The Majestic Theatre Is Ready For Its Close Up

Anthony klabonski, project manager

​A little history about the Majestic Theatre.  It was originally built in 1927 by real estate magnates, the Chanin Brothers, as part of a three-theatre complex that also included the Royale, now the Jacobs (a mid-sized house) and the Theatre Masque, now the Golden (a small house). The Majestic, a large musical house, complemented the other two venues, enabling producers to move shows based on their ticket sales to the most appropriately sized venue.  

The Chanins commissioned Herbert Krapp to design the theatre complex in what he called a “modern Spanish” style, complete with terra-cotta base and Spanish brick-wall ornamentation, and arched windows.  In 1930, the Chanins transferred ownership of all three houses to the Shuberts.
 
Because The Phantom of the Opera had been permitted to remove the house stage and install their own show deck, when they loaded out, the theatre was left with no stage floor. One of the first things that Shubert Facilities needed to take on was installing an entirely new stage—unique for this type of restoration. 
 
The Majestic underwent a full overhaul of the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and sprinkler systems. The new mechanical system consists of two AC systems to control the auditorium/house air. An additional 46 fan coiled units for heat/air conditioning of the dressing rooms were installed.  The real Majestic chandelier had not been seen by the public in 35 years, as Phantom famously featured its own fixture in the show. Weighing approximately 900 pounds, with an 11-foot radius and 10-foot height, the house chandelier has 142 lamps and is now back in its rightful place. Additionally, all the original lighting fixtures have been restored, including sconces throughout the main auditorium and front of house and eight chandeliers at the arches.
 
Because the building’s interior is landmarked, Shubert Facilities worked with the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) and created new restroom spaces, including a gender-neutral ambulatory/ADA-compliant restroom at the lobby level with (4) private stalls. In the lower lounge and mezzanine, both men’s and women’s restrooms have increased capacity, with 10 stalls added for women.  The upper orchestra crossover was restored to its original state, overlooking the grand staircase below and architectural half dome ceiling above. Three brand-new concession stands have been constructed for the lower lounge, main lobby, and mezzanine.  The plaster restoration process, which took over seven months to complete, involved scraping plaster, restoring all damaged ornamental work, and finally painting. That final phase required primer, base paint, silver leaf, colored glazes, and sealant. New wallpaper was installed, mimicking the lattice appearance of the first box archway in the auditorium.  The dressing rooms have been completely gut-renovated, with brand-new sinks, tables, mirrors, power sources, lighting, and ventilation.
 
Outside, the façade has been restored, with layers of black paint removed and a new LPC approved color applied.  A new marquee awning connecting the two existing historic marquees was installed and the existing blade sign was restored and relocated higher on the building. Digital signage was added to the awning, and a new 14-foot digital sign, angled towards Seventh Avenue, has been added. 
 
The restoration was completed in approximately one year.  ​