The David H. Koch Theater is a theater for ballet, modern and other forms of dance, part of the Lincoln Center, at the intersection of Columbus Avenue and 63rd Street in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City. Originally named the New York State Theater,[1] the venue has been home to the New York City Ballet since its opening in 1964, the secondary venue for the 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.
David H. Koch Theater
The David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center, seen from the Lincoln Center Plaza.
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,[2] 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,[3] but now a separate entity) continues to manage the theater today.[citation needed]
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.[4] 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.[5]
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.
Interior view of the David H. Koch Theater in 2022
Referencesedit
^"New York State Theatre". newyorkcitytheatre.com. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
^"David H. Koch Theater". New York City Ballet. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
^Soper, Susan (December 4, 1977). "At City Center". Newsday. pp. 95, 115. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
^Macaulay, Alastair (November 26, 2008). "A Gala Step Forward, With a Historic Toast". The New York Times. NYTimes.com. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
^Burke, Siobhan (September 8, 2013). "New Dance: From Jetés to Jookin". The New York Times. NYTimes.com. p. 30. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to David H. Koch Theater.
David H. Koch Theater website
New York City Ballet website June 22, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
JCJ Architecture, architects for 2009 renovation.
New York Times article by Robin Pogrebin, July 10, 2008
January 01, 1970
david, koch, theater, theater, ballet, modern, other, forms, dance, part, lincoln, center, intersection, columbus, avenue, 63rd, street, lincoln, square, neighborhood, manhattan, york, city, originally, named, york, state, theater, venue, been, home, york, cit. The David H Koch Theater is a theater for ballet modern and other forms of dance part of the Lincoln Center at the intersection of Columbus Avenue and 63rd Street in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City Originally named the New York State Theater 1 the venue has been home to the New York City Ballet since its opening in 1964 the secondary venue for the 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 David H Koch TheaterThe David H Koch Theater at Lincoln Center seen from the Lincoln Center Plaza Former namesNew York State TheaterAddress20 Lincoln Center PlazaLocationNew York CityCoordinates40 46 19 N 73 59 1 W 40 77194 N 73 98361 W 40 77194 73 98361Public transitSubway all times late nights at 66th Street Lincoln CenterNYC Bus M5 M7 M11 M20 M66 M104OwnerCity of New YorkTypeTheatreCapacity2 586OpenedApril 23 1964 1964 04 23 Contents 1 History 2 Building features and renovation 3 Gallery 4 References 5 External linksHistory edit nbsp The David H Koch Theater nbsp Interior of the theater prior to 2008 renovations Buildings of Lincoln Center nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 100m110yds nbsp 13 nbsp 1211 nbsp 10 nbsp 9 nbsp 8 nbsp 7 nbsp 6 nbsp 5 nbsp 4 nbsp 3 nbsp 2 nbsp 1 nbsp viewtalkeditBuildings and structures in Lincoln Center 1 Samuel B and David Rose Building includes Walter Reade Theater 2 Juilliard School3 Alice Tully Hall4 Vivian Beaumont Theater includes Mitzi E Newhouse Theater and Claire Tow Theater 5 Elinor Bunin Monroe Film Center6 David Geffen Hall7 New York Public Library for the Performing Arts includes Bruno Walter Auditorium 8 Metropolitan Opera House9 Josie Robertson Plaza with Revson Fountain10 Damrosch Park11 David H Koch Theater12 David Rubenstein Atrium13 Jazz at Lincoln Center 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 2 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 3 but now a separate entity continues to manage the theater today citation needed 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 4 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 5 Building features and renovation editThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed February 2017 Learn how and when to remove this message 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 edit nbsp The auditorium as seen from the stage in 2006 nbsp The Promenade with Elie Nadelman sculpture nbsp The Promenade nbsp Interior view of the David H Koch Theater in 2022References edit New York State Theatre newyorkcitytheatre com Retrieved March 26 2014 David H Koch Theater New York City Ballet Retrieved February 7 2017 Soper Susan December 4 1977 At City Center Newsday pp 95 115 Retrieved March 1 2023 Macaulay Alastair November 26 2008 A Gala Step Forward With a Historic Toast The New York Times NYTimes com Retrieved March 26 2014 Burke Siobhan September 8 2013 New Dance From Jetes to Jookin The New York Times NYTimes com p 30 Retrieved March 26 2014 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to David H Koch Theater Lincoln Center press release July 9 2008 David H Koch Theater website New York City Ballet website Archived June 22 2012 at the Wayback Machine JCJ Architecture architects for 2009 renovation New York City Opera press release undated New York Times article by Robin Pogrebin July 10 2008 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title David H Koch Theater amp oldid 1196603584, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
