If you are looking for a little more show in your theater experience, visiting the Belasco Theater may be just the right choice. The Belasco Theater is an excellent establishment that has been in business for over a hundred years. It is also said to be haunted, making it an especially excellent stop for October, with all the mystery of the month layering the air with ambience and atmosphere.
History of the Theater
Originally named the Stuyvesant when it opened in 1907, the Belasco is known as one of the ten most haunted theatres in the world. The original owner, David Belasco, was known for being one of the most colorful 20th century Broadway producers, and was said to be a lady’s man and was also known for, oddly, dressing in a monk’s robes. Over the years the Belasco has been home to some unsettling sightings. Belasco’s robe-clad figure has been reported to be seen in both his old apartment (now the office space) and the theater’s balcony. Some women have also reported feeling a mysterious pinch, which is, of course attributed to the colorful producer.
Productions over the Years
From the theater’s inaugural production of A Grand Army Man in 1907, with a cast that included Antoinette Perry, the theater set a high bar for productions and for theater in general. Over the next two decades, David Belasco produced and directed nearly 50 shows, some of which he also wrote. Now the shows are just as high quality, and they offer the promise of an enjoyable night, with perhaps a bit of a scare as well.
The Belasco Theater offers an excellent chance for a fun night at the theater, and the possibility of the little extra fun of a ghost sighting. In October both Twelfth Night and Richard III will be running, and both promise to be excellent shows and an excellent opportunity to enjoy the theater. And since it’s the Belasco, there may be a little more as well. So, do you believe in ghosts?
Theater Location
111 West 44th Street
Between 6th and 7th Avenue
New York, NY 10036