The St James Theatre New York has a capacity of 1735 seats. Section capacities are 735 Orchestra, 674 Mezzanine and 326 Balcony. Use our interactive seating chart to view 744 seat reviews and 717 photos of views from seat.
The St. James Theatre is a large venue and the perfect place for extravagant and high-octane musicals. Its seating is split across an Orchestra, Mezzanine and Balcony. The Center Mezzanine has panoramic overhead sightlines that don’t feel too close or uncomfortable. Views towards the sides tend to be more partial, and the Balcony in particular can feel very steep and distant. At the very back of the Balcony, patrons may find the sightlines and sound are more obstructed than anywhere else in the theater.
The St. James Theatre first opened in 1927, when it was originally called the Erlanger’s Theatre after its founder, booking agent Abraham Erlanger. Erlanger was one half of Klaw and Erlanger, who also opened the
New Amsterdam Theatre. In the intervening years, it has changed ownership a number of times, and was eventually renamed after London’s St. James Theatre. It is one of Broadway’s largest venues, famous for musicals including
Oklahoma! and
The Producers.
The building was designed by architectural firm Warren and Wetmore, whilst the Georgian-inspired interior was the work of John Singraldi. The venue was designed with simplicity and intimacy in mind, featuring coral and gold interiors. It has since been refurbished into a grand, impressive Broadway venue which received landmark status in 1987.
The St. James Theatre has hosted shows from Shakespeare – including the first full-length
Hamlet in America (1938) - to enduring musicals such as Rodgers and Hammerstein’s
Oklahoma! (1943) and
The King and I (1951). In the 21st century, crowd-pleasing hits including
American Idiot (2010) and
Something Rotten! (2015) have confirmed the theater’s lasting popularity for tourists and locals alike.
Know Before You Go
• Coat and stroller check available in the lobby at a cost of $3 per item
• Step-free access from the street into accessible seating
• Merchandise can be purchased on the Orchestra and Mezzanine levels
• Bars are located on every level; covered drinks can be taken back to your seats
• Booster seats are available on request
