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Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
These 3 New York Hotels Get You Into The Hottest Broadway Shows
An usher opens the stage curtains of a Broadway show. getty It's rare for a hotel room to prepare you for an event you're about to attend. But Room 309, usually known as the Shanti Suite, at The Chatwal, New York does exactly that. The Stay Gold Suite at The Chatwal, New York Angela Conners Treimer Guests who stay there as part of this luxury Theater District hotel's Stay Gold Suite Experience will get two tickets to The Outsiders, the Tony Award winner for Best Musical on Broadway last year and still standing room only. But first in this renamed, redecorated suite, they'll be surrounded by themes of the show. Signature lines from the production adorn the entry wall, a remote control signals a projector to show films from the 1960's, the musical's era, including Cool Hand Luke and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid starring the main character's idol Paul Newman. A vintage record player has albums from the decade (plus the musical's cast album), popcorn and glass bottles of Coke are set out as movie watching snacks and in the closet: a jean jacket to help a guest look like part of the cast's gang. A movie from the 1960s projected on the wall of the Stay Gold Suite at The Chatwal, New York Angela Conners Treimer Broadway has had a booming season as it heads to this year's Tony Awards on June 8 and hotels around the city's Theater District are linking in special offers with productions. '2025 is currently projected to be the first year that 2019 sales records are broken for both Broadway and NYC tourism as a whole,'explains Nathaniel Hill, Founder & CEO of Broadway Plus which works with hotels on their offerings. 'It's great to have finally recovered and see New York thriving,' A jean jacket in the Stay Gold Suite closet. Angela Conners Treimer That's due, he says, to a couple of reasons. 'The success of the Wicked film brought Broadway back into the forefront of the public conversation, and has been great for sales of many shows, not just Wicked on Broadway. Any time Broadway is in the national media, people are reminded about what a unique and incredible opportunity it is to see a show, and we see an increase in web traffic and requests. This especially happens every year around Tony Award nominations and the Awards ceremony.' Broadway theaters along West 44th Street. getty Another reason is the unusually large number of A list Hollywood stars such as George Clooney, Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal taking to the increase can also be traced to current events. 'In such trying times, a bumper crop of hilarious new shows that bring joy and put a smile on people's faces has been great for business,' he says. 'Oh, Mary!, Death Becomes Her, SMASH, and BOOP! The Musical all offer a wonderful evening in the theater that takes your mind off what's going on in the world.' The MO Lounge at Mandarin Oriental, New York, the site of its Meet and Greet with a Broadway performer. Shawn Talbot Photography The Chatwal may have made the most effort in fashioning a room experience around a show but other hotels also feature unique experiences. In its Broadway VIP Experience, the Mandarin Oriental, New York offers a Meet and Greet with a Broadway performer accompanied by champagne and light fare in the MO Lounge; two orchestra seats to new and long running hits such as Death Becomes Her, SUNSET BLVD., SMASH, Hamilton, Cabaret, Hadestown and Wicked are included as well. Other add ons (subject to availability and additional fees) include a Black car Mercedes S-Class sedan transportation to and from the hotel's Columbus Circle location and the theater, a private concert with Broadway artists and for those with theatrical aspirations, a private coaching session in acting, singing, and dancing led by a Broadway actor. The Petit Salon at Baccarat Hotel New York, site of that hotel's Meet and Greet with a Broadway performer. ERIC LAIGNEL The Baccarat Hotel New York also offers a Meet and Greet with a Broadway performer over champagne and light bites in the crystal filled Petit Salon as part of the Exclusive Curtain Call experience. Premium orchestra seats to shows such as Wicked, MJ The Musical and The Lion King are a guaranteed part of the offer; other shows can be attached if available. Spring Lamb Ravioli at The Terrace and Outdoor Gardens at the Times Square EDITION. The Terrace and Outdoor Gardens at the Times Square EDITION On the culinary front, apart from the fare offered in the meet and greets, there are other options for a quick pre-theater meal in the neighborhood. Guests of The Chatwal can take advantage of the $100 Stay Gold Suite site credit for either the pre-theater menu in The Lambs Club featuring dishes such as Rouget Tagliatelle and Roasted Lamb Saddle with Merguez, Asparagus and Morels or the more casual menu a floor above in the Lambs Bar. The Terrace and Outdoor Gardens at the Times Square EDITION also has a three course Broadway Express menu with options such as Oysters Rockefeller, Loch Duart Salmon with grilled asparagus, marinated feta and mint and Tiramisu but if diners order dishes off the regular menu, recently revised for spring, such as Pasta Primavera and Parmesan Crusted Lamb Chops, the servers are adept at getting customers out before curtain. A selection of hand rolls at Akoya at The Knickerbocker. Briana Balducci Another choice for a light, delicious and very quick meal: hand rolls such as Yuzu Cured Scallops or Australian Wagyu Tataki at the recently opened Akoya at the Knickerbocker Hotel. Much more substantial are the offerings of the new GUI Steakhouse blending Korean and American techniques in prime Ribeyes, Prime Rib, Japanese A5 Wagyu and other top cuts either pre or post theater (the kitchen is open until 10.) Or for those heading to a Wednesday matinee, there are two very affordable for a steakhouse weekday lunch menus: charcoal grilled steak au poivre, market salad and fries ($23) or a three course menu with choices such as Tuna Tartare, Steak Frites or Chicken with Mushrooms and Diane Sauce and Devil's Food Cake with Jang Caramel and Vanilla Ganache. ($37) It's a good thing to know about even on non-matinee days. The $23 charcoal grilled Steak au Poivre at GUI Steakhouse. GUI Steakhouse
Forbes
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Lincoln Center Theater Celebrates Four Decades Of Impact And Artistry
The cast of Falsettos with director and co-writer James Lapine. From left: Christian Borle, Brandon ... More Uranowitz, Betsy Wolfe, Andrew Rannells, Stephanie J. Block, James Lapine, Tracie Thoms and Anthony Rosenthal Ruthie Ann Miles will never forget how she felt when she saw the Light In The Piazza at Lincoln Center Theater. At the time, she was a student at New York University and purchased a rush ticket. 'The minute the orchestra and harp started to play, I began to feel emotional,' says Miles, who ultimately made a big splash on the very same stage making her Broadway debut in the King And I, winning a Tony Award for her performance as Lady Thiang. 'I began to feel swept away. It really did solidify for me that this is what I want to do. This is the kind of storytelling that I want to project out into the world,' added Miles of the Lincoln Center Theater production. 'That I got to play here at all, to start my career and do the King and I as my Broadway debut, has spoiled me for life. Coming to Lincoln Center Theater is like coming home.' Last week, at Lincoln Center Theater's Ruby Jubilee Gala, the theater's great artists who have performed on its stages shared their own reflections of being swept away at Lincoln Center Theater (LCT). Over four decades, the theater continues to bring that sense of joy on its three stages: the Vivian Beaumont, the Mitzi E. Newhouse, and its newest stage, the Claire Tow. 'This theater is the closest we have in this country to a national theater, and working here, you feel the history of the artists that you are sharing space with,' said Gabby Beans, who performed in two LCT shows, the Skin Of Our Teeth and Marys Seacole. One of her favorite memories working there was during the Skin of Our Teeth when the cast first entered the Vivian Beaumont Theater. '19 of us were making our Broadway debut. And seeing the set for the first time was so magnificent,' says Beans. Then Lileana Blain-Cruz, our director, played Drake's 'Started from the Bottom'and we were dancing in the theater and it felt like we were living that song.' Just by sheer numbers, LCT's contribution to American theater has been colossal. Since they began in 1985, they have produced 243 shows with nearly 28,000 performances shared with 16 million audience members. The productions have garnered 342 Tony nominations, 87 Tony awards, and a Pulitzer Prize. Their current production, Floyd Collins, is nominated for six Tony Awards. 'But beyond numbers, and perhaps much more important, our incredible artists over the past 40 years have evoked in our audience countless laughs and tears, endless debate and discussion, untold moments of angst and joy, and, infinite sparks of inspiration and creativity,' said LCT's board chair, Kewsong Lee. Over the years, writers and composers like Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty, Adam Guettel, William Finn, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Lynn Nottage, Stephen Adly Guirgis, John Guare, Sarah Ruhl, Ayad Akhtar, J.T. Rogers, David Rabe, Suzan-Lori Parks, Michael John LaChiusa, Wendy Wasserstein, Jason Robert Brown, Terrence McNally, and on and on, have worked there. The epic celebration, which honored producing artistic director André Bishop, was fitting for a Lincoln Center Theater production. Directed by Jason Danieley, the one-night-only gala featured songs from LCT productions spanning four decades. The cast of Falsettos reunited to perform 'The Baseball Game.' Nathan Lane and Roger Bart sang 'Invocation and Instructions to the Audience,' from the Frogs. Victoria Clark performed 'Fable' from the Light In The Piazza. Kelli O'Hara did a dreamy rendition of 'Hello, Young Lovers.' Norm Lewis sang 'I'd Rather Be Sailing,' from A New Brain. After Marc Kudisch performed 'I Was Here' from the Glorious Ones, an emotional André Bishop, who is stepping down after 33 years, took the stage. As the fitting lyrics of that song go: 'All that I have are my skill and my name/And this chance/To make both of them known/This is my key to the portal/How I can leave something immortal/Something that time cannot make disappear/Something to say I was here.' Bishop shared that LCT provided 33 years of 'great happiness, occasional terror, and constant, constant amazement,' he said. He went on to pay tribute to LCT's first leaders, Gregory Mosher and Bernard Gersten, and saluted the theater's incoming leaders, Lear deBessonet, Bartlett Sher, and Mike Schleifer. 'And I thank all of you, all of you here tonight—artists, staff, board members, friends, members of the audience. We all play a part in American theater,' said Bishop. 'And aren't we lucky?' Lileana Blain-Cruz and André Bishop Fitting for the Ruby Jubilee, the David Koch Theater lobby was bathed in ruby red for the dinner ... More after the performance in the Vivian Beaumont Theater From left: J.K. Brown, Marlene Hess and James D. Zirin From left: Jenny Gersten and Lear deBessonet
Condé Nast Traveler
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Condé Nast Traveler
11 Best Restaurants Near Broadway for a Pre-Show Meal
Spending time in the Theater District is not always the vibe. Forever baking under the heat lamp of Times Square, this stretch of Midtown bustles with tourists and traffic, and many a dreaded tourist trap. And yet the cultured and culture-obsessed often find themselves in the area for one big reason: If you're in town looking to see a marquee production, rather than a smaller something Off-Broadway or at BAM, this is where you'll be, and you might need to grab a bite before or after your show. To maximize leisure, it's advisable that wherever you dine be no more than a 15-minute stroll from your theater destination—and with the right information, finding somewhere convenient and worth eating at is, surprisingly, very possible. Despite the reputation of the neighborhood, there are plenty of solid establishments hiding in plain sight, at which to fill your stomach before filling your ears, heart, and mind. Read on for the best places to eat before a Broadway show in New York City—or after, who's to say. You just might be moved to stick around. Read our complete New York City travel guide here, which includes: Din Tai Fung's chaotic address is no matter once you've descended into its cool subterranean dining room. Jason Varney/Din Tai Fung The long-awaited arrival of this beloved Taiwanese restaurant in New York City could not have been a buzzier or more consummate success, starring immaculate xiao long bao: delicate soup dumplings that swell with pork and broth. The location is great: this is the perfect place to fill your stomach before or after a show, and the chaos of the neighborhood gets completely shut out by the coolness of the subterranean dining room. You must, of course, place at least one order of the kurobuta pork xiao long bao, which gets you 10 dumplings for $18.50—you can also opt for pork and crab or ground chicken as your filling. Other highlights include the deceptively simple cucumber salad ($9) and the New York-exclusive black sesame espresso martini ($22), which is made all the richer by the addition of an egg yolk. —Charlie Hobbs, associate editor For not only dinner but also a show before your show, Russian Samovar is the red-soaked room to be in. Located on West 52, just across from the August Wilson Theatre and around the corner from the Gershwin, this super Slavic spot is a drinker's delight. If you need to loosen or lighten up before whichever piece of theater you're meant to take in, sample a few of their flavored vodkas (I'm partial to sipping the dill-infused option, which tastes like fresh grass in a refreshing way) or sip your way through any number of martinis and the like. The food isn't half bad, and while it's rather pricey it's also hearty and well-portioned. The beef stroganoff, served with a heavy pile of egg noodles, is particularly fortifying. —Charlie Hobbs, associate editor If you're hitting Broadway for a quintessential NYC experience, then ducking into this storied seafood spot in the beast of the belly that is Grand Central station is an iconic starting point—and particularly convenient if your journey to Broadway takes you via Grand Central. When you push through the river of commuters to reach the restaurant, turn right, in the direction of the diner-style counters (not the left, where the seating is sit-down; vibes are just better at the counter). Plop on a stool, and treat yourself to fresh oysters, seafood plates, and chowders made the old-fashioned way (I'm not sure exactly what the old-fashioned way is, but you can see the whole operation unfolding by the shellfish-shucking station). It's not cheap, in the way that seafood you can safely eat before a three-hour performance in New York City never is, but there are filling bites to be ordered strategically if you aren't up for a big splurge. If you just want a drink, continue past the counters to the swinging doors even further to the right—the bar, which feels somewhat like being below deck on a big ship, has a personality of its own. —Megan Spurrell, associate articles director New York City's only revolving restaurant just so happens to double as prime Theater District dining. Recently reopened under the careful eye of restaurateur Danny Meyer and his trusty Union Square Hospitality Group, The View at the Marriott Marquis is a tourist's delight that locals with any sense of joie de vivre will get a kick out of, too. The primary draw here, of course, is not the food but rather the ride you and your table take around Times Square (note: it seems that the tables closest to the glass are all two-tops, with four-seaters relegated to the next row in). It helps that the food and beverage ain't half bad, with some weird martinis and copious seafood alongside more standard burgers. All of this to say, it's extremely fun without being full-send tacky thanks to some swank, sexy design. —Charlie Hobbs, associate editor
