Wikipedia

The Theater at Madison Square Garden

(Redirected fromFelt Forum)

TheTheater at Madison Square Gardenis atheaterlocated in New York City'sMadison Square Garden(MSG). It seats between 2,000 and 5,600, and is used for concerts, shows, sports, meetings, and other events. It is located beneath the main Madison Square Garden arena that hosts MSG's larger events.

The Theater at Madison Square Garden
The theater in 2019
Map
Full nameThe Theater at Madison Square Garden
Former names
  • Felt Forum(1968–89)
  • Paramount Theater(1991–97)
  • The Theater at Madison Square Garden(1997–2007; 2009–18; 2023–present)
  • WaMu Theater(2007–09)
  • Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden(2018–23)
Address4Pennsylvania Plaza
LocationNew York City,New York
Coordinates40°45′02″N73°59′37″W/ 40.750630°N 73.993744°W/40.750630; -73.993744
OwnerMadison Square Garden Entertainment
Capacity5,600
Construction
OpenedFebruary 14, 1968(1968-02-14)
Renovated1989–91, 2011–13
ArchitectCharles Luckman Associates
Services engineerSyska Hennessy
General contractorTurner ConstructionandDel E. Webb Construction Company
Website
Venue Website

History

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When the Garden opened in 1968, the theater was known as theFelt Forum,in honor of then-presidentIrving Mitchell Felt.[1]In the early 1990s, at the behest of former MSG President Bob Gutkowski, the theater was renamed theParamount Theaterafter theParamount Theatrein Times Square had been converted to an office tower.[2]The theater received its next name,The Theater at Madison Square Garden,in the mid-1990s, afterViacombought Paramount and sold the MSG properties. In 2007, the theater was renamed theWaMu Theater at Madison Square Gardenthrough anaming rightsdeal withWashington Mutual.After Washington Mutual's collapse in 2009, the name reverted to The Theater at Madison Square Garden.[3]In 2018, the theater signed a deal withHuluto become theHulu Theater at Madison Square Garden.[4]In 2023, the theater reverted to the name The Theater at Madison Square Garden.[5]

Structure

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No seat is more than 177 feet (54 m) from the 30-by-64-foot (9.1 by 19.5 m) stage. Due to its location beneath the main Madison Square Garden arena, the theater has a relatively low 20-foot (6.1 m) ceiling at stage level.[6]All of its seating except for boxes on the two side walls is on one level slanted back from the stage. There is an 8,000-square-foot (740 m2) lobby at the theater.

Events

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It was the host forMike Tyson's fourteenth professional fight against Sammy Scaff on December 6, 1985.[7]The theater occasionally hosts boxing matches on nights when the main arena is unavailable, or fights between promising boxers who management believe will not fill up "the big room". Notable fights includeSergio Martínez vs. Matthew Macklinin 2012,Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. Guillermo Rigondeauxin 2017, andTeófimo López vs. George Kambosos Jr.in 2021.

There were many concerts performed at the Felt Forum: in 1971, the Grateful Dead (along with the New RIders of the Purple Sage) had a run from Dec. 4th-7th.[8][9]Menudo's February 5, 1983, concert at Madison Square Garden was held at the Felt Forum. It was memberXavier Serbiá's last official concert with the band (he would return to the band in 1983 for another Madison Square Garden show to substitute for an illRicky Melendez) and the first for memberRay Reyes.[10]This concert was transmitted live to most Latin American countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Venezuela, and to the United States.

In October 21–22, 1986,PhilippinesingerSharon Cunetaperformed her New York concert as part of her U.S. concert tour and received a standing ovation. This was also together with the taping of her latest movieJack and Jill sa Amerikafeaturing the cities visited during the tour included as a story plot in the movie. The New York concert at the Felt Forum was oppositeElton John's concert at Madison.

In 1987, the comedy concert filmEddie Murphy Rawwas filmed at the Forum and released in December of that year.

On December 8, 1991, the draw for the1994 FIFA World Cup qualificationwas held at the theater.

WCWheld two live events there, one on April 13, 1993, marking the first time an WCW event was ever held in New York City, and again on June 30, 1996.NXTheld one event in the theater on November 16, 2016.Lucha Libre AAAandImpact WrestlinghostedLucha Invades NYon September 15, 2019.

The theater was home to an annual staging ofA Christmas Carolfrom 1994 to 2003.[11]

An annual staging ofThe Wizard of Ozplayed at the theater from 1997 to 1999. Notable actors in the musical includedRoseanne Barr,Eartha Kitt,andJo Anne Worleyas the Wicked Witch of the West;[12][13][14]Mickey Rooneyas the Wizard, andKen PageandLara Teeteras the Cowardly Lion and Scarecrow, respectively.[13]

In 2001, the national tour ofRodgers and Hammerstein's CinderellastarringJamie-Lynn Siglerin the title role, Eartha Kitt as the Fairy Godmother, andPaolo Montalbanas Prince Christopher played at the theater.[15]

In 2003, popular Australian children's groupThe Wigglesperformed a record 12 sold-out shows in a row at the theater, breaking the previous record held byBruce Springsteen.[16]The current record belongs toBilly Joel,who has sold out more than 76 consecutive shows at the theater.[17]

In 2004, it served as the venue of theSurvivor: All-Starsfinale.[18]

In 2005 and 2011,Peter PanstarringCathy Rigbyin the title role returned to New York City at the theater.[19][20]

It was the home of theNFL draftfrom 1995 until 2004. In 2005, the NFL Draft moved to theJacob K. Javits Convention Center,after MSG management opposed anew stadiumfor theNew York Jets.It also hosted theNBA draftfrom 2001 to 2010.

From 2004 to 2006 and in 2008 Theatre of MSG hosted theJammy Awardhonoring improvisational music.[21]

In 2013,A Christmas Story: The Musicalwas revived at the theater for a limited engagement.[22]

The first-ever mixed martial arts event was held at the theaterWorld Series of Fighting 34: Gaethje vs. Firminoon December 31, 2016.

The firstdartsevent held at the theater was the2022 US Darts Masters.

In 2021, the theater hosted twoVerzuzhip-hop battles:The LoxagainstDipSetandFat JoeagainstJa Rule.

The theater hosted its firstEsportsevent in 2022 with the main event group stage and quarterfinals of theLeague of LegendsWorld Championship.[23]

The 2024 North American tour ofAnnieis playing an engagement at the theater from December 4, 2024, through January 5, 2025, withWhoopi Goldbergplaying Miss Hannigan beginning December 11.[24]

References

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  1. ^Blair; William G. (January 27, 1989)."Garden to Close The Felt Forum For Two Years".The New York Times.RetrievedJuly 18,2014.
  2. ^Holden, Stephen (September 11, 1991)."New Paramount Theater to Give Radio City a Run for Its Music".The New York Times.RetrievedJuly 18,2014.
  3. ^Fraser, Tim (September 30, 2008)."WaMu Theaters name likely to change due to financial crisis".ticketnews.com.Archived fromthe originalon January 10, 2009.RetrievedMay 5,2019.
  4. ^"The Theater at Madison Square Garden Is Now the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden".MSG.RetrievedMay 5,2019.
  5. ^"The Theater at Madison Square Garden | Unforgettable Starts Here".
  6. ^"Wintukcreated exclusively for WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden "(PDF)(Press release). Cirque Du Soleil. November 7, 2007. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on March 27, 2009.
  7. ^Anderson, Dave (July 8, 1993)."Sports of The Times; The Garden Throws Its Last Punch".The New York Times.RetrievedMay 5,2019.
  8. ^Ashes, Light Into (December 3, 2020)."Grateful Dead Sources: December 5, 1971: Felt Forum, NYC".Grateful Dead Sources.RetrievedNovember 8,2023.
  9. ^Grateful Dead (December 5, 1971),Grateful Dead Live at Felt Forum, Madison Square Garden on 1971-12-05,retrievedNovember 8,2023
  10. ^Mendoza, Victor Sangama (December 28, 2010).MENUDO APERTURA AL CONCIERTO EN EL MADISON SQUARE GARDEN.wmv(YouTube).Archivedfrom the original on December 21, 2021.RetrievedMay 5,2019.
  11. ^Hernandez, Ernio (November 28, 2003)."Ghosts Lead Scrooge in A Christmas Carol for Final MSG Staging, Nov. 28-Dec. 27".Playbill.Archivedfrom the original on April 26, 2021.RetrievedApril 23,2021.
  12. ^Marks, Peter (May 16, 1997)."Pushing the Speed Limit On the Yellow-Brick Road".The New York Times.
  13. ^abViagas, Robert; Lefkowitz, David (May 6, 1998)."Mickey Rooney/Eartha Kitt Oz Opens in NY, May 6".Playbill.
  14. ^Jones, Kenneth; Ehren, Christine (May 5, 1999)."Worley & Rooney BringOzBack to MSG, May 6-16 ".Playbill.
  15. ^Jones, Kenneth (May 3, 2001)."Tour of R&H's Cinderella, With Sigler, Kitt and Quinton, Lands in NYC May 3–13".Playbill.RetrievedJuly 27,2022.
  16. ^Johnston, Tim (October 30, 2006)."Fans left feeling blue by yellow Wiggle's retirement".The New York Times.RetrievedDecember 1,2022.
  17. ^Magnotta, Andrew (January 2, 2020)."Billy Joel Adds 76th Consecutive Madison Square Garden Concert".q1043.RetrievedDecember 1,2022.
  18. ^Staff, Reality TV World (March 9, 2004)."'Survivor: All-Stars' finale to air live from Madison Square Garden on Sunday May 9 ".Reality TV World.RetrievedMay 20,2023.
  19. ^Jones, Kenneth (July 29, 2005)."Rigby's Peter Pan Will Land at NYC's Theater at Madison Square Garden Nov. 30-Dec. 30".Playbill.RetrievedJuly 27,2022.
  20. ^Jones, Kenneth (May 10, 2011)."Cathy Rigby's Peter Pan Will Fly Into Theater at Madison Square Garden for the Holidays".Playbill.RetrievedJuly 27,2022.
  21. ^Greenhaus, Mike; Ray, Randy (May 8, 2008)."Trey, Mike, Page and Fish Appear Together at the Jammys".Jambands.com.
  22. ^Genzlinger, Neil (December 15, 2013)."Boyhood Longing (and Lobbying) for a BB Gun".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedApril 23,2021.
  23. ^"League of Legends Worlds 2022 Dates and Seeding".League of Legends eSports.Riot Games. July 21, 2022.RetrievedAugust 30,2022.
  24. ^"NewAnnieTour Arrives in New York City December 4 at the Theater at Madison Square Garden ".Playbill.December 4, 2024.RetrievedDecember 8,2024.
Preceded by Venues of the
NFL Draft
1995–2004 		Succeeded by
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