Built by the Shuberts, the Winter Garden Theatre opened in 1911 as a lavish music hall “devoted to novel, international, spectacular and musical entertainments.”
Winter Garden Theatre box office
The venue was designed by architect William Albert Swasey to resemble an English garden, with latticework on the walls and a trellised ceiling. During the 1920s the Winter Garden was redesigned by architect Herbert J. Krapp, and an enormous marquee was added.
Marc J. Franklin
When it opened, the theatre became an instant hit, notably featuring a series of Sunday-night concerts in which new talent such as Jolson and Marilynn (later shortened to Marilyn) Miller were brilliantly promoted.
In addition to its Sunday night concert series, the Winter Garden became the home of a rowdy revue series called The Passing Show, starring performers including Fred and Adele Astaire, Eugene Howard, and more.
In 1928, the theatre was leased by Warner Brothers and converted into a Vitaphone (talking pictures) temple. Aptly, the first movie shown there was The Singing Fool starring Al Jolson. The theatre was eventually restored to legitimacy in 1933.
Throughout its history, the theatre has ushered in the Broadway debuts of iconic shows including West Side Story, Funny Girl, and Cats.
In addition, the Winter Garden stage has been home to performances from theatre legends including Angela Lansbury, Liza Minnelli, and Barbra Streisand.
Winter Garden Theatre auditorium
Winter Garden Theatre auditorium
Winter Garden Theatre auditorium
Winter Garden Theatre auditorium
Winter Garden Theatre auditorium
Winter Garden Theatre auditorium
Winter Garden Theatre auditorium
Winter Garden Theatre auditorium
Winter Garden Theatre auditorium
Winter Garden Theatre auditorium
Winter Garden Theatre auditorium
The Winter Garden Theatre is currently the home of Andrew Lloyd Weber’s School of Rock, which opened in 2015.
