When it comes to bringing a show to Broadway, it isn’t just about finding an open theatre; it’s about finding the right theatre.
With 41 Broadway theatres to choose from, it is immensely important that a producing team pick the right venue for their particular production. Each theatre has their own particularities, and there are a wide range of factors to consider when selecting a theatre: Is it the right size for the show? Are there the right number of dressing rooms for the cast? How large of a fly space is needed?
There is no such thing as a "blessed" or "cursed" theatre, no matter what superstitions say. It’s all about finding the right fit. A show like Chicago thrives at the Ambassador, but its diagonal layout and lack of wing space would be disastrous for a scenery-heavy show like Wicked, for example.
Still, some theatres have racked up impressive track records. In the 77 years since the first Tony Awards ceremony, a handful of theatres have managed to take home top honors time and again, making them some of the luckiest theatres on Broadway.
NOTE: This article examines the winners for Best Play and Best Musical. Revival productions and special engagements (such as the Tony winning Springsteen on Broadway) are not included in this data set, and are not reflected within the venue totals. Productions only count toward a venue's total if they originated on Broadway at that venue, and are not counted toward a venues total if they transferred to that venue after premiering at a different Broadway theatre.
Luckiest Play Houses
1. The Walter Kerr Theatre - 7 Best Play Winners
How fitting that a theatre named for one of Broadway’s most legendary theatre critics tops this list! The Walter Kerr (formerly named the Ritz Theatre) has been home to an impressive seven Best Play winners, including both editions of Angels in America, Clybourne Park, Doubt, Love! Valour! Compassion!, Proof, and Take Me Out. Of those plays, four have also won the Pulitzer, living up to the theatre's Pulitzer-winning namesake.
2. The Golden - 6 Best Play Winners
All that glitters is gold, however, at the Golden Theatre. Hot in the heels of the Kerr, the Golden has been home to six Best Play winners, including the currently reigning play Stereophonic. While the theatre hosted its first Tony winner (Sticks and Bones) in 1972, the last 20 years have been particularly lucky for the Golden, with the original productions of Master Class; Red; The Goat, Or Who Is Sylvia; and Vanya and Sonia and Marsha and Spike taking up residence. Will the Golden continue its hot streak and eventually tie with the Kerr? Only time will tell!
3. A Four-Way Tie! The Barrymore, Simon, Schoenfeld, and Jacobs - 5 Best Play Winners
And speaking of ties! The third spot for most Best Play winners is split four ways, between the Barrymore, Jacobs, Simons, and Schoenfeld, who have each hosted five Best Play winners. The Barrymore has been home to The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, The Desperate Hours, The Fourposter, The Inheritance, and Travesties. The Simon has been home to All The Way, Biloxi Blues, Mister Roberts, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, and The Great White Hope. The Schoenfeld has been home to Dancing at Lughnasa, Equus, The Heidi Chronicles, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, and The Real Thing. The Jacobs has been home to Art, Copenhagen, Gods of Carnage, The Ferryman, and The Subject Was Roses.
The Subject Was Roses also holds the impressive honor of having played the most theatres of any Best Play winner during its original Broadway run. The Pulitzer- and Tony-winning drama played the Ames and the original Hayes, the Sondheim, the Belasco after opening at the Jacobs—all within a two year period! Talk about changing the subject!
Luckiest Musical Houses
1. The Richard Rodgers Theatre - 9 Best Musical Winners
Situated at 226 West 46th Street, the Richard Rodgers Theatre (formerly the 46th Street Theatre) has been home to an eye-popping nine Best Musical winners. Its Tony-winning musicals are Damn Yankee, In The Heights, 1776, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Redhead, Raisin, Guys and Dolls, Nine, and current megahit (and longtime tenant) Hamilton. The Rodgers has certainly played its part in theatre history! With a sizable lead from its competition, it will take quite some time for any other theatre to catch up—though with Hamilton nestled inside for the long term, anything could happen in a decade or two.
2. A Tie! The Shubert and St. James - 5 Best Musical Winners
It’s certainly fitting that two of the most iconic Broadway theatres would make this list in tandem! Both the Shubert and the St. James are jewels of 44th Street, with the Shubert having hosted A Chorus Line, A Little Night Music, Memphis, Spamalot, and Crazy For You. The St. James hosted the original runs of Hello Dolly, The King and I, The Pajama Game, The Producers, and Two Gentlemen of Verona.
3. Five-Way Tie! The Hirshfeld, Broadhurst, Imperial, Simon, and Majestic - 4 Best Musical Winners
The more the merrier when it comes to the second runner-up slot! Five Broadway theatres have hosted four Tony-winning musicals each. The Hirshfeld has been home to Bye Bye Birdie, Hallelujah Baby, Kinky Boots, and current tenant Moulin Rouge. The Broadhurst has been home to Cabaret, Fiorello, Fosse, and Kiss of the Spiderwoman. The Imperial has been home to Billy Elliott, Fiddler on the Roof, Jerome Robbins Broadway, and The Mystery of Edwin Drood. The Simon has been home to A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Annie, Company, and Hairspray. And the Majestic has been home to South Pacific, The Music Man, The Wiz, and The Phantom of the Opera.
We can’t wait to see which theatre will break free of the pack to join the Shubert and St. James! Time, or the 2025 Tony Awards, will tell.
