Majestic Theatre, West 44th Street, New York City

The Majestic Theatre is located at 245 West 44th Street, between 8th and 7th avenues, near Times Square, New York City. It opened in 1927 and now is operated by the Shubert Organization. Both the façade and interior were designated New York City landmarks in 1987.

This theater was designed by Herbert J. Krapp and built for the Chanin brothers, real-estate magnates, intended as a venue for major musical theater productions because of its large size. It has 1,681 seats across two levels.

The façade is designed in a Spanish style with golden brick, terracotta, and stone and is divided into two sections. The western portion of the façade contains the theater's entrance, with fire-escape galleries and a terracotta pediment above. The eastern portion is the stage house and is topped by archways. The auditorium contains Adam style detailing, steep stadium seating at the orchestra level, a large balcony, and an expansive plaster dome. The balcony has extensive decoration, and there are also box seats near the front of the auditorium at balcony level.

The Majestic Theatre opened on March 28, 1927, with the musical Rufus LeMaire's Affairs, which closed after 56 performances. Later in the same year, the Majestic hosted the Black revue Rang Tang and the musical Love Call, from October 24 to January 7, 1928.

In July 1929, the Shubert brothers bought the Chanin brothers' half-ownership stakes in the Majestic, Masque, and Royale theaters. The Shuberts have operated the Majestic since 1930.

The Majestic Theater has traditionally been home to successful musicals. Some of the most notable early revues were choreographed by Busby Berkeley, including Pleasure Bound in 1929 and the Lew Leslie's International Revue. In March 1987, Shubert chairman Bernard B. Jacobs announced that the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical The Phantom of the Opera would be hosted at the Majestic.