James Earl Jones Theatre New York
James Earl Jones Theatre Tickets
About the James Earl Jones Theatre
The James Earl Jones Theatre, originally the Cort Theatre, first opened in 1912 at 138 West 48th Street, slightly removed from the main bustle of Broadway venues that sit east of 7th Avenue. It was built by and named after John Cort, a Seattle-based actor and producer who headed up the Northwestern Theatrical Association, although ownership transferred to the Shubert Organization in 1927. After a period as a TV studio in the mid-20th century, the theatre was renovated and restored to its theatrical best in 1974. It was renamed the James Earl Jones Theatre in 2022, and is the second Broadway theater to be named after a Black artist, after the August Wilson Theatre.
With its French-inspired design, the James Earl Jones Theatre is the only surviving and active Broadway theater designed by architect Thomas Lamb. From the classic and elegant exterior inspired by 18th century Versailles to Marie Antoinette plasterwork in the lobby, the James Earl Jones Theatre is a handsome and intimate venue which has mainly welcomed intimate plays and drama onto its stage.
Notable productions at the James Earl Jones Theatre include Grace Kelly’s Broadway debut in The Father (1949), Sunday in New York (1961) starring Robert Redford, and Nicole Kidman’s memorable turn in The Blue Room (1998). More recently, the Tony Award-winning Fences (2010) brought Denzel Washington and Viola Davis to the James Earl Jones Theatre, and new play Indecent was a huge success in 2017.
Know Before You Go
• Children under four are not permitted into the theater
• Cloakroom is available in winter; bags aren’t accepted
Map and Address
138 W 48th St, New York, NY 10036
The James Earl Jones Theatre is located at 138 West 48th Street, a short walk from the Rockefeller Center and NBC Studios tour. With world-famous shopping and dining destinations just around the corner, there is plenty to do and see before a show. Although slightly removed from the main bustle of Broadway on the other side of 7th Avenue, there are plenty of excellent transport links to the James Earl Jones Theatre. Visitors can catch plenty of buses and subway trains to the area, and those who prefer driving can also use one of many parking garages nearby.
