Booth Theatre
Booth Theatre
4.5
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
Top ways to experience Booth Theatre and nearby attractions
The area
Address
Neighborhood: Theater District
How to get there
- 42nd St – Port Authority Bus Terminal • 4 min walk
- Times Square – 42nd St • 4 min walk
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
10,000 within 3 miles
Attractions
2,743 within 6 miles
Contribute
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.
4.5
136 reviews
Excellent
75
Very good
42
Average
12
Poor
3
Terrible
4
@JD
Newport, UK8 contributions
Nov 2023 • Friends
Went to watch Kimberley Akimbo it was good, people laughed and the storyline was good, but wasn’t 100% my cup of tea. As for the theatre average at best, not a lot to offer in terms of drinks and food. The seats were comfy but view of the stage was semi blocked by heads. I ordered 4 Pepsis that was dispensed from a soda fountain costing a whopping $40. Felt incredibly ripped off. I’d highly recommend bringing your own beverages. considering the cost of tickets expected a better experience.
Written November 28, 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.
Alex H
Los Angeles, CA24 contributions
Nov 2014 • Friends
We went to see Bradley Cooper in "The Elephant Man" here at the Booth Theater, and the play was magnificent. Catching this play was totally unplanned, as we were walking, saw the marquee, and had to get tickets!
This theater is somewhat small and intimate, so you really get to be up close and in the moment with the actors.
Cooper and the rest of the cast including Patricia Clarkson and Alessandro Nivola did an outstanding job with this play, moving me in ways I just can't describe. Even though there was no special effects make-up or prosthetics used on Cooper, not a moment went by that the talented actor did not embody (and convey to the audience) the massive physical deformations of the real John Merrick, as well as his beautiful spirit that allowed him to live.
If you're in NYC go see this play. It isn't a BIG splashy Broadway musical but it is something that you'll never forget.
The Booth Theater itself is great for seeing just a play and I don't think there's a bad seat in the house. The theater also serves alcohol in the lobby and has a very large basement where the bathrooms are located.
My only peeve about this place is during the show they let some people in (several different times) at about 5-or so minutes into the play, which was very distracting. This should not be allowed. If you can't be at the theater on time, you shouldn't be allowed in, especially at the Booth Theater given its size.
Dress is casual.
Here's another tip: if you wait in the promenade area on the side of the Booth Theater sometimes the actors will come out and sign autographs and take pics. But ask one of the people working there if they're going to do that on the day you visit.
Anyway, I posted this review on the play here because it doesn't have its own review section.
This theater is somewhat small and intimate, so you really get to be up close and in the moment with the actors.
Cooper and the rest of the cast including Patricia Clarkson and Alessandro Nivola did an outstanding job with this play, moving me in ways I just can't describe. Even though there was no special effects make-up or prosthetics used on Cooper, not a moment went by that the talented actor did not embody (and convey to the audience) the massive physical deformations of the real John Merrick, as well as his beautiful spirit that allowed him to live.
If you're in NYC go see this play. It isn't a BIG splashy Broadway musical but it is something that you'll never forget.
The Booth Theater itself is great for seeing just a play and I don't think there's a bad seat in the house. The theater also serves alcohol in the lobby and has a very large basement where the bathrooms are located.
My only peeve about this place is during the show they let some people in (several different times) at about 5-or so minutes into the play, which was very distracting. This should not be allowed. If you can't be at the theater on time, you shouldn't be allowed in, especially at the Booth Theater given its size.
Dress is casual.
Here's another tip: if you wait in the promenade area on the side of the Booth Theater sometimes the actors will come out and sign autographs and take pics. But ask one of the people working there if they're going to do that on the day you visit.
Anyway, I posted this review on the play here because it doesn't have its own review section.
Written December 9, 2014
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.
johnmids
London, UK21 contributions
Mar 2012 • Couples
We bought tickets at hot tix, and got excellent seats in the middle of row 4 of the stalls. But I literally couldn't fit into my seat (I'm 6'5") as it had no leg room. I went to the box office, and said I was willing to just sit at the back if there were any unsold seats. I was told, and I quote, "you bought cheap tickets, so you get what we paid for, go back to your seat". Avoid if you can. Sorry, for another negative review.
Written May 20, 2012
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.
gitlaw
Phoenix, AZ60 contributions
Jun 2018
The Booth is a classic Broadway venue, but it is one of the smaller theaters so there really are no bad seats in the entire house. What I particularly like about the Booth is that the seats themselves are not particularly tight and there is ample foot room. If you are seeing a show at the Booth, you won't be able to say anything bad about the venue.
Written June 18, 2018
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.
et111travels
Atlanta66 contributions
Nov 2014 • Couples
We saw the Elephant Man with Bradley Cooper and it was fantastic. This theater is intimate and makes you feel like you are part of the stage or in a living room with the players. Loved the history and architecture of the building.
Written December 6, 2014
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.
stevewilhite
Fort Worth, TX870 contributions
Nov 2014 • Friends
FANTASTIC! Bradley Cooper is AWESOME in this! A wonderful theatre for this production because the smaller and more intimate theater lends itself nicely to it. Go, go, go see this!
Written November 13, 2014
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.
jcmtl1965
Montreal, Canada9,624 contributions
May 2018 • Solo
Recently saw a matinee of Boys in the Band. It was my first time at the Booth theater and it was really nice. I was sitting mezzanine first row. The seats are very comfortable and not quite as close as other theaters.
The play itself was amazing. I had read it but was still stunned. The set was really stunning and all the actors were great.
After the play most actors came out for signings and pictures. Jim Parsons did not, but I was not expecting him to has he had recently hurt a foot doing the play and he had another play a few hours after the matinée.
I know that this is a limited showing, but if you have a chance, you have got to see it.
The play itself was amazing. I had read it but was still stunned. The set was really stunning and all the actors were great.
After the play most actors came out for signings and pictures. Jim Parsons did not, but I was not expecting him to has he had recently hurt a foot doing the play and he had another play a few hours after the matinée.
I know that this is a limited showing, but if you have a chance, you have got to see it.
Written May 27, 2018
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.
LWL3333
Wellington, FL17,965 contributions
Aug 2016 • Couples
Yesterday we saw An Act Of God at this 103 year old medium sized theater. We loved the show and laughed throughout Sean Hayes' performance, but the theater could use some help. We were seated in the last row of the mezzanine and my seat was on about a 30 degree angle. Thankfully, the theater was not full and the usher invited us to move down to the third row, which made a big difference. At least that seat was level. The theater is not as ornately decorated as some others in the Theater District, but the sound was good and the air conditioning worked so well that I was glad I brought a sweater. As is true of quite a number of New York legitimate theaters, the legroom is insufficient, and we are not tall people.
This show is closing in a couple of weeks and tickets are available at half price from the TKTS booth in Time Square or at their new location at Lincoln Center, or from a variety of online vendors.
This show is closing in a couple of weeks and tickets are available at half price from the TKTS booth in Time Square or at their new location at Lincoln Center, or from a variety of online vendors.
Written August 25, 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.
W-Hartford_CT
Connecticut855 contributions
May 2015 • Friends
A boy’s despondency over his father’s untimely death forms the catalyst for the new offbeat and raucous Broadway play, Hands to God. Jason (Steven Boyer) has almost shut down over the anguish he feels. The world is suffocating him. He doesn’t communicate well with his mother Margery (Geneva Carr) who, as a way to cope with her grief, has started a puppet workshop at the local church run by Pastor Greg (Marc Kudisch). Two other adolescents populate the class. Timothy (Michael Oberholtzer), a slacker who has more then a puppy love passion for Margery; and Jessica (Sarah Stiles), a reticent, but assured young woman. Within this stifling tension Jason’s hand puppet, Tyrone, suddenly acquires a mind of its own, a mind both nefarious and outrageous, which proves toxic for all involved.
Playwright Robert Askins has written a truly original play that at its core is an examination of a young man’s descent and, finally ascent, from a personal hell. He has crafted Tyrone to become an extension and conduit of all the hurt and pain Jason feels. While the puppet is devilish, it is not possessed of anything greater then a youth’s demonstrative cries for help. Askins has produced a lot of funny moments in the show, but Hand in God is more a sober affair.
Steven Boyer is superb. He expressively conveys the angst and inner turmoil of Jason. I’m sure many teenagers viewing this character would nod their head silently and knowingly. But his portrayal of the hurting young man is only half of his outstanding performance. During most of the show he is also the life essence of the demonic, foul-mouthed hand puppet Tyrone. This is no simple sock puppet, but one manipulated with two rods. Boyer transforms this inanimate being into a fully fleshed out part of the ensemble. Many times during the play the two—Jason and Tyrone—are arguing or battling it out. It is a truly bravo performance by the actor.
Geneva Carr as Margery is impressive as the impulsive, manic and fragile mother, still suffering the devastating loss of her husband and trying to communicate with her angry son. Carr gives us a heart-wrenching portrayal of a woman in a downward tailspin. Marc Kudisch is plain-speaking, vulnerable and lustful as Pastor Greg. He infuses the minister with a humane and caring quality as the commotion on stage becomes more volatile. Michael Oberholtzer is both menacing and childlike as the libidinous teenager Timothy and Sarah Stiles is soft-spoken, but quietly unflappable and courageous.
Director Moritz von Stuelpnagel adroitly brings out the disquietude within the production. He creates a controlled mayhem and methodical rhythm to the play. His foremost accomplishment is the work he has done with Boyer and Tyrone, both separately and as they meld into one. Even though the focus of the show is on twosome he secures passionate and animated performances from the other actors.
Playwright Robert Askins has written a truly original play that at its core is an examination of a young man’s descent and, finally ascent, from a personal hell. He has crafted Tyrone to become an extension and conduit of all the hurt and pain Jason feels. While the puppet is devilish, it is not possessed of anything greater then a youth’s demonstrative cries for help. Askins has produced a lot of funny moments in the show, but Hand in God is more a sober affair.
Steven Boyer is superb. He expressively conveys the angst and inner turmoil of Jason. I’m sure many teenagers viewing this character would nod their head silently and knowingly. But his portrayal of the hurting young man is only half of his outstanding performance. During most of the show he is also the life essence of the demonic, foul-mouthed hand puppet Tyrone. This is no simple sock puppet, but one manipulated with two rods. Boyer transforms this inanimate being into a fully fleshed out part of the ensemble. Many times during the play the two—Jason and Tyrone—are arguing or battling it out. It is a truly bravo performance by the actor.
Geneva Carr as Margery is impressive as the impulsive, manic and fragile mother, still suffering the devastating loss of her husband and trying to communicate with her angry son. Carr gives us a heart-wrenching portrayal of a woman in a downward tailspin. Marc Kudisch is plain-speaking, vulnerable and lustful as Pastor Greg. He infuses the minister with a humane and caring quality as the commotion on stage becomes more volatile. Michael Oberholtzer is both menacing and childlike as the libidinous teenager Timothy and Sarah Stiles is soft-spoken, but quietly unflappable and courageous.
Director Moritz von Stuelpnagel adroitly brings out the disquietude within the production. He creates a controlled mayhem and methodical rhythm to the play. His foremost accomplishment is the work he has done with Boyer and Tyrone, both separately and as they meld into one. Even though the focus of the show is on twosome he secures passionate and animated performances from the other actors.
Written July 1, 2015
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.
CHSG_1326
Colorado Springs, CO189 contributions
Nov 2014 • Friends
We love the coziness and intimacy of this small theatre. In our opinion, there is not a bad seat in the house. Recently we saw Bradley Cooper in the Elephant Man here and it was truly a delight. Bradley became fascinated with this true story in his youth and went on to visit all of the locations in London and do his master's thesis on The Elephant Man. His understated portrayal of this suffering character, with no makeup, was riviting and unscored his ability to to underplay a role with the result of bringing reality to the surface, versus those actors who overplay a role to underscore their own ego. We are fans of the theatre and the actor.
Written February 14, 2015
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.
Lisa A
New York City, New York
Is there a place to check a suitcase if coming from the airport?
Written May 22, 2018
I doubt it.. Security usually checks visitors' purses, etc, so I'm sure they would not let you in with it.. Better to leave your bag at your final destination 1st,
Written May 23, 2018
Showing results 1-1 of 1
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listingScroll back to Booth Theatre information