Imperial Theatre New York

Imperial Theatre Tickets

Water for Elephants on Broadway

Smash on Broadway

What’s On at Imperial Theatre

The Imperial Theatre has hosted some of the biggest musicals of the last 50 years, and with its current show, the captivating Water for Elephants musical, it remains a top destination for fans of the genre. Based on the best-selling novel by Sara Gruen, it follows a young man who, after losing what matters most to him, jumps onto a moving train without knowing where it's headed. In his search for meaning, he finds a new home and love within the crew of a traveling circus. The story is told from the perspective of his older self, serving as a reminder that life can begin at any age, and delivering an authentic and inspiring message for a wide audience.

About the Imperial Theatre

The Imperial Theatre was always intended to be a home for hit musicals, and it’s an aspiration the venue has lived up to countless times since becoming the 50th addition to the Shubert family’s theater empire.

Built as a replacement for the older, outdated Lyric Theatre, the Imperial Theatre’s design followed a familiar theme. Architect Herbert J. Krapp was once again hired to create a building with Adamesque influences, including floral motifs and ornamental panels. The main entrance on 45th Street is very narrow because it was squeezed in between the old Klaw Theatre and Music Box Theatre.

The Imperial Theatre played host to one of the biggest hits of the 1920s, Rose-Marie (1924) and since then has gone from strength to strength. Notable productions include Annie Get Your Gun (1946), Fiddler on the Roof (1964) and Dreamgirls (1981). Since the turn of the century, audiences have sold out the house to see Hugh Jackman perform in The Boy from Oz (2003), the Tony Award-winning Billy Elliott (2008) and a revival of Les Misérables (2014).

Know Before You Go
• Children under four are not permitted into the theater
• Bag check may be in operation; leave plenty of time to reach your seat
• Restrooms are on one level and serve all patrons; queues will be long

Map and Address

249 West 45th Street, New York, NY 10036

The Imperial Theatre is located at 249 West 45th Street, on a strip populated by Broadway theaters. With Times Square just around the corner and Central Park less than half an hour away on the subway, there’s more than enough to pack in before enjoying a night out at the theater. There are also many restaurants, bars and hotels in the immediate vicinity. Transport links to the Imperial Theatre are therefore plentiful, with buses, subway stations and parking garages all conveniently nearby.

Past Shows