Theater Stories: HAMILTON Tidbits, Tony Award Records and More About the Richard Rodgers Theatre!

It is impossible to walk into a Broadway theatre, or simply just think of a Broadway theatre, without immediately connecting a memory to it. Every Broadway theatre is filled with a rich and colorful history, brimming over with stories of the stars who graced its staged, legends that were made within its walls, and the feelings we all have of looking back and thinking "I saw a Tony winning performance in that theater" or "I wish I'd seen that performance in that theater."

Whether a theater has a history that's a hundred years old or closer to forty, every Broadway theater tells a story, each one filled with fun facts you never knew!

With our new series, Theater Stories, we're bringing you tidbits you may have never heard, tales you never thought to ask about and more, giving you a better look into the history of Broadway theatres, as well as a leg-up on your next theater-trivia night.

First up for Theater Stories, is the Richard Rodgers Theatre!

What Was the Theatre's Original Name?

We may now know this theatre as the Richard Rodgers, but it used to be called Chanin's 46th Street Theatre. Built in 1925, the theater's name was shorted to the 46th Street Theatre in 1931, and then renamed to honor the legendary composer Richard Rodgers in 1990.

What Was the First Show to Play the Richard Rodgers Theatre?

The first show to play the Richard Rodgers Theatre was The Greenwich Village Follies in 1925! There were many iterations of The Greenwich Village Follies, featuring vaudeville acts, specialty circus acts, comedians and more.

How Many Tony-Winning Shows Have Been Presented at the Richard Rodgers?

The Richard Rodgers Theatre has housed more Tony Award-winning Best Plays and Best Musicals than any other Broadway theater: 11, including Guys and Dolls (1951), Damn Yankees (1956), Redhead (1959), How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1962), 1776 (1969), Raisin (1974), Nine (1982), Fences (1987), Lost in Yonkers (1991), In The Heights (2008), and Hamilton (2016).

Which Stars Have Performed at the Theatre?

Gwen Verdon starred in three successive musicals at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, Damn Yankees in 1955, New Girl in Town in 1957 and Redhead in 1959, all which won her Tony Awards for Best Actress in a Musical.

What Other Theatres Are Nearby?

An alleyway connects the Richard Rodgers Theatre and the Imperial Theatre, allowing easy access for performers to run between the two and sneak a peak at the other's show. Shows that have played the Richard Rodgers and the Imperial at the same time include In the Heights and Billy Elliot, the original productions of Chicago and Pippin and more!

What Is Special About the Inside of the Richard Rodgers Theatre?

The Richard Rodgers Theatre is one of only two Broadway theaters with stadium seating in the orchestra. The other is the Majestic Theatre.

How Did the Richard Rodgers Theatre Change History?

The Richard Rodgers Theatre was the first Broadway theatre to feature a 'democratic' seating plan. Prior to the Richard Rodgers Theatre, audience members with cheaper seats in the balcony and mezzanine used separate entrances from patrons who had purchased more expensive orchestra seats. In the Richard Rodgers Theatre, all patrons entered through the same doors.

What is the Most Tony-Nominated Show to Play the Richard Rodgers?

In addition to the Richard Rodgers Theatre housing the most Tony-winning shows, the theatre is also home to the most Tony-nominated show of all time - Hamilton.

What Show Played at the Richard Rodgers Theatre the Longest?

Hamilton is the Richard Rodgers Theatre's longest-running show!