Nederlander Theatre: A Century of Broadway History

The Nederlander Theatre is one of New York's premier venues for live entertainment. Located at 208 W 41st Street, New York, NY 10036, this broadway theater has a capacity of 1,235 and has been a fixture of the city's cultural landscape since 1921.

History of Nederlander Theatre

The Nederlander Theatre opened on September 1, 1921, as the National Theatre, designed by William Neil Smith on West 41st Street. It is the southernmost theater in the Broadway Theater District and has been a key part of New York's theatrical landscape for over a century.

The theater changed names several times before becoming the Nederlander in 1980, having previously been known as the Billy Rose Theatre and the Trafalgar Theatre. The original construction cost $950,000, a significant investment for the era. Its two-level auditorium features an intimate design that places every seat close to the action.

The Nederlander's most famous tenant was Rent, Jonathan Larson's rock musical that ran from 1996 to 2008, becoming one of the defining cultural works of the 1990s. Other landmark productions include Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music (1981), Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Newsies (2012), and Motown: The Musical. The theater continues to host some of Broadway's most anticipated new productions.

What's On at Nederlander Theatre

The Nederlander Theatre currently hosts a rotating lineup of Broadway's newest productions.

• The Who's Tommy the Musical (Musicals)

• Shucked (Musicals)

• All Out: Comedy About Ambition (Musicals)

• Schmigadoon! (Musicals)

Browse all musicals in New York on tickadoo.

Seating and Accessibility

The theater seats 1,235 across two levels: Orchestra and Mezzanine. The Orchestra section offers the most direct views, with center seats in rows C through L considered the best in the house. The Mezzanine provides an elevated perspective, with the first few rows offering excellent sightlines of the full stage.

Wheelchair-accessible seating is available in the Orchestra section. The theater offers assistive listening devices and has accessible restrooms on the Orchestra level. Companion seats are available adjacent to wheelchair locations.