Broadway Show Girls

The Broadway House Guide

Samuel J. Friedman Theatre

Formerly the Biltmore Theatre

  • 650 seats
  • 2levels
  • Proscenium stage
  • Opened 1925

Imani's take

650 seats, steeply raked, fully accessible by elevator. A nonprofit house — and in a room this size, the cheap seats are close seats.

— Imani Carter, spectacle editor

Where to Sit at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre

Levels, bottom to top: Orchestra → Balcony. A intimate house. Boxes: false boxes flank the stage (no box seating).

One balcony over the orchestra

Two levels only, so the balcony is the whole upper house — its front rows are some of the best seats in the building for anything with choreography or a big set. The last rows of the orchestra sit under the overhang — fine for a play, a little boxed-in for a big musical.

Our rule of thumb

At 650 seats this is one of Broadway’s small rooms, so there is no truly distant seat. Spend on center over close, and don’t be afraid of the cheapest tier.

Still torn? Carmen's orchestra vs. mezzanine vs. balcony breakdown and our cheap-tickets playbook apply to every house.

Good to Know

  • Run by the nonprofit Manhattan Theatre Club
  • The orchestra rake was steepened in a 2000s renovation

Getting There

261 West 47th Street, New York, NY.

  • CE50 St (8 Av) · about 0.15 mi away
  • 150 St (Broadway) · about 0.15 mi away

Distances are straight-line from the station's mapped center; big complexes like Times Square have many entrances, some closer. Check the MTA for service changes.

Schematic map of Broadway theaters, 41st to 54th StreetEach dot is a Broadway house placed by its street address, almost all between Sixth and Eighth Avenues. North is up.54535251504948474645444342418th Ave7th Ave6th AveBroadwayTimes SqAl Hirschfeld Theatre — 1,404 seatsAmbassador Theatre — 1,125 seatsAugust Wilson Theatre — 1,225 seatsBelasco Theatre — 1,016 seatsBernard B. Jacobs Theatre — 1,100 seatsBooth Theatre — 800 seatsBroadhurst Theatre — 1,218 seatsBroadway Theatre — 1,763 seatsCircle in the Square Theatre — 776 seatsEthel Barrymore Theatre — 1,058 seatsEugene O'Neill Theatre — 1,108 seatsGerald Schoenfeld Theatre — 1,079 seatsGershwin Theatre — 1,933 seatsHayes Theater — 597 seatsHudson Theatre — 970 seatsImperial Theatre — 1,457 seatsJames Earl Jones Theatre — 1,092 seatsJohn Golden Theatre — 800 seatsLena Horne Theatre — 1,069 seatsLongacre Theatre — 1,077 seatsLunt-Fontanne Theatre — 1,505 seatsLyceum Theatre — 922 seatsLyric Theatre — 1,622 seatsMajestic Theatre — 1,681 seatsMarquis Theatre — 1,612 seatsMinskoff Theatre — 1,710 seatsMusic Box Theatre — 1,025 seatsNederlander Theatre — 1,235 seatsNeil Simon Theatre — 1,467 seatsNew Amsterdam Theatre — 1,702 seatsPalace Theatre — 1,648 seatsRichard Rodgers Theatre — 1,400 seatsSamuel J. Friedman Theatre — 650 seatsSamuel J. Friedman TheatreShubert Theatre — 1,502 seatsSt. James Theatre — 1,709 seatsStephen Sondheim Theatre — 1,055 seatsStudio 54 — 1,006 seatsTodd Haimes Theatre — 740 seatsWalter Kerr Theatre — 975 seatsWinter Garden Theatre — 1,600 seatsN ↑ · Vivian Beaumont: Lincoln Center, W 65th St (off map)

Accessibility

The entire theater is wheelchair-accessible via an elevator at the rear of the auditorium. Broadway houses must offer wheelchair and companion seating, and assistive-listening devices are widely available; book accessible seats directly with the official seller or Manhattan Theatre Club.

Samuel J. Friedman Theatre FAQ

How many seats does the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre have?
About 650 seats, across 2 levels (Orchestra and Balcony). Exact capacity can shift slightly from production to production.
Where is the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre?
261 West 47th Street, in Manhattan's Theater District. It is operated by Manhattan Theatre Club.
What subway stop is closest to the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre?
50 St (8 Av) (C, E trains), about 0.15 miles away; 50 St (Broadway) (1 trains), about 0.15 miles away.
Does the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre have a mezzanine?
The house has 2 levels: Orchestra and Balcony. Ticket sellers often label the first upper level the “mezzanine” even where the architecture calls it a balcony, so check the seller’s seat map for exact section names.
What was the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre called before?
It has previously been known as the Biltmore Theatre.
Is the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre wheelchair accessible?
The entire theater is wheelchair-accessible via an elevator at the rear of the auditorium. Confirm accessible seating with the box office when you book.
When did the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre open?
It opened in 1925. Architect: Herbert J. Krapp.

Nearby Houses

All 41 Broadway theaters →

Pack for the Upper Levels

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Sources

Facts checked 2026-10-09. Seat counts are approximate and can change with each production's configuration. The opinions are Broadway Show Girls'; spot an error?Tell us.