Eugene O'Neill Theatre Events
230 W 49th St, New York, New York, NY 10019 USEugene O'Neill Theatre
Capacity: 1,102
Official address: 230 W 49th St, New York, NY 10019, USA
Open date: 24th November 1925
Beyond its entertainment value, the Eugene O’Neill Theatre has a rich history behind it. Built in 1925, it was named after a Nobel Prize-winning American playwright. It was designed by Herbert J. Krapp, an architect credited with masterminding half of the world’s Broadway theaters, including Shubert, New Amsterdam, Lyceum, and Longacre.
Before being named after Eugene O'Neill—who claimed the 1936 Nobel Prize in Literature—the facility was addressed as the Forrest Theatre, after Edwin Forrest, a prominent nineteenth-century Shakespearean actor who became the first American-born Broadway star.
The Eugene O'Neill Theater was the first of its kind to combine with a hotel and use steel frame construction. Before it was built, only skyscrapers had bragging rights to all-around metalwork. Due to its distinct standing, the theatre caught quite the attention. In 1945, it was renamed the Coronet Theatre and then the Eugene O’Neill Theatre in 1953.
To be fair, the venue has passed through many hands. At one point, it was referred to as the Shubert Theatre because the Shubert brothers erected it, and at another point, as the Jujamcyn Theatre. However, as it stands out along Manhattan’s best-known theatre district, its current name has proven to be the longest-living.
An important part of the facility’s antecedence is that Herbert Krapp was the Shubert Brothers’ favorite architect. Since he designed it, there is an intrinsic connection between the theatre’s neoclassical interior and that of others in his portfolio. Originally, it had a brick and terracotta facade, but in the 1940s that was replaced with painted limestones.
Events at Eugene O’Neill Theatre
As it is built with a strong bias for Broadway productions, the Eugene O’Neill Theatre has found a way to make as much space as possible for everyone.
It offers aisle transfer seating, companion seating, wheelchair accessibility, and audiovisual seating. These seating options are set at an orchestra level free of sidewalks. A handrail set of steps aids access to all other seating levels in the theatre.
If you want to see this work of art in person or a production within its premises, you can attend an almost limitless list of events. However, the theatre keenly focuses on The Book of Mormon, a satirical musical written by Trey Parker, Matt Stone, and Robert Lopez.
Ever since 2011, when The Book of Mormon premiered on Broadway, it has become quite a popular show. Centering on a story about two missionaries teaching the Mormon doctrine in Uganda, the production subtly criticizes different aspects of religion while exploring friendship, faith, and cultural diversity.
Aside from its irreverent humor, the Book of Mormon has been eulogized for clever writing, catchy music, and energetic on-stage delivery. Without exaggeration, since premiering there in 2011, the event has been held at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre every other day. You choose!
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How to Get to Eugene O’Neill Theatre
When it comes to reaching Broadway theatres, public transportation is often the best route to take. Located at the heart of Manhattan, the Eugene O'Neill Theatre is easily accessible using subway and bus transit. Many subway lines serve the theatre district, including the 1, 2, A, C, E, N, Q, R, W, and 7 trains. Available bus routes are M7, M20, M42, M50, and M104.
Most of New York’s subway stations have elevators and ramps to accommodate different passengers’ mobility needs. For buses, commuters are well catered for with features like ramps, low floors, and designated seating areas for the disabled.
Taking the subway or bus is not only convenient overall but also the most cost-effective way to reach the theatre—particularly if you want to avoid looking for parking space in the extremely busy Theatre District. Though there are various vehicle garages, they can be quite expensive to use, at up to £5.00/hour.
Should you choose to drive yourself regardless, private parking spaces are available on-site and in the street, too. Street parking can be challenging to find and often comes with strict regulations like limited hours and metered parking. Read signs carefully to avoid tickets or towing.