Samuel J. Friedman Theatre

The Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (formerly the Biltmore Theatre) is a Broadway theatre located at 261 West 47th Street in midtown-Manhattan.Designed by architect Herbert J. Krapp for impresario Irwin Chanin, it opened on December 7, 1925 with the play Easy Come Easy Go. With a seating capacity of 903, it was one of Broadway’s smaller venues. The theatre was used by Federal Theatre’s Living Newspaper project in the 1930s. CBS leased it for use as a radio and television studio from 1952 until 1961.

In 1968, the groundbreaking rock musical Hair opened at the theatre.In 1987, a fire struck the Biltmore. The blaze, which was later determined to be an act of arson, destroyed the interior. After the fire, the building sat vacant for fourteen years, suffering more structural damage from water and vandals. The theatre’s ownership changed hands several times between 1987 and 2001, but most plans proposed for its future use – such as a showcase for “Best of Broadway” revues – were rejected since its New York City landmark designation required it to operate only as a legitimate Broadway house if renovated.