Inside Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, The Spellbinding Stage of Death Becomes Her

A theater to die for! The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre opened in 1910 as the Globe Theatre. Designed by the architecture firm Carrère and Hastings for theater mogul Charles Dillingham, the building was constructed in the popular Beaux-Arts style of the time.

The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre’s box office is located at 205 W 46th St, between Broadway and 8th Ave. The box office is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on single-show days and 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on two-show days.

Below, dive into everything you need to know about the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, from its history and past major productions to its seating capacity, admission policies and more.

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Lunt-Fontanne Theatre History

The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre was originally known as the Globe Theatre, New York City’s answer to the Shakespearean playhouse in London. Opening in 1910, the first production at the venue was the musical The Old Town starring Dave Montgomery and Fred Stone. Six years later, a young Lynn Fontanne — eventually one of the theater’s namesakes — performed in the 1916 play The Harp of Life.

Other early highlights include the Ziegfeld Follies of 1921 starring W.C. Fields and Fanny Brice and two versions of George White’s Scandals featuring scores by George Gershwin.

In the mid-1930s, the theater’s manager, producer Charles Dillingham, filed bankruptcy due to the Great Depression. In 1938, the new owner announced the space would start hosting five-act vaudeville performances as well as film screenings, including the premiere of the 1947 documentary The Roosevelt Story.

The theater received a major renovation in the 1950s, and reopened in 1958 as the Lunt-Fontanne, named after theatrical power couple Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne. Notable productions under the new name included the 1959 Broadway premiere of The Sound of Music, the 1972 revival of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, the 1976 revival of My Fair Lady, the 1978 staging of Hello, Dolly! starring Carol Channing and Eddie Bracken, the 1984 revival of The Wiz starring Stephanie Mills, and Channing’s return to the role of Dolly Levi in the third 1995 revival.

In 1999, Beauty and the Beast transferred to the Lunt-Fontanne, where it became the longest-running show in the theater’s history before closing in 2007. It was followed by another Disney production, The Little Mermaid, in 2008.

Since the 2010s, the Lunt-Fontanne has been home to hits like The Addams Family (2010), Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons on Broadway! and Kristin Chenoweth: My Love Letter to Broadway (both in 2016), Summer: The Donna Summer Musical (2018), and Broadway residencies by the likes of Mel Brooks, Regina Spektor, Criss Angel and Dave Chappelle.

In 2019, the Tina Turner biopic Tina: The Musical opened at the theater, followed by the Josh Groban-led revival of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street in 2023 and the Broadway adaptation of Death Becomes Her in 2024. Today, the venue is owned by the Nederlander Organization.

Parking and Admission at Lunt-Fontanne Theatre

There is no designated on-site parking at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. However, there are numerous parking options in the Broadway Theater District. A display of the various parking options around Times Square can be viewed on Google Maps. Taxis can also stop outside the theater for dropoff and pickup.

At the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, doors open 30 minutes prior to performances. To allow time for security and bag inspection, it’s recommended that fans arrive no less than 15 minutes before showtime.

Items prohibited inside Lunt-Fontanne Theatre include weapons of any kind (including but not limited to firearms, ammunition, knives, swords, scissors, mace, pepper spray and any dangerous items), outside food or beverage, large professional cameras or video recording equipment, flashlights, laser pointers, noise makers, fireworks, electric bikes or scooters, and any and all illegal substances.

Lunt-Fontanne Theatre Bag Policy

All bags are subject to inspection upon arrival at the theater, and should fit comfortably beneath your ticketed seat. Luggage, shopping bags and other large packages cannot be checked and will not be allowed in the theater.

Lunt-Fontanne Theatre Dress Code

There is no dress code at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.

What are the rules for the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre?

Here are some additional rules for the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in New York City:

• Arrive on time: Late seating is at the discretion of theater management and varies by section. Late theatergoers are generally held at the back of the theater through the first song of the show and then escorted to their assigned seat by an usher.
• No outside food or drink: The theater has multiple concession stands. There is an exception for food and drink necessary for medical reasons.
• Theater etiquette: Keep quiet, turn off your phone, don’t take photos or record, and stay seated. Talking, even whispering, distracts the audience and those on stage.
• Accessible seating: The theater has accessible seating in the orchestra section (pending availability) and a restroom on the main floor is equipped for use by patrons with disabilities. Theater representatives are available to escort patrons to wheelchair accessible seats.

Lunt-Fontanne Theatre Capacity and Seating Options

The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre has a total capacity of 1,505 seats divided into an orchestra level, upper mezzanine and box seats. The best seats at Lunt-Fontanne Theatre vary depending on the event and personal preferences. The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre seating chart can be viewed on Ticketmaster.

Food and Beverage Options at Lunt-Fontanne Theatre

Cocktails, non-alcoholic beverages and snacks are available for purchase at multiple bars in the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. Bars are located in the theater’s lower lounge, on the main lobby level and in the mezzanine. All bars are open prior to showtime and during intermission.

Things to Do Near Lunt-Fontanne Theatre

There are many things to do near the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, including museums, parks, and other attractions:

• Museum of Modern Art (MoMA): A renowned museum with a collection of modern and contemporary art
• Rockefeller Center: A complex with the Top of the Rock observation deck, ice skating rink, and Radio City Music Hall
• Central Park: A serene park with walking paths, gardens, and historical landmarks
• Columbus Circle: A major landmark and transportation hub at the southwestern corner of Central Park, complete with a giant shopping mall and restaurants.

Hotels Near Lunt-Fontanne Theatre

• SpringHill Suites New York Manhattan Times Square, 223 W 46th St, New York, NY 10036
• W New York – Times Square, 1567 Broadway, New York, NY 10036
• New York Marriott Marquis, 1535 Broadway, New York, NY 10036
• Hotel Edison, 228 W 47th St, New York, NY 10036
• Renaissance New York Times Square Hotel, Two Times Square 714 Seventh Ave At, W 48th St, New York, NY 10036
• Tempo by Hilton New York Times Square, 1568 Broadway, New York, NY 10036
• The Times Square EDITION, 701 7th Ave, New York, NY 10036
• The Muse New York, 130 W 46th St, New York, NY 10036

Restaurants Near Lunt-Fontanne Theatre

• Trattoria Trecolori, 254 W 47th St, New York, NY 10036
• La Masseria NY, 235 W 48th St, New York, NY 10036
• Connolly’s, 121 W 45th St, New York, NY 10036
• Carmine’s, 200 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036
• Oceana, 120 W 49th St, New York, NY 10020
• Birdland Jazz Club, 315 W 44th St #5402, New York, NY 10036
• Ellen’s Stardust Diner, 1650 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
• Via Brasil NYC, 34 W 46th St, New York, NY 10036