John Golden Theatre Information
The John Golden Theatre in NYC is known for offering a phenomenal viewing experience from every seat despite its modest capacity. The theater’s renowned architecture has made it a focal point in numerous films, including A Chorus Line and All About Eve. Since its opening day nearly a century ago, the John Golden Theatre has changed names and ownership multiple times, though today, the owner remains the Shubert Organization.
The John Golden Theatre primarily presents plays and musicals, including one-man shows like An Evening With Mike Nichols or vintage thrillers like Angel Street. Guests can enjoy numerous amenities, including an on-site bar, water fountains, accessible accommodations, and more.
The theater comfortably seats just over 800 across two tiers, including accessible seating options. You cannot purchase box seats because of the theater’s tight interior. For refreshments, you can take advantage of the water fountains on the lower floor or the in-house bar, as you are not allowed to bring your own food or drinks inside the venue.
Given its location in Midtown Manhattan, the John Golden Theatre does not provide its own parking, but it partners with SpotHero to help you reserve parking ahead of time for your convenience. You may purchase seats from seven different sections on two different tiers in the venue.
When you buy tickets for a John Golden Theatre event, the Shubert Organization website will direct you to the Telecharge platform, where you can select your preferred time and seating zone. You may also buy tickets from the John Golden Theatre box office, which is open daily. Ticket prices generally range from around $48 to over $350, depending on the seat you select and the date.
Venue History
The John Golden Theatre in NYC opened in 1927 as the Theatre Masque with the opening play Puppets of Passion. After only 12 performances, the play flopped, and the theater continued to host mostly poor-performing plays for the next two years. In 1929, the theater finally hosted its first major hit, Rope’s End.
In 1930, the Shubert brothers purchased exclusive rights to operate the Theatre Masque. Over the next decade, the theater continued to perform poorly as the Great Depression took its toll on the entertainment industry. In 1937, the theater officially became the John Golden Theatre after John Golden leased the Masque, renovated the interior, and changed the name.
The next big hit for the John Golden Theatre was in 1938 when it hosted Shadow and Substance, stretching for over 200 performances. Subsequently, the Golden Theatre continued to put on numerous hits, including multiple thousand-run plays, like Angel Street, which ran for over 1,300 performances over a span of three years.
In 1945, the Shubert Brothers bought the John Golden Theatre and the other performance venues in the group, retaining ownership over all the theaters. In the 1980s, the Shuberts began renovating the theater to restore it along with other Broadway sites.
By 1982, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) considered protecting the John Golden Theatre as an official city landmark. The Shuberts and other parties sued to overturn the designation, bringing the case to the Supreme Court, but the decision was ultimately upheld, officially naming the Golden Theatre a city landmark. Today, the Shuberts still own the Golden Theatre, which continues to stage successful plays.
More John Golden Theatre NYC information:
Ticket Policies:
Policies and authenticity guarantee regarding tickets from our recommended ticket marketplace.
Seating Chart:
View the standard John Golden Theatre NYC seating map and read about different seating options.
Parking Information:
Information about the John Golden Theatre parking options.