Broadway Show Girls

The Broadway House Guide

St. James Theatre

Formerly the Erlanger's Theatre

  • 1,709 seats
  • 3levels
  • Proscenium stage
  • Opened 1927

Imani's take

A big musical palace with two balconies and a pit that holds about 40 players — this is where the orchestrations get to breathe. Front of the first balcony for the full picture.

— Imani Carter, spectacle editor

Where to Sit at the St. James Theatre

Levels, bottom to top: Orchestra → First balcony → Second balcony. A large house. Boxes: box seats at the first-balcony level.

Three levels in a big house

With 1,709 seats stacked over three levels, the top tier is genuinely high and far. The first upper level is the value play; save the top balcony for shows that live in their wide shots — and bring opera glasses.

About those boxes

Box seats look glamorous and sit at a hard angle to the stage — expect to lose part of the far side of the set. Buy them to be seen, not to see.

Our rule of thumb

For a play, get close and center. For a spectacle, get high and center. Partial-view seats are discounted for a reason — check the seat map before you buy.

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

Good to Know

  • Two balconies, unusual for its era
  • Orchestra pit fits about 40 musicians

Getting There

246 West 44th Street, New York, NY.

  • ACE42 St–Port Authority Bus Terminal · about 0.1 mi away
  • 1237NQRWSTimes Sq–42 St · 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 seatsShubert Theatre — 1,502 seatsSt. James Theatre — 1,709 seatsSt. James TheatreStephen 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 orchestra level is wheelchair-accessible via the main doors and has the theater's accessible restrooms. Broadway houses must offer wheelchair and companion seating, and assistive-listening devices are widely available; book accessible seats directly with the official seller or ATG Entertainment.

St. James Theatre FAQ

How many seats does the St. James Theatre have?
About 1,709 seats, across 3 levels (Orchestra, First balcony and Second balcony). Exact capacity can shift slightly from production to production.
Where is the St. James Theatre?
246 West 44th Street, in Manhattan's Theater District. It is operated by ATG Entertainment.
What subway stop is closest to the St. James Theatre?
42 St–Port Authority Bus Terminal (A, C, E trains), about 0.1 miles away; Times Sq–42 St (1, 2, 3, 7, N, Q, R, W, S trains), about 0.15 miles away.
Does the St. James Theatre have a mezzanine?
The house has 3 levels: Orchestra, First balcony and Second 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 St. James Theatre called before?
It has previously been known as the Erlanger's Theatre.
Is the St. James Theatre wheelchair accessible?
The orchestra level is wheelchair-accessible via the main doors and has the theater's accessible restrooms. Confirm accessible seating with the box office when you book.
When did the St. James Theatre open?
It opened in 1927. Architect: Warren and Wetmore.

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.