Lena Horne Theatre, New York
Seating Chart

The Lena Horne Theatre, originally the Mansfield Theatre, was built in 1926 by the Chanin Brothers. Between 1945 and 1960, it was leased to CBS as a television studio. When it returned to operating as a theater in 1960, it was renamed after the prolific New York Times drama critic, Brooks Atkinson. In 2022, it was renamed for actress and civil rights activist Lena Horne. It the first Broadway theater to be named after a Black woman and one of three named after a Black artist - alongside the August Wilson Theatre and James Earl Jones Theatre.

The Lena Horne Theatre was originally designed by Herbert J. Krapp using Spanish influences. From the outside, small but unique details frame the windows and twisting columns beneath. Inside, the auditorium feels bright thanks to gold and white paint and elaborate murals above the stage. The theater’s original chandelier was also restored to its former glory during renovations in 2000.

Since opening, the Lena Horne Theatre has seen stars including Glenn Close, Derek Jacobi and Richard Dreyfuss tread the boards. Notable productions over the years include Neil Simon’s Come Blow Your Horn (1961), the Tony Award-winning Noises Off (1983) and Sara Bareilles’ hit musical, Waitress (2016-present).

The Lena Horne Theatre has a capacity of 1,069 seats across three levels, with just over half in the Orchestra. The Orchestra seating chart is divided into Left, Right and Center sections with views best towards the front and middle. In every section, double-digit seats towards the sides are more restricted. The Front Mezzanine’s central seats are very popular because of the elevated yet close sightlines they offer, whilst the Rear Mezzanine is the cheapest area of seating in the theater, where patrons will be most distant from the stage. However, sightlines across all three levels are, by and large, unobstructed. This is especially true for the venue’s current show, SIX, which has a simple set to mimic an American Idol-style pop sing off.

Tips

• Children under four are not permitted into the theater
• Step-free access is available from the street to Orchestra seats
• Accessible seating is located in the Orchestra and Front Mezzanine
• There is no cloakroom; if bags are too big, they won’t be allowed into the theater
• All three floors are served by one bar in the Mezzanine, which gets very busy

Good value seats

The set for SIX is very simple and the show’s pop-concert atmosphere is the main focus. If you want to be close enough for eye contact without paying top prices, sit at the sides of the Orchestra, about halfway along a row. These are good value seats which feel closer to the stage than you might expect. Cheap tickets in the first few rows of the Rear Mezzanine also promise a great overview of the stage for less.

Premium seats

Rows B - D of the Center Orchestra are the best seats for SIX on Broadway. These are not too close to the stage, and are in a great spot for enjoying interactions from the ex-wives at this high-energy pop musical. The first few rows of the Center Front Mezzanine also offer some of the best views in the Lena Horne Theatre, and are perfect for seeing the Queens’ full choreography.