New World Stages, 49th and 50th Streets, New York City

The New World Stages is a five-theater performing arts complex located between 49th and 50th streets, and 8th and 9th avenues, beneath the plaza of the Worldwide Plaza complex, former site of the third Madison Square Garden, from 1925 to 1968. Since November, 2014, the venue is owned and operated by the Shubert Organization. The main entrance is at 340 West 50th Street.

The New World Stages was originally built as the Loews Cineplex Entertainment movie theater and was operated by the Cineplex Odeon Corporation. It opened in June 1989 and closed in 2001 after its operator went bankrupt.

The Dodger Stage Holding Theatricals leased the complex in 2002 with plans to convert the former six-screen multiplex into five stages. It reopened as Dodger Stages in 2004, following substantial renovations, and was renamed New World Stages on March 16, 2006. The architects were Beyer Blinder Belle, the theatre designers were Sachs Morgan, and the interior designer was Klara Zieglerova.

Seating capacity: Stage 1: 499, Stage 2: 350, Stage 3: 499, Stage 4: 350 and Stage 5: 199. The complete square footage of the underground complex is 61,300 square feet (5,690 m²), and it reaches underground the length of a full city block, from 49th Street to 50th Street.

Stage 5, the coziest theater at New World Stages, with capacity for 199 people. It practically envelope the stage, allowing audiences to experience productions as if in the same room with the performers (photo Shubert Organization collection).