The venue seats 2,257 across three levels and has hosted New York City Ballet, New York City Opera, and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

City Center's Encores! series, launched in 1994, has become one of the most celebrated programs in American theater. The series presents concert stagings of classic American musicals, and several productions have transferred to Broadway, including Chicago, which became the longest-running American musical in Broadway history.

What's On at New York City Center

New York City Center hosts the acclaimed Encores. musical theater series, dance performances, and special events.

• Encores! La Cage aux Folles (Musicals)

• Encores! The Wild Party (Musicals)

Browse all musicals in New York on tickadoo.

Seating and Accessibility

The theater seats 2,257 across three levels. The Moorish Revival architecture creates a distinctive atmosphere. Orchestra and Grand Tier seats offer the best views.

City Center is wheelchair accessible. Assistive listening devices and accessible restrooms are available. Elevators serve all levels.