David H. Koch Theater
{{Short description|Venue at New York City's Lincoln Center}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox venue
| name = David H. Koch Theater
| nickname =
| image = David_H_Koch_Theater_(48269670522).jpg
| image_caption = The David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center, seen from the Lincoln Center Plaza.
| address = 20 Lincoln Center Plaza
| location = New York City
| coordinates = {{coord|40|46|19|N|73|59|1|W|type:landmark|display=it}}
| type = Theatre
| genre =
| built =
| opened = {{Start date|1964|04|23}}
| renovated =
| expanded =
| closed =
| demolished =
| owner = City of New York
| construction_cost =
| former_names = New York State Theater
| seating_type =
| seating_capacity = 2,586
| publictransit = Subway: {{NYCS Broadway-Seventh local|time=bullettext}} at 66th Street–Lincoln Center
NYC Bus: {{NYC bus link|M5|M7|M11|M20|M66|M104}}
| website =
}}
The David H. Koch Theater is a theater for ballet and dance at Lincoln Center in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City. Originally named the New York State Theater,{{cite web| url=http://www.newyorkcitytheatre.com/theaters/newyorkstatetheater/theater.php| title=New York State Theatre| publisher=newyorkcitytheatre.com| access-date=March 26, 2014}} the venue has been home to the New York City Ballet since its opening in 1964, the secondary venue for American Ballet Theatre in the fall, and served as home to the New York City Opera from 1964 to 2011. The theater occupies the south side of the main plaza of Lincoln Center, opposite David Geffen Hall near 63rd Street and Columbus Avenue.
History
File:The David H. Koch Theater photo D Ramey Logan.jpg
Image:New York State Theater by David Shankbone.jpg
{{Lincoln Center map|highlight=11}}
The New York State Theater was built with funds from the State of New York as part of New York State's cultural participation in the 1964–1965 World's Fair. The theater was designed by architects Philip Johnson and John Burgee,{{cite web|title=David H. Koch Theater|url=https://www.nycballet.com/About/David-H-Koch-Theater.aspx|website=New York City Ballet|access-date=February 7, 2017}} opened on April 23, 1964. After the Fair, the State transferred ownership of the theater to the City of New York.
The City leases the theater to Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Inc., which subleases it to City Center of Music and Drama, Inc. (CCMD). The present corporation of CCMD (originally affiliated with New York City Center on 55th Street,{{Cite news |last=Soper |first=Susan |date=December 4, 1977 |title=At City Center |pages=95, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119959132/city-center/ 115] |work=Newsday |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119959073/at-city-centersusan-soper/ |access-date=March 1, 2023}} but now a separate entity) continues to manage the theater today.{{citation needed|date=March 2014}}
Along with the opera and ballet companies, another early tenant of the theater was the now defunct Music Theater of Lincoln Center whose president was composer Richard Rodgers. In the mid 1960s, the company produced fully staged revivals of classic Broadway musicals. These included The King and I; Carousel (with original star, John Raitt); Annie Get Your Gun (revised in 1966 by Irving Berlin for its original star, Ethel Merman); Show Boat; and South Pacific.
In July 2008, oil-and-gas billionaire David H. Koch pledged to provide $100 million over the next ten years to renovate the theater and provide an operating and maintenance endowment. The facility became the David H. Koch Theater at the New York City Ballet Winter gala, November 25 of that year.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/27/arts/dance/27gala.html |title=A Gala Step Forward, With a Historic Toast |last=Macaulay |first=Alastair |date=November 26, 2008 |work=The New York Times |publisher=NYTimes.com |access-date=March 26, 2014}} The theater is to bear his name for at least fifty years, after which it may be renamed; the Koch family retains the right of first refusal for any renaming. Some people continue to refer to the theater by its original name because of the controversial political influencing of David and Charles Koch.{{cite news| last=Burke| first=Siobhan| title=New Dance: From Jetés to Jookin| newspaper=The New York Times| page=30| publisher=NYTimes.com| date=September 8, 2013| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/08/arts/dance/new-dance-from-jetes-to-jookin.html?ref=dancing| access-date=March 26, 2014 }}
Building features and renovation
{{unreferenced section|date=February 2017}}
The theater seats 2,586 and features broad seating on the orchestra level, four main “Rings” (balconies) and a small Fifth Ring, faced with jewel-like lights and a large spherical chandelier in the center of the gold latticed ceiling.
JCJ Architecture of New York City designed renovations with Schuler Shook as theater consultants. In patron areas, the plan replaced and reconfigured all seats and carpeting. The reconfiguration created two aisles in the orchestra level, which previously featured continental-style seating, with no center aisles. It also upgraded restrooms to make them ADA compliant. Work backstage included a new stage lighting system, expansion of the orchestra pit, and a mechanical lift in the pit floor allowing it to be raised to stage level when needed.
The lobby areas of the theater feature many works of modern art, including pieces by Jasper Johns, Lee Bontecou and Reuben Nakian.
Gallery
Image:Interior of the New York State Theater at Lincoln Center (view from the stage - February 12, 2006).jpg|The auditorium, as seen from the stage in 2006
Image:Elie Nadelman New York State Theater by David Shankbone.jpg|The Promenade with Elie Nadelman sculpture
Image:New York State Theater atrium by David Shankbone.jpg|The Promenade
Image:David H. Koch Theater (2022).jpg|Interior view of the David H. Koch Theater in 2022
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|David H. Koch Theater}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20090304090506/http://www.lincolncenter.org/press_release/StateTheaterNamingNews_FINAL_7-9-08.pdf Lincoln Center press release, July 9, 2008]
- [http://www.davidhkochtheater.org David H. Koch Theater website]
- [http://www.nycballet.com/nyst/nyst.html New York City Ballet website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120622200834/http://www.nycballet.com/nyst/nyst.html |date=June 22, 2012 }}
- [http://www.jcj.com JCJ Architecture], architects for 2009 renovation.
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20081212161344/http://pressroom.nycopera.com/pr/nycopera/news/TheaterRenamed.aspx New York City Opera press release, undated]
- [https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/10/arts/10linc.htm New York Times article by Robin Pogrebin, July 10, 2008]
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{{TonyAwards venues}}
{{Koch family}}
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Category:Dance venues in the United States
Category:Modernist architecture in New York City
Category:Music venues completed in 1964
Category:Opera houses in New York City
Category:Philip Johnson buildings
Category:Postmodern architecture in New York City