Neil Simon Theatre

Neil Simon Theatre

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Neil Simon Theatre showing Hairspray, 2003

Neil Simon Theatre (right) and August Wilson Theatre (left) on 52nd Street

The Neil Simon Theatre is a Broadway theatre located at 250 West 52nd Street in midtown-Manhattan.

Designed by architect Herbert J. Krapp, the theatre was built by producers Alex Aarons and Vinton Freedley, who combined their first names to christen it the Alvin Theatre. It opened on November 22 1927 with George and Ira Gershwin's Funny Face starring Fred and Adele Astaire.

Due to the Great Depression, Aarons and Freedley lost control of their venue in 1932. For a period of time it was used as a radio studio by CBS.

In 1977, the building was purchased by the Nederlander Organization, and was renamed in honor of American playwright Simon in 1983 with the opening of Brighton Beach Memoirs.

The building was designated a New York City landmark in 1985. At present it has a seating capacity of approximately 1400.