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Imperial Theatre

3.6 (182 reviews)
Closed Closed
Updated over 3 months ago

Imperial Theatre Photos

Recommended Reviews - Imperial Theatre

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Alisa J.

Theater is similar to other broadway theaters. Would say I'm ranking this one lower because I didn't like the show that much unfortunately. Very talented cast and Lea Michelle stole the show but I personally didnt love the story line and it was so long. Unfortunately I wasn't as comfortable in these seats as other theaters. Personally I like more non traditional musicals like Hell's Kitchen and maybe happy ending more. If you like musicals you will probably like this one.

Entrance
Jenny S.

First visit to the Imperial. I loved the experience of seeing the revival of CHESS on Broadway, which was on my best friend's bucket list. I am so happy I was able to experience the show with her. The production was excellent. The theater, however, felt confusing and cramped. Lines for the bar, restrooms, and merch were hard to distinguish, and the space felt crowded. The seats were narrow with limited legroom, which is fairly typical for Broadway, and our front mezzanine seats had a great view. I would return for another great show, if given the opportunity.

Lines outside
Eloy Y.

Broadway is renowned for its storytelling mastery. From classic tales that have stood the test of time to contemporary stories that reflect today's society, Broadway has it all. This diversity in storytelling not only entertains but also educates and inspires. Shows cover a broad range of themes, allowing audiences to explore different cultures, histories, and perspectives within a few city blocks. Built for the Shubert brothers and opened in 1923, the Imperial Theatre is located on 45th Street in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan. It has hosted various successful theatrical performances ranging from Dreamgirls to Fiddler On The Roof and Les Misérables, which I saw on my first visit. This afternoon my partner and I had the pleasure of seeing the iconic Chess the Musical with a legendary score by ABBA's Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, where power and passion collide, and the stakes couldn't be higher. Upon arrival, we were greeted by the staff. The interior was gorgeous, a sight to behold, with recessed ceilings and ornamental panels that graced the walls, which were elaborately decorated with a number of motifs, including florals and geometrics. As it is an older and smaller theatre, the seats were good with little legroom. One can see from pretty much anywhere, as we were in the orchestra section. The story unfolds with the help of an engaging and humorous narrator. The performances of Aaron Tveit, Lea Michele, and Nicholas Christopher were absolutely amazing. The entire cast each excelled in all areas that are included in a musical: acting, dancing, and singing!!! It's a very fresh and captivating revival of a truly great musical with the iconic score that is going to be delivered fabulously.

CHESS!
Diana J.

I love the Imperial simply because it is where my beloved CHESS is finally being revived on Broadway. Who would have thought that would ever happen? Not I. But I am so glad it did, and that I got to see it. I hope you will too. It is great. As far as the theatre itself, however... I found the Imperial itself to be a rather confusing and frustrating experience. There were sections corralled off, but it wasn't easy to tell which line was meant for the bar and which one was for the restroom, or the restroom vs. the merch booth. It felt clustered and claustrophobic in a way I haven't felt in any other theatre. The staff did their best to direct traffic, but the manner in which it was done made me feel like I would be doing something wrong if I didn't immediately head for my seat and stay there. During the intermission, the line for the ladies room on the mezzanine level snaked all the way down the stairs and back up again. Staff were shouting at people that they should know how to line up, "you did this in middle school!". I decided I didn't need to go that bad after all. The seats are old school theatre seats, fairly narrow and not a lot of legroom, but I expect that is pretty much any theatre on Broadway. No complaints there. Our seats in the front row of the mezzanine were great, nothing to obstruct the view. I will certainly return to the Imperial if I get another chance to see Chess or another wonderful show. I'll just better know what to expect next time.

Eli M.

Oh boy, okay this isn't related to the play chess but rather the theater it was in, the seats aren't as narrow and tight as the belasco theater but goddamn. claustrophobia people be prepared because while it isn't tight.. the space between seats is so tight together there is pretty much no way you can get up unless you sit in the isle.. in the middle is like just chaotic to get to. The workers there were nice enough but this was an iffy experience for me, play was good. But it just suffers from being way too small of a venue for me to feel like I was 1000 percent.

Alexis B.

My husband and I saw Chess at the Imperial Theatre this past weekend. The theater felt quite a bit larger than some of the theaters I've been to on Broadway, but maybe that's just because - given the cost of seats to Chess - we were up a bit higher than I usually prefer! Overall, the theater is beautiful and pretty in line with the other theaters on Broadway: tight, crowded, chaotic - but worth it for theater! No one chooses which show to see based on the theater, but I'd say this one is right in line. I certainly wouldn't avoid it or anything! Totally fine.

Water For Elephants Digital Marquee
Tiffany J.

My aunt and I saw Water for Elephants at the Imperial Theatre last fall. The Imperial was built in 1923 and features a beautiful art deco style. The capacity is around 1450. Tickets can be purchased at the box office or online via Telecharge. My aunt and I were lucky enough to get rush tickets at the box office day of the show. Our seats were in the mezzanine and were slightly obstructed. The rows don't have much leg room (as is the case with older theaters). It was extremely chilly because the air vent was directly over our seats. The usher in our section was super nice and allowed us to move closer to the center of our row after the show started. The view was much better and it wasn't as cold. She also hooked us up with extra Playbills because the show was closing in a few months. The staff did a great job of keeping the lines moving, especially for the bathroom and concessions at intermission. The concession stands are located on the first floor. The acoustics were great and the show was so good! Unfortunately Water For Elephants has closed on Broadway, but the tour will be starting next year. Check it out if you have the opportunity!

Marquee
Kat V.

Always a beautiful theatre & the ushers were friendly. I've been waiting for a better version of Chess for years, so I hope to be back at the Imperial Theatre again on my next trip to see the show now that it's been locked down. I know changes have been made.

Leanne R.

I got to see Smash at the Imperial Theatre -- and wow, what a night. The theater itself is classic and elegant, but not intimidating. It has that old New York charm, and the staff were very helpful, but with a little new York style attitude of taking no crap ( me I was the one slowing down the line for a picture). Now about Smash: as someone who loved the original TV show, I was honestly unsure about how it would feel on stage -- I was not disappointed. The music, the story, the energy -- it all worked. The cast was incredible. I laughed. I cried. The whole show just reminded me why I love musical theatre in the first place and it felt like how it really is putting on a show . I highly recommend going to the Imperial Theatre. Unfortunately, Smash will be closing June 22, 2025, which I am bummed about, but I look forward to the next Broadway show at Imperial Theatre.

Playbill
Chelsea M.

I was so sad to miss SMASH here, but Chess more than made up for it. Talk about WOW!!!!!!! The voices and dancers were so talented. This was my mothers first Broadway show and she loved it. The theatre itself is gorgeous. Be prepared to be in a tight squeeze. The seating doesn't allow much room. They are comfortable though.

Smash June 2025 lobby
Douglas S.

We came to the city to see a few shows, Smash was at the top of the list and our first show when we came to the city. This was the funniest show and exceeded our expectations! I can't believe it isn't going to play longer! So glad we got to see it!

Orchestra Rush Tickets for $49 at the box office. Thank you, Sarah!!
Helene S.

Loved Water for Elephants. After losing his parents in a tragic car accident, a young man quits Veterinary School at Cornell, jumps a train and joins the traveling circus. Based on the book, the musical weaves a story of heartbreaking loss, friendship, what defines family, cruelty to people and animals and how to find love again. So lucky to get a last minute Rush ticket to watch this spellbinding musical. Love the story, the songs, but especially the circus acts. So interesting how they built the train and the big top which brings the circus to life. The puppetry was amazing. A lion which has no teeth, a cute shaggy dog, a white stallion that is overworked and an Elephant named Rosie. The circus acts are also captivating. Acrobatics. Trapeze. Tightrope walking. Juggling. An evil jealous, abusive ringmaster....and an adorable clown. With a sprinkle of Polish. Zostan!! Life is unpredictable and full of unexpected adventures. Interesting to watch through the eyes of both a young Jacob Jankowski and his older self who runs away from his nursing home to revisit the circus and reflect on his life. Have you ever heard of Rush tickets? Rush tickets started with the musical Rent. They sold same day tickets for the first two rows for $20 each for whomever could get to the box office first. Today, many theaters offer same day Rush tickets either by going directly to the box office or via a digital lottery. Thanks to Sarah for my same day general Rush tickets that were purchased at 4 PM on a Saturday afternoon. $49 for orchestra row B. Cash or credit. Amazing seat for a beautiful Broadway show.

Andres A.

A great theatre with no bad seats in the house. The theatre is a bit small but the seats are very comfortable. Enough space between you and the row in front of you. The acoustics were really great. We saw the Broadway show Smash and it was great!!!

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Ask the Community - Imperial Theatre

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Review Highlights - Imperial Theatre

ed. I had never seen Les Mis live before this but the friend I was with saw it at the West End a few years pri

Mentioned in 15 reviews

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Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Showbill and theater pre-show

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

4.4(281 reviews)
0.1 miTheater District, Midtown West

Before I start this review, if you have priority tickets, make sure that you go to the front near…read morewhere people are entering, but on the left-hand side of the doors. I wish I would've taken a picture because it was really confusing how to use our priority tickets because there were so many people standing in line they were blocking the sign. Also, you should definitely get the priority tickets. For us it was only $11 extra and it is WELL worth it. The play was amazing! Everybody did such a great job and I really loved Scorpius's character. Of course Tom Felton was there as the original Draco Malfoy, which is the entire reason that we came. If you want to during the play, you can order food to your seat which I thought was cool. The rest of the snacks were good for what they were. We booked through AAA and got a snack bag with popcorn water and a cursed child cup filled with Gummies. Everything was really good. If I could change one thing and I know this is like, "come on" but the seats were kind of uncomfortable. Google says that the Lyric Theatre was redone in 1996. The seats feel like they are from the 1930s so plan for that. Some

Saw Harry Potter and the Cursed Child -- 2 tickets in Row E, aisle seats ($789 total for a Sunday…read morematinee). ~3-hour show with a short intermission (~10 min) Seating is a bit narrow but overall comfortable These seats offered an AMAZING view for a live show Absolutely one of the best shows I've ever seen. The staging, effects, and performances were incredible. Wouldn't mind seeing it again! Perfect for both longtime Harry Potter fans and newcomers alike. I would not necessarily recommend for young kids as it's long.

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Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Inside; felt magical :)

Inside; felt magical :)

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Butterbeer

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Butterbeer

Moulin Rouge - Can't believe she sleeps in and elephant. #goals

Moulin Rouge

4.3(175 reviews)
0.1 miMidtown West, Theater District, Hell's Kitchen

I received my Mother's Day gift early this year and it was absolutely unforgettable! My husband and…read moreI went to New York and took me to see Moulin Rouge on Broadway, and it was everything and more. The show was surprisingly modern, and completely captivating from start to finish. The energy in the theater was unreal as everyone, including celebrities, came out to celebrate Megan Thee Stallion in her final performance as Zidler. She was hilarious, quick, and owned that stage in every moment she appeared. Even though I've seen her perform on tour, it felt like such a special experience to witness. We soaked in the city, took in some sights, and of course grabbed a slice while we were there. I am beyond grateful to my husband for such an incredible and thoughtful gift. This is a memory I will never forget! Signed a Hottie

I usually scoff at stunt casting, but seeing Megan Thee Stallion's take on Harold Zidler is a time…read morewell had. Even though it's a non-traditional spin on the character, she infuses the role with her signature "hot girl" energy and is a total joy to watch on stage. Despite her massive personality, she manages not to overshadow the rest of the cast. I think that speaks volumes about the group's chemistry... she fits right in without upstaging anyone. Since it's a jukebox musical anyway, having Meg perform some of her own hits while the rest of the company joined in was a great touch. Having seen the original cast in the 2019 Moulin Rouge production, which was also wonderful, I'm really glad I got to experience both interpretations.

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Moulin Rouge - The end of the show. Well done!

The end of the show. Well done!

Moulin Rouge - Moulin Rouge Curtain Call

Moulin Rouge Curtain Call

Moulin Rouge - Mountain Rouge Curtain Call

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Mountain Rouge Curtain Call

Smokey Joe's Cafe

Smokey Joe's Cafe

4.9(10 reviews)
0.3 miMidtown West, Hell's Kitchen

Maybe Leiber and Stoller aren't super famous but their music is! This is a really cool jukebox…read moremusical with no plot but a continuous flowing song and dance with a cast of about 8 people. Since it was one set, they did a good job going from area to area to keep things visually interesting without breaking from the singing. At one point the actors ran through the audience aisles, which I usually find really unsettling, but the music is so catchy why not get up and dance? So simple in concept but really well executed. Only critique was the one girl who wasn't a size 2 had on long sleeves and pants under a dress. Like...it's not that hard to dress an averaged size woman. She had a great solo number too, so shame the costume designers fell flat. But it was a high energy show and not too pricey! Definitely recommend!

A MUST SEE!!! It is a most up lifting fun show/musical. 90…read moremin. of pure fun. Something that most of us could use in the world we are living in at the present. 90 min. without intermission. Just sit back relax. sink into the music and the songs. forget about everything else. You need not do anything, else. Just have a fabulous time and leave the theater with a big smile. I saw it twice already. Once during the previews and the second time, yesterday at opening night. I can go and see it many more times. It's one of those shows that because it's all singing one can go again and again and enjoy it the last time just as much as or more every time. Take a friend/s or go alone but don't miss it. Have fun!

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Smokey Joe's Cafe
Smokey Joe's Cafe
Smokey Joe's Cafe

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The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon - BOO... Looking good Jimmy Fallon tonight with your new sharp hairstyle and beard! 10/28/2022

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

4.3(127 reviews)
0.4 miTheater District, Midtown West

Date: Monday, March 2nd, 2026 Time: around 3:15pm…read moreParty of: 4 GUESTS THAT DAY - *Nicole Kidman *Luke Thompson *Jack Hughes, Quinn Hughes & Hilary Knight *Chef Mario Carbone One of my friends has been wanting to go to a Fallon show for the past few years. We take a yearly trip to NYC, so he always signs up. This year, we scored and got tickets. We actually signed up for two days and got into both. Mon had the better guest lists (at least in our opinion) so we gave up the other tix. It's a process to get in, so nothing too surprising. The earlier you get there, the more of a chance you will sit closer. All in all, we were out by around 6:30pm. Tho they did add a game that was going to air on a another day with I believe the One Piece cast? A good experience if you are into talk shows. It's free, and we got a jar of carbone sauce due to mario carbone being a guest. What's there to complain about? REVIEW #4000

I was excited to do this with my friend! Be sure to arrive early, since everyone else will be sure…read moreto line up. I'd say we got there around 315 and thankfully with this one, all the waiting is indoors. The whole thing including the taping takes about 4 hours. Getting to wait inside 30 rock and have access to the bathrooms is also super nice. The seating is at random but it's all still a really fun experience.

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The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon - J-Hope on Jimmy Fallon debuting "Sweet Dreams" - 3/11/2025

J-Hope on Jimmy Fallon debuting "Sweet Dreams" - 3/11/2025

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon - Where the Tonight Show is filmed!

Where the Tonight Show is filmed!

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon - Show ticket

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Show ticket

Speakeasy Magick - Next door all the way in the back of the dry cleaners. Beautiful speakeasy.

Speakeasy Magick

4.5(42 reviews)
1.1 miFlatiron

I go to a ton of magic shows, and somehow Speakeasy Magick still completely blew me away. This…read moredidn't feel like the usual "magic show" experience at all. No cheesy jokes, no awkward crowd work, no fake game-show energy. Just really smart, insanely talented magicians doing impossible things right in front of you. What also stood out was that every single performer was great. Usually at shows like this there's at least one act you're waiting to end. Not here. Everyone was cool, confident, funny in a natural way, and honestly just seemed like people you'd want to hang out with afterward. The whole vibe of the night is awesome too. Everyone's dressed up, the room feels intimate, and it somehow manages to feel classy without being pretentious. It's one of the few nights out in NYC lately where I walked away genuinely impressed. Even if you already like magic, this is on another level.

The show itself is actually quite fun which is exactly why I booked it for a group of friends…read morevisiting from out of town. Unfortunately, the way this was handled turned what should have been a great night into a pretty bitter experience. There are far better ways to spend $200 than having your plans canceled on you at the last minute. Here's what happened: * My 10 p.m. tickets were canceled with only about a week's notice for my group. * I was told that 7 p.m. tickets were available instead. * I immediately replied confirming I would take those tickets. * Two days later, I was told those 7 p.m. tickets were no longer available. * Somehow, it seems acceptable to cancel my booking but not others'. If you're going to cancel on customers, at least handle the rebooking process competently and fairly. This felt disorganized at best and careless at worst.

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Speakeasy Magick - The host and all of the magicians of the night.

The host and all of the magicians of the night.

Speakeasy Magick - Waiting area

Waiting area

Speakeasy Magick - Live background piano music

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Live background piano music

Imperial Theatre - theater - Updated May 2026

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