Step Inside Marquis Theatre, The Home of Stranger Things: The First Shadow

High above the New York City Theater District, the Marquis Theatre sits as one of the most unique venues on Broadway. The theater is located on the third floor of the New York Marriott Marquis.

Designed by American neofuturistic architect John C. Portman Jr., the theater was built to increase the size of the hotel, which had controversially replaced multiple theaters in the Midtown area. The Marquis Theatre’s box office is located on the ground level at 210 W 46th St, between 7th and 8th Ave, and is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

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

What Events Are Coming Up at Marquis Theatre?

See upcoming events and buy tickets for Marquis Theatre right here on Ticketmaster.

Marquis Theatre History

The Marquis Theatre opened in the summer of 1986 with a series of concerts by the legendary Shirley Bassey, followed by the premiere of Me and My Girl, which ran through the end of the decade. Further productions early in the theater’s history include the 1989 version of Gypsy, the first Broadway revival of Damn Yankees, Victor/Victoria starring Julie Andrews and the Tony-winning 1999 revival of Annie Get Your Gun starring Bernadette Peters.

In 2002, Thoroughly Modern Millie premiered at the Marquis starring newcomers Sutton Foster and Gavin Creel. The musical went on to win six Tony Awards — including Best Musical — and turned the two leads into Broadway mainstays. (Foster would go on to return to the theater just four years later as Janet Van De Graaf in The Drowsy Chaperone.)

Throughout the 2010s, the theater was home to jukebox musicals featuring the songbooks of Frank Sinatra (Come Fly Away) and Jimmy Buffett (Escape to Margaritaville), the most recent revivals of classic Broadway hits like Follies, Evita, and Jekyll & Hyde and the stage adaptation of Tootsie.

After shutting down with the rest of Broadway due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Marquis Theatre reopened in 2022 with the resurrection of Beetlejuice, which transferred to the theater after spending its first year at the Winter Garden Theatre.

Most recently, the Jonas Brothers took over the Marquis for a five-night residency celebrating the release of their 2023 studio effort The Album. Since then, the venue has been home to the short-lived Britney Spears jukebox musical Once Upon a One More Time, the starry 2024 revival of The Wiz and a holiday run of Elf the Musical. In March 2025, the Marquis will welcome the hotly-anticipated premiere of Stranger Things: The First Shadow.

Parking and Admission at Marquis Theatre

There is no designated on-site parking at the Marquis 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.

Items prohibited inside the Marquis Theatre include any and all weapons (including but not limited to firearms, ammunition, knives, swords, scissors, mace, etc.), flashlights or laser pointers, noise-making devices, fireworks, electric bikes or scooters, large professional cameras or video recording equipment and any and all illegal substances.

Marquis Theatre Bag Policy

All bags are subject to inspection upon arrival at the Neil Simon Theatre. Luggage, shopping bags and other large bags that will not fit comfortably under your seat will not be allowed inside the theater. Do not leave personal bags including purses and backpacks unattended once inside the venue.

Marquis Theatre Dress Code

There is no dress code at the Marquis Theatre.

What are the rules for the Marquis Theatre?

Here are some additional rules for the Marquis Theatre in New York City:

• Arrive on time: Late seating is at the discretion of theater management. Late theatergoers seated in the front orchestra will be held in the lobby for 10 minutes after the curtain goes up.
• 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 all restrooms are equipped for use by patrons with disabilities. There are representatives available to escort patrons to wheelchair accessible and transfer seats. However, the theater aisles on the orchestra level are stepped rather than ramped from row X to row AA.

Marquis Theatre Capacity and Seating Options

The Marquis Theatre holds a total capacity of 1,612 theatergoers, split between an orchestra section and an upper mezzanine. The best seats at the Marquis Theatre vary depending on the event and personal preferences. The Marquis Theatre seating chart can be viewed on Ticketmaster.

Food and Beverage Options at Marquis Theatre

The Marquis Theatre offers concessions, drinks and alcoholic beverages for purchase 30 minutes prior to showtime and during intermission. Three bars are located on the theater’s orchestra level with another on the mezzanine level. (Must be 21+ to purchase alcohol.) No outside food or drinks are permitted inside the theater.

Things to Do Near Marquis Theatre

There are many things to do near the Marquis 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 Marquis Theatre

• New York Marriott Marquis, 1535 Broadway, New York, NY 10036
• 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
• 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 Marquis 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