Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater Information

The Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater, part of the Lincoln Center Theaters, was first opened in 1967. The theater was one of three performance spaces on campus and is located in the lower levels of the Vivian Beaumont Theater building. The 299-seat capacity venue was originally called The Forum, until 1973 when it was renamed in honor of Mrs. Newhouse, a New York philanthropist. The theater has always had the goal of presenting a full series of plays and musicals, with an emphasis on premieres by notable playwrights. But this wasn’t always the case.

Early in the theater’s history, Newhouse Theater and the Vivian Beaumont Theater that contained it was managed by Joseph Papp’s New York Shakespeare Festival. When the festival left Lincoln Center in 1978, the Newhouse was mostly rental space for outside producers. While many playwrights and production companies made use of the space, the venue was most often left unused. Hope was restored the following year when a resident company was formed in 1979. But the company only presented two short runs at The Newhouse in 1981. 

Many New York residents and longtime Newhouse fans were worried that the theater would close down or be left abandoned and forgotten. But then, Lincoln Center Theater was established and took over as The Newhouse’s new manager. Gregory Mosher was signed as Director and Bernard Gersten took on the role of Executive Producer. These two and the company they helped support, became a feature in New York’s theater scene. But eventually, in 1991, Linda LeRoy  Janklow and Andrew Bishop succeeded Messrs Lindsay and Mosher as Chairman and Artistic Director bringing new creative energy to the company’s productions.

By this point, Lincoln Center Theater had not only lasted longer than all prior managements combined, but it became America’s largest non-profit theater producing a year-round program of plays at the Beaumont, the Newhouse, and other theaters they owned around New York City.

To this day, the Newhouse still presents and produces some of the best plays in the country. Their style presents some of the best that you can expect from an off-broadway venue, while also giving theater-lovers and fans what they expect from a live theatre venue. From the humble origins of the theater to their heights today, The Newhouse carries on a tradition that has lasted for over 50 years.

For more information on the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater at Lincoln Center these additional pages may be useful to you:

Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater Parking:
Read about parking options and rules at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater.

Ticket Policies:
Read about the special ticket guarantee and refund policies when purchasing from tickets via this website.

Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater Seating Chart:
View the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater at Lincoln Center seating chart and read information on various seating areas.