August Wilson Theatre Information
About The August Wilson Theatre
The August Wilson Theatre is in the heart of the Midtown Manhattan Theater District, close to attractions like Times Square and the Rockefeller Center. At the time of writing, its show in residence is the Broadway musical Cabaret – revived for 2024 with a new seating design including a mezzanine and turntable stage.
It first opened its doors in 1925 when it was known as The Guild Theatre. From 1925 to the present day, it has seen multiple name changes such as the ANTA Theatre and the Virginia Theatre, before landing on The August Wilson Theatre.
Following the death of playwright and Pulitzer Prize winner August Wilson, the theater was renamed in 2005. In a century of productions, it has played host to shows such as Annie, Little Shop of Horrors, and Jersey Boys – cementing its status as a notable Broadway venue. The theater is managed by Jujamcyn Theaters, which has been running since 1956.
Location
You can find this 1,225-seat theater at 245 W 52nd St, New York, NY 10019, between Broadway Avenue and 8th Avenue.
Design & Architecture
August Wilson Theatre was designed by architects C. Howard Crane and Kenneth Franzheim, and was constructed by the Theatre Guild in 1925, opening as the Guild Theatre. Although it has been used as a theatre for the majority of its years, in 1943, the building was leased to WOR-Mutual Radio as a studio.
Name Changes
The theatre has changed name many times over the years, becoming known as the ANTA Theatre in 1950, when it was purchased by the American National Theater and Academy, and in 1981, having been purchased by Jujamcyn Theaters, it changed its name once more; this time to the Virginia Theatre, after owner and Jujamcyn Board member Virginia McKnight Binger.
It was once again renamed fourteen days after American playwright August Wilson’s death, in honor of him. August Wilson Theatre is known for its state-of-the-art sound and lighting, its second-to-none acoustics and its phenomenal views of the stage.
August Wilson Theatre history
The August Wilson Theatre was founded by the Theatre Guild, a well-known theatrical society that dates back to 1919, opening its doors as the Guild Theatre in 1925. It has undergone many transformations since.
Originally, the Guild Theatre was based on 35th Street. It later moved to 52nd Street and changed its name several times, including to the ANTA Theatre and Virginia Theatre, before settling on August Wilson following his death in 2005.
In 2023, the theater’s current management team, Jujamcyn, announced plans to merge with the Ambassador Theatre Group. This combined group now operates seven Broadway theaters, including the August Wilson.
Fresh for 2024, the venue was transformed for the ‘Cabaret’ musical, with new seats around a turntable stage and an added mezzanine seating area. It has been rethemed and is now known as the Kit Kat Club, with an extra entrance in an alleyway.
Hosted Productions
World-famous productions to have taken place at the theater include:
- 1925: Caesar and Cleopatra
- 1930: The Garrick Gaieties
- 1950: Twentieth Century
- 1950: The Tower Beyond Tragedy
- 1958: Say, Darling
- 1961: A Man for All Seasons
- 1964: The Owl and the Pussycat
- 1965: The Royal Hunt of the Sun
- 1969: Our Town
- 1972: The Last of Mrs. Lincoln
- 1974: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
- 1976: Bubbling Brown Sugar
- 1981: Copperfield
- 1983: On Your Toes
- 1988: Carrie
- 1989: City of Angels
- 1992: Jelly’s Last Jam
- 1993: My Fair Lady
- 1995: Smokey Joe’s Cafe
- 2000: The Wild Party
- 2000: The Best Man
- 2001: King Hedley II
- 2003: Little Shop of Horrors
- 2005: Jersey Boys
- 2017: Groundhog Day
- 2017: Home for the Holidays
- 2018: Mean Girls
- 2021: Pass Over
- 2022: Funny Girl
- 2024: Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club.