Walter Kerr Theatre

219 W. 48th St., New York, NY
Seats (approximate): 947

Herbert J. Krapp, architect. Built by the Shuberts. Erected in sixty days, a record in 1921. It was leased by the Federal Theatre Project in 1937. It was used as a radio (later, TV) station from 1943 to 1965, with Alexander Woolcott broadcasting his Broadway commentaries from the stage. After being dark from 1965 to 1969, it was bought and renovated in 1971. Ten years later, Jujamcyn bought it, renovating it further in 1989. In 1990, it was renamed for critic-playwright Walter Kerr.

Built: 1921

Theatre Names	Named
Walter Kerr Theatre	1990	Named for Walter Kerr, critic and playwright. Reopened April 16, 1990
Ritz Theatre	1921	Opened March 21, 1921
Robert F. Kennedy Childrens' Theatre		showed films

Productions

Click here for Special Events

Walter Kerr Theatre	Opening Date
A Little Night Music Musical, Revival, Romantic Comedy Music by Stephen Sondheim; Book by Hugh Wheeler; Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim	12/13/2009
Irena's Vow Play, Original, Drama Written by Dan Gordon	03/29/2009
The Seagull Play, Revival, Comedy, Drama Music by Stephen Warbeck; Written by Anton Chekhov	10/02/2008
A Catered Affair Musical, Original, Music by John Bucchino; Book by Harvey Fierstein; Lyrics by John Bucchino	04/17/2008
A Bronx Tale Special, Original, Solo Written by Chazz Palminteri	10/25/2007
Grey Gardens Musical, Original, Drama Music by Scott Frankel; Book by Doug Wright; Lyrics by Michael Korie	11/02/2006
Doubt Play, Original, Drama Written by John Patrick Shanley	03/31/2005
Gem of the Ocean Play, Original, Written by August Wilson	12/06/2004
Sixteen Wounded Play, Original, Drama Written by Eliam Kraiem	04/15/2004
Take Me Out Play, Original, Drama, Comedy Written by Richard Greenberg	02/27/2003
Proof Play, Original, Drama Written by David Auburn	10/24/2000
A Moon for the Misbegotten Play, Revival, Drama Written by Eugene O'Neill	03/19/2000
Waiting in the Wings Play, Original, Written by Noël Coward	12/16/1999
The Weir Play, Original, Drama Written by Conor McPherson	04/01/1999
The Beauty Queen of Leenane Play, Original, Drama Written by Martin McDonagh	04/23/1998
Forever Tango Special, Original, Dance	06/19/1997
Present Laughter Play, Revival, Comedy Written by Noël Coward	11/18/1996
Seven Guitars Play, Original, Drama Written by August Wilson	03/28/1996
Patti LuPone on Broadway Special, Original, Concert, Solo Written by Jeffrey Richman	10/12/1995
Love! Valour! Compassion! Play, Original, Written by Terrence McNally	02/14/1995
Angels in America: Perestroika Play, Original, Written by Tony Kushner	11/23/1993
Angels in America: Millennium Approaches Play, Original, Written by Tony Kushner	05/04/1993
Two Trains Running Play, Original, Written by August Wilson	04/13/1992
Crazy He Calls Me Play, Original, Written by Abraham Tetenbaum	01/27/1992
I Hate Hamlet Play, Original, Comedy Written by Paul Rudnick	04/08/1991
The Piano Lesson Play, Original, Written by August Wilson	04/16/1990
Ritz Theatre	Opening Date
Chu Chem Musical, Original, Music by Mitch Leigh; Book by Ted Allen; Lyrics by Jim Haines, Jack Wohl	03/17/1989
Penn & Teller Special, Original, Comedy, Magic Written by Penn & Teller	12/01/1987
Late Nite Comic Musical, Original, Music by Brian Gari; Book by Allan Knee; Lyrics by Brian Gari	10/15/1987
A Month of Sundays Play, Original, Comedy Written by Bob Larbey	04/16/1987
Jerome Kern Goes to Hollywood Musical, Original, Revue Music by Jerome Kern; Book by Dick Vosburgh	01/23/1986
Doubles Play, Original, Comedy Written by David Wiltse	05/08/1985
Dancing in the End Zone Play, Original, Written by Bill C. Davis	01/03/1985
Ian McKellen: Acting Shakespeare Play, Revival, Solo	01/19/1984
The Flying Karamazov Brothers Special, Original, Comedy, Variety	05/10/1983
No Sex Please, We're British Play, Original, Written by Alistair Foot, Anthony Marriott	02/20/1973
Hurry, Harry Musical, Original, Music by Bill Weeden; Book by Jeremiah Morris, Lee Kalcheim, Susan Perkis; Lyrics by David Finkle	10/12/1972
Children! Children! Play, Original, Thriller Written by Jack Horrigan	03/07/1972
Dance of Death Play, Original, Drama Written by August Strindberg	04/28/1971
Soon Musical, Original, Music by Scott Fagan, J. M. Kookolis; Book by Martin Duberman; Lyrics by Scott Fagan	01/12/1971
I'll Take the High Road Play, Original, Written by Lucille S. Prumbs	11/09/1943
Tobacco Road Play, Revival, Drama Written by Jack Kirkland	09/04/1943
The First Million Play, Original, Written by Irving Elman	04/28/1943
New Faces of 1943 Musical, Original, Revue Music by Lee Wainer; Book by John Lund; Lyrics by John Lund	12/22/1942
My Sister Eileen Play, Original, Comedy Written by Joseph A. Fields, Jerome Chodorov	11/23/1942
Harlem Cavalcade Musical, Original, Revue, All Black Cast	05/01/1942
Pinocchio Musical, Original, Extravaganza Music by Armando Loredo, Eddison Von Ottenfeld; Book by Yasha Frank; Lyrics by Yasha Frank	12/23/1938
Schoolhouse on the Lot Play, Original, Comedy Written by Joseph A. Fields, Jerome Chodorov	03/22/1938
Murder in the Cathedral Play, Revival, Drama Written by T.S. Eliot	02/16/1938
Time and the Conways Play, Original, Play with music Written by J.B. Priestley	01/03/1938
Love in My Fashion Play, Original, Comedy Written by Charles George	12/03/1937
As You Like It Play, Revival, Comedy Written by William Shakespeare	10/30/1937
On Location Play, Original, Comedy Written by Kent Wiley	09/27/1937
Hymn to the Rising Sun Play, Revival, Written by Paul Green	05/06/1937
Unto Such Glory Play, Revival, Written by Paul Green	05/06/1937
Power Play, Original, Sketches Written by Arthur Arent	02/23/1937
Bassa Mona Musical, Original, Dance, Drama	01/12/1937
Mimie Scheller Play, Original, Drama	09/30/1936
The Kick Back Play, Original,	06/22/1936
Co-respondent Unknown Play, Original, Written by Harold Goldman, Mildred Harris	02/11/1936
Hell Freezes Over Play, Original, Tragedy Written by John Patrick	12/28/1935
Abide With Me Play, Original, Drama	11/21/1935
Petticoat Fever Play, Original, Farce Written by Mark Reed	03/04/1935
The Eldest Play, Original, Comedy Written by Eugenie Courtright	02/11/1935
Prisoners of War Play, Original, Drama Written by J. R. Ackerly	01/28/1935
Piper Paid Play, Original, Drama Written by Sarah B. Smith, Viola Brothers Shore	12/25/1934
So Many Paths Play, Original, Drama Written by Irving Kaye Davis	12/06/1934
All Rights Reserved Play, Original, Comedy Written by Irving Kaye Davis	11/06/1934
Good-bye Please Play, Original, Comedy Written by Burt Clifton	10/24/1934
First Episode Play, Original, Comedy Written by Philip Heimann, Terence Rattigan	09/17/1934
Her Majesty the Widow Play, Original, Comedy	06/18/1934
Furnished Rooms Play, Original, Comedy,Drama Written by Ragnhilde Bruland	05/29/1934
The Wind and the Rain Play, Original, Drama Written by Merton Hodge	02/01/1934
And Be My Love Play, Original, Comedy Written by John Houseman, Lewis Galantiere	01/18/1934
The Wooden Slipper Play, Original, Comedy Written by Samson Raphaelson	01/03/1934
Double Door Play, Original, Melodrama Written by Elizabeth McFadden	09/21/1933
It Happened Tomorrow Play, Original, Comedy Written by D. Frank Marcus, Leo A. Levy	05/05/1933
Strange Gods Play, Original, Drama Written by Jessica Ball	04/15/1933
Before Morning Play, Original, Melodrama Written by Edna G. Riley, Edward P. Riley	02/09/1933
Ruth Draper Special, Original, Sketches Written by Ruth Draper	11/14/1932
Money in the Air Play, Original, Written by Thetta Quay Franks	03/07/1932
Air Minded Play, Original, Comedy Written by Nathaniel Davis	02/10/1932
Adams' Wife Play, Original, Drama Written by Theodore St. John	12/28/1931
Two Seconds Play, Original, Tragedy Written by Elliott Lester	10/09/1931
The Great Man Play, Original, Comedy Written by Paul Hervey Fox	04/07/1931
A Woman Denied Play, Original, Drama Written by Jean Bart	02/25/1931
She Means Business Play, Original, Comedy Written by Samuel Shipman	01/26/1931
Purity Play, Original, Drama Written by Rene Wachthausen	12/25/1930
Schoolgirl Play, Original, Comedy Written by A. W. Pezet, Carman Barnes	11/20/1930
Sisters of the Chorus Play, Original, Comedy Written by Martin Mooney	10/20/1930
Nine Till Six Play, Original, Drama Written by Aimee Stuart, Philip Stewart	09/27/1930
Cafe Play, Original, Comedy Written by Marya Mannes	08/28/1930
Dear Old England Play, Original, Farce, Satire Written by H. F. Maltby	03/25/1930
This Man's Town Play, Original, Drama Written by Willard Robertson	03/10/1930
Mendel, Inc. Play, Original, Comedy Written by David Freedman	11/25/1929
Broken Dishes Play, Original, Comedy Written by Martin Flavin	11/05/1929
Soldiers and Women Play, Original, Drama Written by George Tilton, Paul Hervey Fox	09/02/1929
Courage Play, Original, Comedy Written by Tom Barry	10/08/1928
The Great Power Play, Original, Drama Written by Myron C. Fagan	09/11/1928
Excess Baggage Play, Original, Comedy, Play with music	12/26/1927
Playing the Game Play, Original, Written by Bruce Reynolds	12/19/1927
White Lights Musical, Original, Comedy Music by J. Fred Coots; Book by Leo Donnelly, Paul Gerard Smith; Lyrics by Al Dubin, Dolph Singer	10/11/1927
What the Doctor Ordered Play, Original, Farce Written by Caesar Dunn	08/18/1927
The Thief Play, Revival, Written by Henri Bernstein	04/22/1927
The Legend of Leonora Play, Revival, Comedy Written by James M. Barrie	03/29/1927
Bye, Bye, Bonnie Musical, Original, Comedy Music by Albert Von Tilzer; Book by Bide Dudley; Lyrics by Neville Fleeson	01/13/1927
The Padre Play, Original,	12/27/1926
This Woman Business Play, Original, Comedy Written by Benn W. Levy	12/07/1926
Loose Ends Play, Original, Drama Written by Dion Titheradge	11/01/1926
Potash and Perlmutter, Detectives Play, Original, Comedy Written by Jules Eckert Goodman, Montague Glass	08/31/1926
Beau Gallant Play, Original, Written by Stuart Olivier	04/05/1926
90 Horse Power Play, Original, Comedy Written by Francis DeWitt	03/15/1926
Find Daddy Play, Original, Farce Written by Tadema Bussiere	03/08/1926
A Weak Woman Play, Original, Comedy Written by Ernest Boyd	01/26/1926
Young Blood Play, Original, Written by James Forbes	11/24/1925
The Offense Play, Original, Written by Mordaunt Shairp	11/16/1925
The Man With a Load of Mischief Play, Original, Written by Ashley Dukes	10/26/1925
A Kiss in a Taxi Play, Original, Comedy, Farce Written by Clifford Grey	08/25/1925
Old English Play, Original, Written by John Galsworthy	12/23/1924
Hassard Short's Ritz Revue Musical, Original, Revue	09/17/1924
Shooting Shadows Play, Original, Farce, Melodrama, Mystery Written by Henry Fisk Carlton, William Ford Manley	06/26/1924
The Fatal Wedding Play, Revival, Comedy Written by Theodore Kremer	06/02/1924
The Melody Man Play, Original, Comedy Written by Herbert Richard Lorenz	05/13/1924
Outward Bound Play, Original, Drama Written by Sutton Vane	01/07/1924
The Business Widow Play, Original, Comedy Written by Gladys Unger	12/20/1923
Robert E. Lee Play, Original, History Written by John Drinkwater	11/20/1923
In Love With Love Play, Original, Comedy Written by Vincent Lawrence	08/06/1923
The Enchanted Cottage Play, Original,	03/31/1923
The Sporting Thing To Do Play, Original, Comedy Written by Thompson Buchanan	02/19/1923
The Humming Bird Play, Original, Comedy Written by Maude Fulton	01/15/1923
It Is the Law Play, Original, Melodrama	11/29/1922
Banco Play, Original, Comedy Written by Clare Kummer	09/20/1922
The Advertising of Kate Play, Original, Comedy Written by Annie Nathan Meyer	05/08/1922
Madame Pierre Play, Original, Comedy	02/15/1922
Bluebeard's Eighth Wife Play, Original, Comedy	09/19/1921
A Man About Town Special, Original, Written by John Drinkwater	03/21/1921
Mary Stuart Play, Original, Drama, History, One Act Written by John Drinkwater	03/21/1921