Broadway Show Girls

The Broadway House Guide

Walter Kerr Theatre

Formerly the Ritz Theatre

  • 975 seats
  • 3levels
  • Proscenium stage
  • Opened 1921

Imani's take

Named for a critic — I approve. Three levels on under a thousand seats, so it's vertical and intimate. Accessible seating is orchestra-only.

— Imani Carter, spectacle editor

Where to Sit at the Walter Kerr Theatre

Levels, bottom to top: Orchestra → First balcony → Second balcony. A mid-size house.

Three levels in a compact house

975 seats over three levels means the room is built vertically, not deep. The top tier is steep, but it is closer to the stage than its altitude suggests — a better deal here than in the big musical houses.

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

  • Named for critic Walter Kerr in 1990
  • The second balcony was converted from air-conditioning space into seating

Getting There

219 West 48th Street, New York, NY.

  • 150 St (Broadway) · about 0.1 mi away
  • NQRW49 St · about 0.1 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 seatsStephen Sondheim Theatre — 1,055 seatsStudio 54 — 1,006 seatsTodd Haimes Theatre — 740 seatsWalter Kerr Theatre — 975 seatsWalter Kerr TheatreWinter Garden Theatre — 1,600 seatsN ↑ · Vivian Beaumont: Lincoln Center, W 65th St (off map)

Accessibility

Only the orchestra level is wheelchair-accessible, and it has accessible restrooms; the main restrooms are on the first balcony level. 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.

Walter Kerr Theatre FAQ

How many seats does the Walter Kerr Theatre have?
About 975 seats, across 3 levels (Orchestra, First balcony and Second balcony). Exact capacity can shift slightly from production to production.
Where is the Walter Kerr Theatre?
219 West 48th Street, in Manhattan's Theater District. It is operated by ATG Entertainment.
What subway stop is closest to the Walter Kerr Theatre?
50 St (Broadway) (1 trains), about 0.1 miles away; 49 St (N, Q, R, W trains), about 0.1 miles away.
Does the Walter Kerr 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 Walter Kerr Theatre called before?
It has previously been known as the Ritz Theatre.
Is the Walter Kerr Theatre wheelchair accessible?
Only the orchestra level is wheelchair-accessible, and it has accessible restrooms; the main restrooms are on the first balcony level. Confirm accessible seating with the box office when you book.
When did the Walter Kerr Theatre open?
It opened in 1921. 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.