Inside St. James Theatre: Where Broadway Shines Bright on Sunset Boulevard

The St. James Theatre opened in 1927. Designed in a neo-Georgian style by Warren and Wetmore, the venue was originally named after theater mogul A.L. Erlanger. In 1932, the theater was rechristened to match the theater of the same name on London’s West End.

The St. James Theatre box office is located at 246 W 44th St, between 7th and 8th Ave, and 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.

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

What Events Are Coming Up at St. James Theatre?

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

St. James Theatre History

The St. James Theatre opened at Erlanger’s Theater in 1927 with the musical The Merry Malones. Following A.L. Erlanger’s death in 1930, Lodewick Vroom became the theater’s new owner and changed its name to the St. James. One of its earliest notable milestones was the first full-length production of Hamlet ever performed in the United States in 1938.

From 1941 to 1956, the theater was owned by the Shubert family, until they were forced to sell the building as part of an antitrust lawsuit. In that time, it was home to the original Broadway productions of Oklahoma!, Peter Pan, The King and I, The Pajama Game and more.

Through the 1960s and ‘70s, the St. James saw a run of hits including the original production of Hello Dolly! starring Carol Channing, 1776, Two Gentlemen of Verona, the first revivals of both A Streetcar Named Desire and My Fair Lady.

The St. James underwent a major renovation in 1985, just in time for the long-running 42nd Street to transfer to its stage, followed by the 1989 revival of Gypsy, the original cast of The Secret Garden and The Who’s Tommy.

In 2001, The Producers opened at the theater starring Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick. The musical won a record-breaking 12 Tony Awards that season, spawned a 2005 film adaptation and eventually ran for 2,502 performances through 2007. More recent hits include the 2008 revival of Gypsy starring Patti LuPone and Laura Benanti, the stage adaptations of Green Day’s American Idiot and Bring It On, the 2014 revival of Side Show, and the Tony-winning Something Rotten.

Disney’s Frozen took over the St. James in 2018 and ran for two years before becoming the first Broadway show to close due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Following Broadway’s re-opening, the St. James has been home to Bruce Springsteen’s revived residency, David Byrne’s American Utopia, the star-studded 2022 revival of Into the Woods, New York, New York, the 2023 revival of Spamalot and Sufjan Stevens’ dance revue Illinoise, featuring direction and choreography by Justin Peck of New York City Ballet.

In 2024, the groundbreaking revival of SUNSET BLVD opened at the St. James Theatre after an acclaimed run in London’s West End.

Parking and Admission at St. James Theatre

There is no designated on-site parking at the St. James 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 St. James Theatre include weapons of any kind including but not limited to firearms, knives, tasers, mace and pepper spray, personal alarms, glass bottles or containers, lighters, bikes, e-bikes, e-scooters, alcohol and any and all illegal substances.

St. James 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.

St. James Theatre Dress Code

There is no dress code at the St. James Theatre.

What are the rules for the St. James Theatre?

Here are some additional rules for the St. James 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 single-stall, all-gender restroom on the main floor is equipped for use by patrons with disabilities. Theater representatives are available to escort patrons to wheelchair accessible seats.

St. James Theatre Capacity and Seating Options

The St. James Theatre has a total capacity of 1,709 seats, split across an orchestra level, a mezzanine and an upper balcony. The best seats at St. James Theatre vary depending on the event and personal preferences. The St. James Theatre seating chart can be viewed on Ticketmaster.

Food and Beverage Options at St. James Theatre

Cocktails, snacks and non-alcoholic beverages are available for purchase at bars on each level of the St. James Theatre.

Things to Do Near St. James Theatre

There are many things to do near the St. James 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 St. James Theatre

• InterContinental New York Times Square, an IHG Hotel, 300 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036
• The Westin New York at Times Square, 270 W 43rd St, New York, NY 10036
• Hilton New York Times Square, 234 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036
• New York Marriott Marquis, 1535 Broadway, New York, NY 10036
• Casablanca Hotel, 147 W 43rd St, New York, NY 10036
• The Chatwal – The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, 130 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036
• The Times Square EDITION, 701 7th Ave, New York, NY 10036
• Hyatt Centric Times Square New York, 135 W 45th St, New York, NY 10036

Restaurants Near St. James Theatre

• Junior’s Restaurant & Bakery, 1515 Broadway, W 45th St, New York, NY 10036
• LOS TACOS No. 1, 229 W 43rd St, New York, NY 10036
• Rudy’s Bar & Grill, 627 9th Ave, New York, NY 10036
• Birdland Jazz Club, 315 W 44th St #5402, New York, NY 10036
• Gurumé, 313 W 46th St, New York, NY 10036
• RA Sushi Bar Restaurant, 229 W 43rd St Unit 221, New York, NY 10036
• Iron Bar & Lounge NYC – Hell’s Kitchen, 713 8th Ave, New York, NY 10036
• Molyvos, 402 W 43rd St, New York, NY 10036