for a reported $17 million. Wilkerson then spent several years renovating the theater for his congregation. In the years after the Times Square Church's purchase, the church became so popular that the Hellinger could not accommodate all congregants, despite the theater's 1,600-seat capacity. The congregation at the theater numbered 4,000 in 1997 and doubled within the next year. As a result, in the late 1990s, an 800-person overflow room and eight secondary meeting rooms was leased in the neighboring Novotel hotel. By 2001, screens were installed both in the lobby and in a neighboring annex to allow additional congregants to view services. Theatrical producers have made several unsuccessful attempts to buy the theater from the Times Square Church. As early as 1993, Lloyd Webber had proposed buying the theater from the Times Square Church for his production of Sunset Boulevard. In addition to Mackintosh and the Bennett estate, offers were reportedly made by former Canadian impresario Garth Drabinsky, theatrical operator Shubert Organization, and corporate producers Disney and Clear Channel. The Times Square Church maintains the theater's historic interior decor and opens the theater to the public for regular services. The church also hosts tours of the theater, as during Christmas 2016, when it gave tours along with live performances of the Nativity play Bethlehem on Broadway. Notable productions Productions are listed by the year of their first performance. 1934: Calling All Stars 1939: George White's Scandals 1940: Romeo and Juliet 1940: Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo 1940: Original Ballet Russe, Colonel de Basil's 1941: Banjo Eyes 1949: Gilbert and Sullivan Series (four productions) 1950: Tickets, Please! 1951: Two on the Aisle 1952: Three Wishes for Jamie 1952: Gilbert and Sullivan Series (five productions) 1952: Electra 1952: Oedipus Tyrannus 1953: Hazel Flagg 1954: The Girl in Pink Tights 1955: Plain and Fancy 1955: Ankles Aweigh 1956: My Fair Lady 1962: The Sound of Music 1964: Rugantino 1964: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum 1964: Fade Out – Fade In 1965: On a Clear Day You Can See Forever 1966: A Joyful Noise 1967: Illya Darling 1968: I'm Solomon 1969: Dear World 1969: Coco 1971: Man of La Mancha 1971: Jesus Christ Superstar 1973: Seesaw 1974: As You Like It 1975: The Skin of Our Teeth 1976: 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue 1976: Porgy and Bess 1977: Shenandoah 1977: Lou Rawls on Broadway 1978: Timbuktu! 1978: Platinum 1979: The Utter Glory