The Cort Theatre has a capacity of 1021 seats, including 478 seats in the Orchestra, 260 seats in the Mezzanine and 283 seats in the Balcony. Use our interactive seating chart to view 1 seat reviews and 1 photos of views from seat.
The Cort Theatre first opened in 1912 at 138 West 48th Street, slightly removed from the main bustle of Broadway venues that sit east of 7th Avenue. It was built by and named after John Cort, a Seattle-based actor and producer who headed up the Northwestern Theatrical Association, although ownership transferred to the Shubert Organization in 1927. After a period as a TV studio in the mid-20th century, the Cort Theatre was renovated and restored to its theatrical best in 1974.
With its French-inspired design, the Cort Theatre is the only surviving and active Broadway theater designed by architect Thomas Lamb. From the classic and elegant exterior inspired by 18th century Versailles to Marie Antoinette plasterwork in the lobby, the Cort Theatre is a handsome and intimate venue which has mainly welcomed intimate plays and drama onto its stage.
Notable productions at the Cort Theatre include Grace Kelly’s Broadway debut in The Father (1949), Sunday in New York (1961) starring Robert Redford, and Nicole Kidman’s memorable turn in The Blue Room (1998). More recently, the Tony Award-winning Fences (2010) brought Denzel Washington and Viola Davis to the Cort, and new play Indecent was a huge success in 2017.
There is a 1,092-seat capacity in the Cort Theatre, spread across the Orchestra, Mezzanine and Balcony. The Orchestra is the largest section, split into Left, Right and Center; the Mezzanine and Balcony above are similarly laid out, although about half the size. Views are generally very good across all three sections. An excellent view is afforded from the Center Orchestra and the front rows of the Center Mezzanine in particular. On all levels, sightlines are more partial at the sides, with the cheapest seats in the very steep and cramped Balcony.
There are plenty of good value seats at the Cort Theatre. Rows E to J in the Center Orchestra are cheaper than premium with a good view of the stage, whilst the back rows of the Mezzanine benefit from their overhead position. For patrons on a strict budget, you can’t go wrong with one of the very affordable Balcony seats.
The best seats in the Cort Theatre are across the front rows of the Center Orchestra and Center Mezzanine. For patrons preferring a really intimate view of the show, the front rows of the Orchestra are ideal. Those who like more of an overview can opt for the premium row A in the Center Mezzanine.