St. James Theatre

This is a review mainly for Sunset Boulevard although the theater itself was fantastic too. I especially appreciate the bathrooms as there were many stalls and no line. Something to note for Sunset Boulevard is that once you leave the theater, there is not entry until curtain call or intermission. At first I thought this was a bit of a strange rule, but watching the show I soon learned why. Sunset Boulevard was one of the most innovative shows I have ever seen. I know this is a reprisal but the ways they portrayed the story was one of the coolest things I have ever seen. - I was there when Mandy Gonzalez who is technically the understudy was playing and even she was absolutely amazing. The way that she could hold the audience in the palm of her hands was incredible and she 100% deserves the career that she has today. I really can't believe that she was the understudy as she could've totally originated the role. - The choreography of this performance was so methodical and beautiful. I loved all the shapes, timing, and formations of each of the pieces. - I loved that the whole thing was in a monochromatic tone as really only black-and-white were the only colors visible. I've never seen a musical with such strong color scheming and it felt like I was watching a film. - The camera work is absolutely amazing as they were shooting the actors and directly projecting it on the screen. I loved that they also went backstage and allowed us to get a glimpse of their daily life. - I think my new all-time favorite musical scene is in Sunset Boulevard as there was a scene where the main male character walked through 44th street while his singing and photography was being projected onstage. It was so creative and innovative, there really is nothing is describe being an audience and watching this. - This was one of the best scores I've ever heard as the music was absolutely stunning with the long strings in play. Overall I cannot recommend watching Sunset Boulevard more!

Great show (Sunset Blvd)! But it's so unfortunate that the seats at St James Theater have no legroom... I've seen commercial airplane seats with more pitch than the seats at St James.

he St. James Theatre is an absolute gem in the heart of Broadway! From the moment you step inside, you're transported into a world of grandeur and magic. Here's why I loved my experience: Ambiance & Design: The architecture is stunning--classic and elegant, with just the right touch of old-school Broadway charm. The intricate details on the ceilings and walls are a testament to its historic significance. It's intimate enough to make you feel close to the stage, yet grand enough to remind you that you're part of something special. Seating: The seats are comfortable and provide excellent views from almost anywhere in the house. I was in the mezzanine, and the sightlines were fantastic. Pro tip: Try to arrive early to avoid any pre-show rush and get settled in. Performance: The show I attended was phenomenal (Broadway magic at its finest!). The acoustics were crisp, and the sound design brought every note and line to life. It's clear that the St. James is designed with both the performers and audience in mind. Staff & Service: The staff was friendly, helpful, and efficient. From guiding us to our seats to managing the intermission, everything felt smooth and well-organized. Facilities: The bathrooms were clean, and there were plenty of options for refreshments at the concessions stand. Drinks were a bit pricey, but that's typical for Broadway. Location: Perfectly situated in the Theater District, with tons of restaurants nearby for a pre- or post-show meal. It's easily accessible via public transportation, which makes it super convenient. Final Thoughts: The St. James Theatre is a must-visit for any Broadway enthusiast. Whether you're seeing a timeless classic or a contemporary hit, the venue enhances the experience tenfold. I can't wait to return for another magical night! Would highly recommend!

St. James is still a good theater to see a show. As I said in my last review I really recommend you get aisle seats if possible. I've never had an obstructed view in this historic theatre. I did learn one important thing at this visit. My party was seated in the last row up top. We could see the stage fine. The woman in front of us complained to the usher that the woman in front of her had a hairdo blocking her view. She wanted the usher to ask the woman to take her hair down! The usher said he was sorry he couldn't do that but he could give her a cushion to raise her up. In turn he told us we may need to sit on cushions also. We all received a cushion and we were happy. In fact the cushion made the seat more comfortable. So if you have a problem just tell an usher.

I wish there was a separate page for reviewing the production of Sunset Blvd. Since it is now, I tried to add it, but I keep getting errors and Yelp has no way to contact for help. Annoying. I digress. 3.5 stars for the theater. 5 stars for the production of Sunset Blvd. Andrew Lloyd Webber's reimagined Sunset Blvd. is a must see for seasoned theater goers!! Nicole Scherzinger was nothing short of amazing. Wow. Hands down, she seemed like a veteran on Broadway with an amazing voice and stage presence. Do NOT see this with anyone else as the lead if you can help it!! In addition, Max Von Mayerling was a standout for me (playing David), as was Betty Schaefer (playing Grace). Excellent casting. The storyline was interesting. Acurate synopsis by the production: "Haunted by her memories and dreams, movie star Norma Desmond yearns to return to the big screen. A struggling screenwriter who can't sell his scripts to the Hollywood studios may be her only hope, until their dangerous and captivating relationship leads to disaster. Drenched in champagne and cynicism, SUNSET BLVD. focuses the lens on the ambitions and frustrations of its characters and puts their intoxicating need for fame and adoration in stark close-up." I think this storyline will especially appeal to women and gay men who understand (moreso than straight men) how aging and becoming "irrelevant" CAN affect your sense of self-worth if you don't take proactive measures to develop other interests beyond looks, popularity, fame, etc. Ironically, my perspective as a woman who is Nicole's exact same age is that it was bravely vulnerable and endearing how she is embracing getting older in life. She was not afraid to show this in the many VERY upclose shots on her real skin that was far from perfect. I say "Bravo" to that and it makes her even more beautiful to me for being so brave as a real-life starlete who is starting to show her own age. It was funny to me how that tied into the message in the show. I don't really want to ruin the experience so I'm not going to say much about what makes this experience unique. And, I am not going to ruin the surprise, but there is a part of the show that is EXTREMELY unique which starts the second act, so don't miss it by being in the bathroom because they will NOT seat you if you are late back to your seat. I doubt if it's ever been done before in a musical. In addition, we liked the way they used the additional on-stage cameras with a back screen... it is all very groundbreaking. The lighting is phenomenal. Everything about it was very unique. So much kudos to go around with this production! Even my husband, who is less of a "musical lover," said he really liked it. He liked Moulin Rouge #1 and this #2 out of our seven shows this trip. I liked this #2 and Cabaret as my #1. But it was a close second for both of us. We must not have been the only ones who thoroughly enjoyed it, because I've never seen so many ovations THROUGHOUT the ENTIRE show. And a well-deserved standing ovation at the end. We saw the 8PM show on Monday 12/23/24. Paid $442.84 total for the 2 hrs and 35 minutes show. Our seats were Orchestra Rear Left, Row L, Seats 1& 3 (see my pics for perspective). For the theater, know that the seats are VERY close to the next row in front of you, so my husband (who is 6'2") was VERY thankful to have an aisle seat.

SUNSET BOULEVARD 2024 Fun show, great production. The filmography was fantastic throughout. The second act first scene was filmed outside even in the rain! They now refuse to let people back into show if they leave for the restroom +

It was a bit chaotic getting into this theater to watch Sunset Blvd. We had seats at the balcony and didn't realize how long it took to get up there (lots of stairs since there's no elevators/escalators). We wanted to make sure we got to our seats on time given there's a no late seating policy. The theater is pretty but it was so hot during the entire show. Also, Birdman was filmed at this theater so it was cool to recall a few scenes.

This theater is great. The seats aren't as tightly packed as some other Broadway theaters. They have one of the most elegant lobby concession stands. The bathrooms have plenty of stalls but during intermission it's a bit of chaos getting to the lower level restrooms. The staircase is narrow and there are two rows going down and one going up.

Saw Illinoise from seats on mezzanine right. Mezzanine is a convenient location, so you can gaze at everything that is happening on the stage with comfort. No intermission. Short dancing show. The story line is so depressing. We left subdued and sad. Be aware of the plot when you're going to see this show. Not my most favorite Broadway performance. The performance consists of predominantly dancing. No dialogue. The music is touching, and the voices of singing cast are beautiful. However, they were not enunciating at all. I have no hearing issues and nether does my friend. We both could not understand anything that the performers were singing, which was very disappointing.

This is a terrible theater all around..first, there was a very long line for will call. I get most of my tickets via TDK, so walk up to will call frequently..never have I waited on a queue that goes down the street & then you need to cut in up top or else renter another way. The lighting is dim, the décor is old and dated..the carpet is really worn & ugly. While I found the seats to be ample sized, there is little to no pitch in the Orchestra seating after row 5 or so, and without a slope, with the way the seats are positioned, most of us were simply staring at the back of another head. Even with the red velvet cushion that I used. Bathrooms..ugly, but I will say there were more in the downstairs women's room that I have ever seen. But in that old, band aid tile color.. Come on Jujamcyn..you make enough money to put a little pizazz into this ity bity theater

I really enjoy this theater. I recently won the lottery for Illinoise which was first row tickets - amazing deal! Now it isn't your typical Broadway show as it's interpretive dancing which is amazing while three people sing all the songs from sufjans album Chicago. The vocals were fantastic. It was a short show with no intermission.

Came here to see a show called illinoise. The ushers and other workers here were very nice. Theater is pretty. Getting merch and refreshments/ snacks were easy breezy as there were no lines.

I had a great experience at this theater seeing Spamalot last night! The theater was clean, has lots of bathrooms, and the bar has some fun themed signature cocktails for the show. The show itself was so fun! It was funny and silly and full of incredible talent. I loved the costumes as well! Just Broadway at it's finest! I would definitely suggest trying the rush ticket options! If you get to the box office when it opens, they have a limited number of $39 rush tickets. We were front row center! Incredible seats!

Saw "Sunset Blvd." here recently. My date broke her foot about a week before the night we had tickets for and was on crutches. The box office advised us to speak to the house manager regarding her mobility issues. The house manager and the ushers were so accommodating, we had such a wonderful experience. Thank you to them!!!

Old school Broadway theater. Classic decor! Tight fitting seats - although maybe I'm not as small as I used to be. We also had winter coats with us. There were plenty of restrooms and for the first time ever - the line for the men's room was longer than the ladies! Great show tonight!

So yesterday I went to see New York, New York, and it was absolutely wonderful!! I wish it would stay on Broadway longer so I could see it again, but unfortunately, yesterday was its final performance . Many photos to post of this wonderful play

I came here the other night to see New York, New York. Show and staff were great. They did a wonderful job getting everyone into the theatre quickly. Pros: + Well Coordinated staff + Plenty of restrooms - you can actually use them during the intermission + Plenty of fun photo ops + Really comfortable seats with plenty of leg room IG: QueenOfAdventureNYC

First time at this theater, to see Spamalot, that has returned to Broadway! A colorful, funny, outrageous musical comedy!

We saw NEW YORK NEW YORK while sitting in row D, center orchestra. It was amazing to see the actors so close - make up, costumes, facial expressions. But we could not see the entire set, front to back, and that set was impressive. At the end, for the finalé, when the orchestra rises up and becomes part of the show, it was overwhelming. We were so close!! Next time, we'll opt for further back to see everything. It WAS an incredible show! The theatre itself is beautiful. The seats are cozy, and close, like most of NYC's older theatres. The bathrooms were downstairs, clean and no waiting. The merchandise area was off to the side, easy to get into and out of.

Nice theater with all you need for a fun experience for broadway shows w stations for food and drinks and tshirts and collectibles. Bathrooms below in basement. In the heart of Times Square w many others theaters and eateries. The seats were a bit small for bigger people. The stage door seemed to be right on the Main Street (44th street and between 7th and 8th avenues). We saw Spamalot and it was great here! Go see it.

Came here to watch New York, New York, and it was a good show. It was a little boring the first half but got better during the second part of the show. But it will definitely have you thinking and singing along to Frank Sinatra's song, "If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere!" It's all about New York and the immigrant story. They didn't glamorize New York, but it showed that it's all about perseverance. There were some other moments that I dont want to share as it will spoil the plot and etc... Regarding the theater itself. There are some bad seats, especially from a certain angle, and if there's an extremely tall person in front of you. It is stadium seating in the mezzanine. I would think that in the orchestra it's the same. The bathrooms could be updated a bit, but otherwise, it's the same as any of the other ones in theater row. It has its charm to it and I hope that it doesn't change.

Great venue, nice people We arrived in NYC , hoping to catch rush tickets to see Spamalot on one of our open dates. After dropping off our luggage, we headed straight to St. James theatre to see about tickets for the evening performance. The box office had opened at 10AM, and it was probably around noon when we got there. The person at the box office was very helpful and showed us several options for available seats, and took time to thoroughly explain the limitations each selection may have, obstructions, visibility, etc. We chose some closer to the stage, on audience left on the aisles. I love aisle seats in a theatre, even if it means I might miss a wee bit of the action. Anyway, the seats were comfortable, the lobby and restrooms were great, probably the most spacious lobby I encountered while I was in NYC. The show was also terrific and I would love to see more shows at this lovely venue.

Adorable! Easy access to drinking fountains/concessions/bathrooms prevented the dreaded intermission logjam & the theater itself was gorgeous! Great staff & excellent experience. Would love to see any play here again!

I know other reviews says otherwise but I actually really liked this theater. Was just here last night for New York New York (loved the show!!) and really enjoyed how comfortable our orchestra seats were. Actually generous leg space. I normally dread going to the ladies room at theaters like this but 15 mins before the show started, I went and much to my relief, was surprised how clean and SPACIOUS, with more than 10 cubicles at both ends so it was pretty nice. Heck even nicer than some airport bathrooms so they must be doing something right . ;)

Decent theater on broadway play row (44th Street) ENTRANCE - well organized for bag inspections and masks. FYI most folks removed masks when inside SEATING - hosts helpful getting to your seats. The seats are very comfortable but not a lot of leg room Overall a nice theater

Frozen was absolutely amazing here. I haven't had this much fun in a while. I brought my wife who had been dying to see it and the show exceeded our expectations.

Very nice smaller venue with decent seating, clean bathrooms, smaller roundish stage with decent acoustics. Some of the actors were soft spoken and the sound system didn't pick up the voices as clearly as I would have liked. The staff was efficient.

Here to see Spamalot. It seems all the mezzanine seats are very good. So far, cool and good circulation.

Beautiful theater. Beautiful show. Beautiful actors. Beautiful acting. Beautiful message. My friend and I had Mezzanine Front Right Row F Seats 6 & 8. They were great seats and a good value for NYC Broadway Week. Buy 2 for the price of 1! Grab yours until 9/25/22. This show ends its run in January 2023. And across the street is Phantom of the Opera, the longest running show on Broadway. They just announced their end so go see that one too. Seize the opportunity to experience these shows at these great prices soon! Note, the seating is tight, especially leg room wise. I am 5'5" ish, and it was tight for me too. The bathroom situation is quite the pain. Beyond the norm long lines for the Women's Room. Your best bet is to go directly to the lower level. It's a larger facility.

We just saw Spamalot here last week. The show was great. The theater was okay. For one, the seats are not huge. They are comfortable, but if you are a larger person you may struggle to fit in these seats. The bathrooms were downstairs, which may be tough for some guests. The lines were pretty long during intermission but I was able to go and get back since I went right when intermission started. They have snacks and drinks for purchase. The sound and lighting was good.

Very nice theatre! Great view from the mezzanine. Was not a fan of the musical New York, New York. But the sets were very cool!

How great it is to be back! All safety measures were taken; the audience was great, no issues about having to wear the mask. It felt great to finally get back to some sense of normal. We had good seats and were able to get a great view of the show. David Byrne and his band was phenomenal. The show was essentially him playing music and performing, rather simple but yet so perfect. He sounds great and the band was just awesome. I truly enjoyed the show and also enjoyed his sense of humor and his sense of compassion for the human condition especially after all this post COVID nonsense. My girlfriend loved the show as well.

Seems like a lot of different Broadway shows come and go at this theatre. I came to see Into The Woods on this particular visit. The pit is smack in the middle of the stage. Seats felt a bit crowded and claustrophobic. The play itself was spectacular. As I last minute researched on what the play was about, it was cool to see how they make various fairy tales that we know interact with one another, while keeping the core premise of each individual plots. If they every come back to Broadway, highly recommend grabbing tickets to see this particular show.

I've been here a few times, it's just as good as any of the other theater's. It's got a great flow, the lobby is tight and the exits move in one direction at the end of a performance. The staff here is on top of the situation, everything in the place is always clean, it's actually amazing to me that it can be so sparkling clean. And that's why I didn't feel at all uncomfortable going back into a theater with a crowd of people. Masks required along with proof of vaccination to get in. After we got to our seats, I looked around and it looked so fresh and clean it put my mind at ease. I also love overpriced drinks, they definitely have those here!

Another beautiful theatre. Clearly, the show dictates the theatre you attend,but it's nice to see that the theatre is being well maintained.

Came here for Into the Woods. This review is for the theater and not the play. Theater is nice and bathroom is very clean!

We went to watch New York, New York and had an amazing time. The staff were so courteous and kind in showing us to our seats. The theater had a great atmosphere and great views. It was a beautiful evening.

A beautiful and venerable old theater! I like the fact that there are restroom facilities on both the orchestra and mezzanine levels - that cuts down a bit on the congestion. Seats are comfortable enough but like all theaters of this vintage, legroom can be on the tight side. However, if the show's compelling enough (as American Utopia was!), you won't notice it much and anyway, by the show's end, you'll be on your feet rocking to Burning Down the House! Hat's off to the very helpful usher staff - and kudos to the usher who enforced mask wearing and no-recording to the bum sitting next to us (honestly. recording the show with your cell phone? Really? Some people ...)

Lovely theatre, loved the setup for "Into the Woods", where the orchestra plays from the stage (rather than hidden in the pit) alongside the actors. Seats are tight but comfortable.

Went here to see David Byrne's American Utopia! Loved the show. Our tickets were pretty far up but we could still enjoy the music and dance by our seats! I was so happy to be back at live theatre and support it as well! Make sure you leave enough time to get your Covid vac card and license checked. They do move everyone along quickly! I was so glad to see this going smoothly. The theatre is one that has over 1700 seats with three levels. The employees were all very friendly and very helpful!! Just try to come to the theatre with not a lot of bags since there isn't a lot of leg room!! And you must wear your mask during the show-that's ok with me!

I was exited to see American Utopia on Broadway. The show was amazing and the atmosphere electric. This was the most energetic show I seen. The theatre was a great place to watch a show. I look forward to seeing more shows here in the future.

The St. James Theatre, originally Erlanger's Theatre, opened in 1927. It was designed by Warren and Wetmore in a neo-Georgian style and was constructed for A. L. Erlanger. It has a 1,709 seat capacity. Both the facade and the auditorium interior are New York City landmarks.

Lovely theatre with so many beautiful historic details. Sat in the mezzanine which is a windy, beautiful climb. Old theatre so not all seats make it easy to see the stage.

Watched Into the woods. Fairytale mashup that's a crowd pleaser. Very cleverly weaved together and exciting the whole way through. I would say the most important thing is to sit centered so you can see all the way back into the stage. Mezzanine and orchestra obviously most ideal but this set is mostly a single story.

St. James is a wonderful vintage theater. As theatres from this era go it's in excellent condition and kept in great shape but of course, seats are a bit on the smaller side (by today's standards). Having restrooms and a bar on both levels is great as well. Follow in and out is easy and the staff do a great job. We went to see David Byrn's American Utopia, and had outstanding seats (A6, 7 in the mezzanine). It's a small theater and this put us right on top on the stage - couldn't have asked for better! American Utopia was outstanding - and the James' sound system totally up to the task. If you have a chance to see this show do it! Amazing, moving, socially, rhythmically, and musically! You'll love it.

Flashback to Summer 2019: What is a must do while in New York City? A Broadway show of course! Ironically, it was also the same day as the Tony Awards and Puerto Rican Day Parade. So there were a lot of road closures, NYPD officers and barricades everywhere in Midtown Manhattan. Which was close to the hotel that my family and I were staying at the time. My family chose to go take the subway to Queens and Lower Manhattan for the day. I chose to stay in the city for the day since I got my Broadway tickets from the Broadway service at the hotel. The NYPD officers were nice and helpful with the tourists asking for directions and others posing for pictures, while I was walking around Rockefeller Center. It was an absolutely great Broadway show for Frozen! It was my first Disney Broadway show with most of the original Broadway cast. The ushers were nice. I got my ticket right away at the box office. They had a bag check as you walk into the theater. The seats are very small and cramped, this is coming from someone who is around 5 feet in height. It was hard getting in and out with my bag from the Disney store. I missed "In Summer" when I had to go to the restroom from all the ice cream and ramen I ate before the show. The ushers were helpful in finding our seats, some people came late but they showed them to their seats anyways. As all Broadway theaters are it gets cold, so bring a jacket or sweater. The bathrooms were very clean, a lot of stalls even though I missed a song it was easier to go with no line because it can get long and crowded at intermission. It was a beautiful bathroom; new, well stocked of toliet paper, seat protectors, paper towels and soap. The funny thing is the bartender didn't think I was of legal age to drink (which I am), so he only offered me water, lemonade and soda. I got a lemonade drink from the bartender. You're paying Broadway prices, so it was like 7 dollars for the special cup for the lemonade. I got a few souvenirs from the show too, the girl was awesome, kind and from Hawaii too. The souvenirs cost as much as those at Disney parks. But they have deals if you buy something, it was a discounted jacket. My favorite Broadway shows in order are Wicked, Phantom of the Opera, Frozen and RENT. Three of which I've seen on Broadway in NYC: Wicked, Frozen and RENT. Phantom of the Opera was a Broadway tour in Honolulu. So depending on what you enjoy in Broadway before Frozen closed it might've been the show for you. The Lion King and Aladdin are the only two Disney Broadway shows left at the moment. My choir tour group in high school made me choose between Phantom of the Opera or Wicked. It was a near impossible choice since both are amazing shows but Wicked had better review at that time. The other was Drowsy Chaperone or RENT, that was easy; RENT of course! I would've wanted to see Phantom and Wicked if I could. We got really close orchestra seats like in the 5th row for RENT and got mezzanine near the front balcony area for Wicked. I love watching and enjoying musical theater especially Broadway, Broadway tours and West End in London. My family and I were only there for a few days, so with the late night arrival from Canada. We only had about two full days in the city before leaving onto the next state. I would've seen more Broadway shows but the first one and half days were fun exploring the city days with my family. It was really fun to visit lower Manhattan, One World Trade Center and eating everything. The Broadway cast was absolutely talented, funny and great musicals numbers! It was fun even though the seats were cramped and felt packed like sardines. I would totally come back for future musicals! Thank you to all the talented cast and everybody for the wonderful Broadway experience! Thank you for the fun time and for my first Disney on Broadway show!

I came here to see frozen the theater it's small and The seats are sooo tiny. It was really hard to go through people if you're in the center so that was annoying. But I'm rating this based on the show. FROZEN was amazing all the cast really performed so well. You fall in love with all the characters they did such an amazing job. The singing and the story line was wonderful. I was also impressed with the graphics and design. I won't spoil it but it was pretty cool everything that pops up or falls from the stage. I would recommend this broadway show for any age. I can't wait to bring my nephew and niece

The way this theater is built not very gallery like at least in the bottom section. Like, if you get a tall person in front of you, your view is obstructed. It was so, for me and my sister and then three tall people in front of us left and we were secretly relieved. Then immediately, the theater staff brings two women and makes them sit there. Now these two women had their hair high up in very messy buns which is obstructing more view than the previous tall people, and not only that, they also sat with their heads glued together the entire show, whispering in a European language. Now the theater seats are such, if you are on row B in the back, and row A is in the front your B row seat is right in the middle two row A seats in the front, that means you are looking over the shoulders of two front row people. Now these people with their heads together, in-spite of being requested not to, meant that we didn't really get to see the show properly. People are going to people, the theater looks pretty but I am not happy with the seating. I'm definitely going to avoid this next time

It's a nice theater, feels very old and well taken care of. The only complaint we had is the legroom.