Palace Theatre

Best Seats In The House

• Seats: 1648

Parking for Palace Theatre

The closest parking garages for Palace Theatre are located at:

Q P Theater Lots LLC

223 West 46th Street
New York, NY 10036

212-997-1636

Icon Parking Systems

164 West 46th Street
New York, NY 10036

212-997-9115

The closest parking is not always the best as it often takes longer to park and retrieve your vehicle as fellow theatre goers have the same idea. A better choice of parking may be the second choice or further away by a couple of Avenues.

Additional Notes

The Palace Theatre opened as a vaudeville house in 1913 and quickly became one of the top Broadway Theatres.

The theatre has undergone minor renovations in 1965 and 1980 and then a major renovation in 2018. In the 2018 construction the theatre was lifted 30 feet into the air and incorporated it into a new structure TSX Broadway, which is a multi-use building in Times Square that includes retail, dining and live entertainment.

Theatre Originally Conceived by Martin Beck

The theatre was conceived by theatre impresario Martin Beck, but he lost control of 75% of the Palace by the time it opened in 1913, Beck did manage to keep control of the booking of what acts would appear there.

Theatre Languished Between 1940 and 1965

During the vaudeville era, the Palace Theatre had such stars as Harry Houdini, W.C. Fields, and the Marx Brothers grace its stage, but from the 1930s onwards it struggled for survival. From 1040 until 1965 the Palace was turned into a movie house. In April 1965 the Nederlander Organization bought the theatre and restored the theatre to former glory and Broadway legitimacy.

Palace Theatre Past Performance Problems

In the past, the Palace Theatre has struggled to keep Broadway shows afloat for longer than a year because of its very central Times Square location. The theatre however is perfectly located for tourists, as it is just across the street from the TDF TKTS ticket stand - but decidedly inconvenient for NYC locals who avoid Times Square at all costs.

Times Square Location Has Not Proven To Be Asset in The Past

The geographic advantage of being located in Times Square can also be its biggest drawback. Getting NYC locals out to see a show at this theatre is often hard because both The Palace and The Marquis Theatre can be a nightmare to get through the throngs of tourist traffic that are turning Times Square into an impassable thoroughfare that no self respecting New Yorker wants to attempt to navigate.

The Palace Theatre is one of the few Broadway theaters actually located on Broadway itself and its the only one in Times Square, albeit its entrance is now on 47th Street.

Palace Theatre Show History

The first big hit at the Palace Theatre after its 1966 restoration was Sweet Charity, starring Gwen Verdon and directed by Bob Fosse.

Other shows that followed at The Palace included:

• Woman of the Year, starring Lauren Bacall, went on to win four Tony Awards
• La Cage aux Folles and the Will Rogers Follies
• The spectacular Disney musical Beauty and the Beast opened there in 1994, but transferred to the Lunt-Fontanne five years later, in November 1999
• Other successful musical productions at the Palace Theatre includes Elton John's Aida, All Shook Up, Lestat, Legally Blonde, West Side Story and Priscilla Queen of the Desert

Host of Special Showcases

The Palace Theatre has hosted many special showcases of some of the greatest entertainers of yesterday and of the late 20th century, including Sarah Bernhardt, Bob Hope, Danny Kaye, Judy Garland, Bette Midler, Josephine Baker, and Liza Minnelli.

Landlord: Nederlander Organization

Official Ticketer: Ticketmaster

Elevator: Yes

Escalator: No

Disabled Access Notes:

The theatre is fully accessible and provides an elevator to the left of the stage. Call in advance in order to ensure that accessible seating is provided.

Palace Theatre History

The Palace Theatre Renovation 2018 - 2024

In 2016 the Palace Theatre was earmarked to be moved into a new building, where the old Palace theatre would be lifted up untouched 30 feet into the new development and its entrance was to be moved on 47th Street.

The New York City Council signed off on a massive redevelopment of the site in early 2018 and the site of the former Palace Theatre and the Doubletree hotel looked very different when the construction was completed in 2024. The hotel was demolished and the theatre was moved.

Soon after the final show closed at the Palace Theatre in September 16, 2018, demolition of the existing structure began and for the next six years the entire theatre was lifted 30 feet higher and incorporated into the new TSX Broadway building on Broadway.

Renovations Experience Multiple Delays

The reconstruction was originally estimated to keep the Palace closed from 2018 until 2021, but was saddled with huge delays caused by the pandemic and construction problems. The theatre remained closed through to 2024.

The entire theatre was finally raised up and the lifting process took eight weeks. During the lift, the bottom of the theater enclosure was cushioned by a 5-foot-thick layer of concrete, and 34 hydraulic posts. The original columns that supported the auditorium were also replaced.

New Theatre Entrance Now on 47th Street

Part of the renovation include a new theatre entrance on 47th Street, some amenities, and updates to the venue’s technology. The landmarked elements of the building were restored to their original glory, highlighting the beautiful stonework and the rich plaster details that harken back to its Vaudeville days. The chairs were changed from red to a deep blue velvet.

Times Square Outdoor Stage and Overlook

In addition to the Palace Theatre, a 4,000-square-foot performance venue was also built that is suspended 30 feet above the street on Times Square, which makes a permanent outdoor stage in Times Square. This new 46-story complex is now known as TSX Broadway.

Palace Theatre Finds Itself in a New Home Without Moving Too Much

Although the theatre will only be raised about 30 feet, it is now be located on the 5th floor of the new building. The TSX Broadway development has over 75,000 square feet of retail space over 10 floors, with most of that directly above the theatre.

The main tower now houses a 669-room hotel. The project cost $2.4 Billion and was finished in 2024.

Post Construction Operation

Post-construction The Nederlander Organization continues to operate the Palace theater separately from the rest of the TSX Broadway project.

Palace Theatre Design

The Palace Theatre, which was originally attached to a 12-story office building, that was designed by architects Kirchoff and Rose.

The façade is an example of Beaux Arts style. The original auditorium was decorated with lavish ornamental plasterwork, and the outer lobby was decorated with marble and bronze fittings.

1965 Renovation Of The Theatre

A major renovation in 1965 was done by the famed scene designer Ralph Alswang. The Palace Theatre was restored again in the 1980s when its old office building was replaced by the skyscraper Embassy Suites Hotel. A new entrance and Broadway marquee were designed by architects Fox & Fowle.

2018 Renovation Of The Theatre

The 2018 reconstruction attempted to change as few theatre design details as possible, while moving the theatre 30 feet higher and changing the entrance to be on 48th Street instead of being on Broadway.