Booth Theatre New York

Although John Wilkes Booth is notorious in US history, it is his brother whose name is lit up on Broadway. Built by theater mogul Lee Shubert and producer Winthrop Ames, the Booth Theatre at 222 West 45th Street was the second New York venue to be named after actor Edwin Booth, who died in 1893. Ames’ vision to preserve the prolific 19th century star’s legacy has seen the theater build an impressive program of challenging, provocative and award-winning shows.

Designed by Henry Herts, the Booth Theatre was built as part of a pair of theaters, with the larger Shubert Theatre completing the set. Sitting next to famous Broadway thoroughfare Shubert Alley, the Booth is less extravagant than its sister venue, with a European-inspired design and simple, elegant interior. Its smaller size made it the perfect venue for plays rather than musicals, and over the years a plethora of successes have appeared in its programming.

An early success at the Booth Theatre was the Pulitzer Prize-winning You Can’t Take It with You (1936), which was followed in the latter half of the century by For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow Is Enuf (1976) and Sunday in the Park with George (1984). More recent critical and commercial wins include a revival of The Elephant Man (2014) starring Bradley Cooper, which transferred to London’s West End; American Son with Kerry Washington (2018); and hit new musical Kimberly Akimbo.

Know Before You Go

• Children under four are not permitted into the theater
• Coat check doesn’t accept strollers or furs