Clio Logo
History of Broadway-New York Historical Theater Tour
Item 6 of 16
Originally opened as the Henry Miller Theater in 1918, the Stephen Sondheim Theatre was rebuilt within the original facade in 2010. The Allen, Ingalls, and Hoffman designed facade was declared a New York City Landmark in 1987, and the new interior by Cook+Fox Architects is the first Broadway theater design to receive LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) gold status.

The Henry Miller Theater, renamed the Stephen Sondheim in 2010 (image from nytix.com)

The Henry Miller Theater, renamed the Stephen Sondheim in 2010 (image from nytix.com)

Historic photo of the Henry Miller exterior (image from the Internet Broadway Database)

Historic photo of the Henry Miller exterior (image from the Internet Broadway Database)

Historic photo of the Henry Miller interior (image from the Internet Broadway Database)

Historic photo of the Henry Miller interior (image from the Internet Broadway Database)

Originally opened as the Henry Miller Theater in 1918, the Stephen Sondheim Theatre was rebuilt within the original neo-Georgian facade in 2010. London-born actor, producer, playwright, and director Henry W. Miller commissioned architects Allen, Ingalls, and Hoffman to design the Henry Miller Theater when he moved to New York in 1917. On May 26, 1919, the musical La La Lucille! debuted, the first musical with a score composed entirely by George Gershwin. Henry Miller died in 1926, but his family continued to operate the theater, which went on to host the Broadway debut of Our Town in 1938, and Angela Landsbury's Broadway debut in Hotel Paradiso in 1957. 

In 1968, Miller's son Gilbert sold the theater to Seymour Durst. The building was converted into a pornographic movie theater and, from 1978-1984, a discotheque called Xenon. The facade was designated a New York City Landmark in 1987, and the building was purchased and renovated by Roundabout Theatre Company in 1998. The theater reopened with a Tony Award-winning production of Cabaret but was forced to close again due to a crane collapse during construction on an adjacent building. The interior of the theater was demolished during construction of the Bank of America Tower, and the architectural firm of Cook+Fox designed a new theater within the original facade (which is now located inside the Band of America Tower). In 2010, the theater was renamed the Stephen Sondheim after the American composer, to mark his 80th birthday. It is the first Broadway theater to receive LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) gold status.

"Now Playing." Stephen Sondheim Theatre. Accessed Web, 5/12/17. http://www.stephensondheim.theater.

"Inside the Stephen Sondheim Theatre." Spotlight on Broadway. Accessed Web, 5/12/17. http://www.spotlightonbroadway.com/theater/stephen-sondheim.

"Stephen Sondheim Theatre." Roundabout Theatre Company. Accessed Web, 5/12/17. http://www.roundabouttheatre.org/Your-Visit/Venues---Theatres/Stephen-Sondheim-Theatre.aspx.

"Stephen Sondheim Theatre." Internet Broadway Database. Accessed Web, 5/12/17. https://www.ibdb.com/theatre/stephen-sondheim-theatre-1197.