Golden Theatre

Golden Theatre

With a vertical sign that reads "Golden" hanging from the building's front, you may wonder if this theater can live up to such an audacious promise. This West 45th Street building wasn't always named Golden, however, and it wasn't always a Broadway theater. Built in 1927 based on the design of architect Herbert J. Krapp, the building's Moorish exterior and Spanish-influenced interior were part of a three-theatre complex, including two larger stages, the Majestic and the Royale. At this time, the name Theatre Masque was given to the present-day Golden Theatre, which was renamed by impresario John Golden in 1937 when he assumed management from the previous owners, the Shuberts.

Over the years, the theater has had few successes, likely due to its humble size. With a seating capacity of about 800, the Golden is one of the smallest theaters on Broadway. Anytime the theater had a hit, the show usually transferred to a larger venue to increase sales. When the Shuberts regained control in 1946, they turned the locale into film house, featuring mainly foreign films. After only two years, the Golden was returned to its former life as a Broadway theatre.

Since then, the theater has been home to many plays, including You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot, and Edward Albee's The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? This season is particularly special for the Golden Theatre. After more then 70 years, the theater has come full-circle; the first play to hit the Golden's stage was the rather unsuccessful Puppets of Passion in 1927. Now, puppets have once again taken over, this time with greater success in the Tony award-winning musical, Avenue Q.

In Avenue Q, the story of a college grad moving to New York with big dreams is not a new one, but it certainly is presented in a unique way. Puppets and actors dance and sing in this sly adult take on children's programming. Due to strong language, adult themes, and sexual situations — the puppets are the perpetrators of all of these — this musical is not for children. After much success, however, audiences can be assured that Avenue Q is a "golden" opportunity for theater-goers.

- Callie Worsham