Music Box Theatre
Music Box Theatre
4.5
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Neighborhood: Theater District
How to get there
- 42nd St – Port Authority Bus Terminal • 4 min walk
- Times Square – 42nd St • 5 min walk
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
128 reviews
Excellent
66
Very good
43
Average
8
Poor
8
Terrible
3
ricksmithconsult
Hanford, CA56 contributions
Jul 2024 • Couples
My wife and I went to the Music Box Theater to see the hit musical Suffs. While the play was great, the theater really just wasn’t.
Look, I know that these theaters are old, built long before modern expectations for comfort and convenience. Still…I’ve been to three different theaters this week, and this is undoubtedly the worst. First, there is no real lobby, so nowhere for anyone to be except basically in their seat. Most other theaters, even if this age, have bars on multiple levels. Here there is exactly one, in the basement. If you are seated in the mezzanine, you must go down three flights of stairs, wait in a very long line, see one of two bartenders, then climb three flights to get back to your seat. Since they only open the doors 30 minutes before the curtain and you must go through metal detectors and bag searches, you are lucky to get through the line in time. Again, I know they’re old, but if you can put a merch booth in the mezzanine, you can at least sell bottled water up there also. This theater also had very poor air conditioning; it was uncomfortably warm throughout the show.
People don’t really pick a theater, they pick a show. Suffs is worth some hassle, but other shows might not be. Given the cost of theater tickets, it would be nice to see some much-needed improvements to this tired old theater.
Look, I know that these theaters are old, built long before modern expectations for comfort and convenience. Still…I’ve been to three different theaters this week, and this is undoubtedly the worst. First, there is no real lobby, so nowhere for anyone to be except basically in their seat. Most other theaters, even if this age, have bars on multiple levels. Here there is exactly one, in the basement. If you are seated in the mezzanine, you must go down three flights of stairs, wait in a very long line, see one of two bartenders, then climb three flights to get back to your seat. Since they only open the doors 30 minutes before the curtain and you must go through metal detectors and bag searches, you are lucky to get through the line in time. Again, I know they’re old, but if you can put a merch booth in the mezzanine, you can at least sell bottled water up there also. This theater also had very poor air conditioning; it was uncomfortably warm throughout the show.
People don’t really pick a theater, they pick a show. Suffs is worth some hassle, but other shows might not be. Given the cost of theater tickets, it would be nice to see some much-needed improvements to this tired old theater.
Written July 28, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wendy x
Atlanta, GA144 contributions
Jun 2022
TERRIBLE leg room. I'm 6'1" and maxed out the orchestra seats. I can't imagine anyone taller fitting in here. They might host great musicals but it's simply impossible if you're any taller than I am!
Written July 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jerseygurlinmd
Columbia, MD23 contributions
Nov 2023 • Friends
The only reason why I am giving this place five stars is because of the outstanding customer service I received from the ushers Beth and Alberta. They knew I was very uncomfortable in the cramped seats and they allowed me to move to another location. They made my theater experience so much better.
Written November 12, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
beckyberry822
Little Falls, NJ485 contributions
Mar 2022 • Family
Been here before but attended the Dear Evan Hansen Broadway Show tonight.
It is so great to be back in NYC for a Broadway show! The venue is clean and rather large. The staff is friendly and helpful!
Surprisingly enough, the orchestra seats are very comfortable with enough leg room and you don’t feel like you are a sardine sitting next to people.
The sound is perfect! I was seated in D6 and for this show, the seat was perfect! I could see the entire stage and what was going on!
On a side note regarding the show - great acting! A modern plot. It was good, but I’m not sure it deserved all the awards it received!
Covid-19 Protocol - Mask at all times in theater. Must show vaccination card.
It is so great to be back in NYC for a Broadway show! The venue is clean and rather large. The staff is friendly and helpful!
Surprisingly enough, the orchestra seats are very comfortable with enough leg room and you don’t feel like you are a sardine sitting next to people.
The sound is perfect! I was seated in D6 and for this show, the seat was perfect! I could see the entire stage and what was going on!
On a side note regarding the show - great acting! A modern plot. It was good, but I’m not sure it deserved all the awards it received!
Covid-19 Protocol - Mask at all times in theater. Must show vaccination card.
Written March 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sunset92
Brooklyn, NY1,742 contributions
Sep 2022
I really liked this theater. It’s a very nice theater. The isles are wide. The seats were comfortable. I didn’t feel cramped in my seat as I have in other theaters. We were seated mid Orchestra and had the perfect view. The staff does a good job seating everyone and clearing the theater at the end of the show. You get in and out, fairly quickly.
Written September 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LaVerneH929
Harrisburg, PA5 contributions
Jul 2016 • Couples
I am terribly disappointed after pay a fortune for orchestra seats. Stage was above eye level and we could not see anything unless we held our heads back.
Please don't go by the seating chart that ticketron shows. You'll get cheated out of your money. Sit further back and pay less and see the show.
Please don't go by the seating chart that ticketron shows. You'll get cheated out of your money. Sit further back and pay less and see the show.
Written July 5, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sarah B
15 contributions
Aug 2017 • Family
Review of the Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street, NY NY)
In February I bought two tickets to Dear Evan Hansen at the Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street, NY NY) premium tickets at $400 each. My daughter Stella was dying to see this show. Stella is 13; the show was supposed to be a 14th birthday present from me. Our tickets were for the matinee on Sunday, August 13th, and you cannot imagine how crushed she was when we saw that not one but BOTH principals, Platt AND Dreyfuss, were out.
One I understand--that happens. But to have BOTH stars, BOTH actors my daughter was looking forward to seeing not in the show is unacceptable.
I wrote to the show and asked for compensation: a refund or even a partial refund, two tickets to see it again with Ben Platt before he leaves in November, OR a charitable donation in the amount of our tickets to an organization that supports at-risk teens. The show offered nothing and told me to contact Telecharge. I wrote Telecharge and asked for the same compensation. They contacted the theatre, the Music Box Theatre, which “offered” to SELL us standing room tickets, which has to be the crummiest compensation offer I’ve ever heard.
The Telecharge customer I spoke with said that we could have gotten up and exchanged the tickets for another night or gotten a refund so long as we did it before the show started but there was nothing in the email I was sent previous to the show, regarding theatre policies, to indicate as much, nothing obvious in the program (if that policy was in the program at all, it was in tiny print somewhere, I wouldn't even have had time to find it even if I'd pulled out my phone flashlight to search for it), nothing under the notice outside the theatre that said Ben Platt would be out (and the notice that Dreyfuss would be out was hidden inside the program). There was absolutely no obvious text anywhere stating that we were entitled to a refund if we didn't stay for the show.. A very mean trick to play on fans of Ben Platt, who are mostly young people.
The producers of this show and the Music Box Theatre should be ashamed of themselves. They get a star and jack up the price of the tickets--ours were $800 for both, more than I've ever spent on a production of any kind in my life--and then offer no compensation when the star is out. This was going to be the highlight of my daughter's summer and she was crushed. She'd been looking forward to it since February. As I said, it would have made her and me feel a million times better if the theatre or producers were to make a charitable donation to a cause that helps young people: we were not even asking for anything for ourselves. But they refused to do even that.
I will never, ever buy tickets to a show at the Music Box Theatre again, and honestly because I this experience I will think twice before seeing any Broadway show again at all.
In February I bought two tickets to Dear Evan Hansen at the Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street, NY NY) premium tickets at $400 each. My daughter Stella was dying to see this show. Stella is 13; the show was supposed to be a 14th birthday present from me. Our tickets were for the matinee on Sunday, August 13th, and you cannot imagine how crushed she was when we saw that not one but BOTH principals, Platt AND Dreyfuss, were out.
One I understand--that happens. But to have BOTH stars, BOTH actors my daughter was looking forward to seeing not in the show is unacceptable.
I wrote to the show and asked for compensation: a refund or even a partial refund, two tickets to see it again with Ben Platt before he leaves in November, OR a charitable donation in the amount of our tickets to an organization that supports at-risk teens. The show offered nothing and told me to contact Telecharge. I wrote Telecharge and asked for the same compensation. They contacted the theatre, the Music Box Theatre, which “offered” to SELL us standing room tickets, which has to be the crummiest compensation offer I’ve ever heard.
The Telecharge customer I spoke with said that we could have gotten up and exchanged the tickets for another night or gotten a refund so long as we did it before the show started but there was nothing in the email I was sent previous to the show, regarding theatre policies, to indicate as much, nothing obvious in the program (if that policy was in the program at all, it was in tiny print somewhere, I wouldn't even have had time to find it even if I'd pulled out my phone flashlight to search for it), nothing under the notice outside the theatre that said Ben Platt would be out (and the notice that Dreyfuss would be out was hidden inside the program). There was absolutely no obvious text anywhere stating that we were entitled to a refund if we didn't stay for the show.. A very mean trick to play on fans of Ben Platt, who are mostly young people.
The producers of this show and the Music Box Theatre should be ashamed of themselves. They get a star and jack up the price of the tickets--ours were $800 for both, more than I've ever spent on a production of any kind in my life--and then offer no compensation when the star is out. This was going to be the highlight of my daughter's summer and she was crushed. She'd been looking forward to it since February. As I said, it would have made her and me feel a million times better if the theatre or producers were to make a charitable donation to a cause that helps young people: we were not even asking for anything for ourselves. But they refused to do even that.
I will never, ever buy tickets to a show at the Music Box Theatre again, and honestly because I this experience I will think twice before seeing any Broadway show again at all.
Written September 18, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello,
I'm sorry you've had this experience. We thank you for your patronage.
Best,
Brian
Theatre Operations
Written August 3, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Mike_Kwasniak
Ipswich, UK813 contributions
Sep 2019
The Music Box theatre is typical of many Broadway theatres, utilitarian in appearance, a wide auditorium with tightly spaced seats. The mezzanine has a fairly shallow rake, though from the centre of the third row only a tiny part of the stage was masked by people in front of us. Seats are reasonably comfortable but there is insufficient leg room, and it’s quite difficult to pass other patrons while reaching your seat.
I’m disappointed to write that I liked but didn’t love ‘Dear Evan Hansen’. Friends who saw Ben Platt described his Evan Hansen as one of the great performances on Broadway, but I’m not sure that baton has been passed on, and I found Andrew Barth Feldman’s facial ticks and gurning irritating and alienating, particularly through the first act. For our money, the parents come out best in the current production, acting and singing with truth, commitment and clarity.
I expected to cry (inevitable!) and did - particularly through the finale of act 1, a number so familiar, brilliantly staged.
The design is sophisticated, mixing gauze projections and LED screens to surround and support the many short scenes, and it all looks superb - worth seeing from the mezzanine/dress circle, as the projections cover the floor as well as the space. It’s beautifully lit too. The sound mix was a little challenging at times, with too much from the orchestra, and God only knows what was going on with Gabrielle Carrubba’s mic, which at times sounded like someone had forgotten to switch it on.
I’m really pleased we’ll be seeing the London production of this show in a couple of months time and look forward to seeing another actor taking on the huge challenge of this demanding role.
I’m disappointed to write that I liked but didn’t love ‘Dear Evan Hansen’. Friends who saw Ben Platt described his Evan Hansen as one of the great performances on Broadway, but I’m not sure that baton has been passed on, and I found Andrew Barth Feldman’s facial ticks and gurning irritating and alienating, particularly through the first act. For our money, the parents come out best in the current production, acting and singing with truth, commitment and clarity.
I expected to cry (inevitable!) and did - particularly through the finale of act 1, a number so familiar, brilliantly staged.
The design is sophisticated, mixing gauze projections and LED screens to surround and support the many short scenes, and it all looks superb - worth seeing from the mezzanine/dress circle, as the projections cover the floor as well as the space. It’s beautifully lit too. The sound mix was a little challenging at times, with too much from the orchestra, and God only knows what was going on with Gabrielle Carrubba’s mic, which at times sounded like someone had forgotten to switch it on.
I’m really pleased we’ll be seeing the London production of this show in a couple of months time and look forward to seeing another actor taking on the huge challenge of this demanding role.
Written September 24, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jake23
New Jersey6,846 contributions
Nov 2017 • Couples
Nice theatre overall, right in the heart of the theatre district. Views from the mezzanine were very good as its not a very big theatre. Seats are small with little leg room if you are 6'1 or over. In terms of Dear Evan Hansen, it's an excellent show absolutely worth seeing.
Written November 25, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lynn B
Bethel Park, PA19 contributions
May 2017 • Friends
Last night I saw Dear Evan Hansen. My ticket was a gift and although I realized it was a partially obstructed view, i didn't realize my seat offered little to no legroom in front row. Especially for a "woman of size".
Although I explained my problem to Michele, who supervised our usher, there was little to be done because the show was sold out. At intermission I got up to leave because my legs were in such pain and saw Michele who had discussed my dilemma with house manager, John. They found me a wonderful seat that had opened and I comfortably enjoyed the second act.
Kudos to Music Box's staff!
Although I explained my problem to Michele, who supervised our usher, there was little to be done because the show was sold out. At intermission I got up to leave because my legs were in such pain and saw Michele who had discussed my dilemma with house manager, John. They found me a wonderful seat that had opened and I comfortably enjoyed the second act.
Kudos to Music Box's staff!
Written May 27, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What are the best "cheap" seats for Dear Evan Hansen at this theatre? I am try to stay in the $99 range (cheapest are $89). I trust I won't be able to sit anywhere in the center. What about orchestra vs mezzanine? Partial view? How far back is too far in this theatre?
Written June 29, 2019
I sat in the mezzanine section and I was super glad I did because I loved looking at the show from the top and no seat is a bad seat because the theater is super small. Stay in your price range and you won’t be disappointed 😉👍🏼
Written June 29, 2019
Yes. They will first search it. However the seating is very tight and not much leg room to put backpack on floor
Written March 14, 2019
Are there any good restaurants close to the theatre?
Written August 8, 2018
diznyfreak4ever
Bakersfield, California
We are coming to New York from California and are seeing DEH and have purchased partial view tickets for Orchestra Row A seats 101-103. What is meant by partial view? I have not been able to figure this out and would love some information. Thanks!
Written August 8, 2018
I sat in similar seats, in Row AA. The partial view is due to the height of the stage in relation to the seats and closeness to the stage. You'll have an excellent view, you just may not always see all set pieces in their entirety or the actors' feet. But you're so close to the action you'll feel immersed in the production. You have nothing to be concerned about with these seats and the show is amazing!
If any of your party are very short, you can always get a booster seat to help. The two adult women beside me both used boosters, I had no issues being over 6'. Enjoy!!
Written August 9, 2018
I would absolutely call them or email to see if they do as it may depend on the size etc. I had a shopping bag and it was fine.
Written May 7, 2018
josephrandrada
New York City, New York
I am seeing tonight's show and coming straight from work. Can I bring along my work bag with my laptop in it to the theater?
Thanks!
Written February 7, 2018
Probably if it’s no bigger than a large purse. They allowed my daughter in with a school backpack. It’s subject to a search of course.
Written February 7, 2018
Does anybody know the email address for the box office? I work at the box office at the Lyceum in London and I would like to contact them :)
Thanks for your help in advance!
Written January 10, 2018
Hi Morgane,
Unfortunately, there is no email for the box office. If you would like to purchase tickets, you can do so at the Telecharge website.
Best,
Brian
Theatre Operations
Written January 17, 2018
Dress as you would for a play at home. Nothing trashy of super fancy.
Junior's restaurant nearby is great for pre or post show. The waiters are so friendly.
Written December 16, 2017
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