 The Theater Center when it was still named The Snapple Theater Center | |
 | |
| Address | 210 West 50th Street New York City United States |
|---|---|
| Owner | Catherine Russell |
| Type | Off-Broadway |
| Capacity | Jerry Orbach: 199 Anne L. Bernstein: 199 |
| Production | The Fantasticks , Perfect Crime |
| Opened | May 22, 2006 |
| Website | |
| www | |
The Theater Center (known as The Snapple Theater Center until 2016) is an off-Broadway theater on 50th Street in Manhattan, New York City. It has two stages. [1]
The complex was built by actress and producer Catherine Russell in partnership with Snapple, marking Off-Broadway's first such corporate sponsorship. [2] It opened as the Snapple Theater Center on May 22, 2006, with Wendy Kaufman, "the Snapple Lady," ceremonially lighting the marquee. [3] Long-running play Perfect Crime (starring Russell) transferred to the Theater Center upon the facility's opening, and a revival of The Fantasticks was mounted that summer. [4]
In 2007, the space in which The Fantasticks was performed was named in honor of actor Jerry Orbach, who starred as El Gallo in that show's original production in 1960. [5] In 2012, the other space was named for producer Anne L. Bernstein. [6]
In May 2016, the theater dropped "Snapple" from its name and became "The Theater Center". [7] [8]
The Fantasticks closed in June 2017. [9] [10] Various other productions came to the Jerry Orbach thereafter. In 2021, Perfect Crime was the first live stage production in New York City to receive approval from Actors' Equity to resume performances after theatres were shuttered due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [11] In January, 2022, thieves stole copper pipes from the building, disabling the plumbing and heating and necessitating the cancellation of twelve performances of Perfect Crime. [12] As of 2023 [update] , Perfect Crime continues its run in the space. [13]
It is a 20,000-square-foot (1,900 m2) state of the art entertainment center consisting of two theaters with a total seating capacity of 398, rehearsal studios, contemporary lobbies, WiFi, two bars with cabaret-style seating and two merchandise stands. There are two stages, the Anne L. Bernstein Theater and the Jerry Orbach Theater. [14] [15]
An off-Broadway theatre is any professional theatre venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, inclusive. These theatres are smaller than Broadway theatres, but larger than off-off-Broadway theatres, which seat fewer than 100.
Jerome Bernard Orbach was an American actor and singer, described at the time of his death as "one of the last bona fide leading men of the Broadway musical and global celebrity on television" and a "versatile stage and film actor".
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Thomas Collins Jones was an American lyricist and librettist, best known for The Fantasticks, 110 in the Shade, and I Do! I Do!.
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Aaron Maximillian "Max" Crumm is an American actor and singer known for their work on the New York stage. They have originated starring roles on Broadway in both the revival of Grease as Danny Zuko, after winning NBC's talent search competition, Grease: You're the One That I Want!, and in Seth Rudetsky's Disaster! as Scott, after playing the role Off-Broadway. Crumm also played starring roles in The Fantasticks as Matt, The Evolution Of Mann as Henry Mann, Hot Mess as Max, Brooklyn Crush as Christian Mohammed Schwartzelberg, and in Jersey Shoresical as The Situation.
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Anne Kauffman is an American director known primarily for her work on new plays, mainly in the New York area. She is a founding member of the theater group the Civilians. She made her Broadway debut with the Scott McPherson play Marvin's Room (2017) and returned with the revival of the Lorraine Hansberry play The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window (2023).
Catherine Russell is an American stage actress, professor, general manager, and producer. She is best known for her remarkable achievement of never having taken a sick or vacation day in the Off-Broadway play Perfect Crime since its opening in 1987. Russell also holds the world record for the most performances as the same character in that play.
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