If you’re looking for the Cort Theater NY NY, you’re actually looking for a ghost. Well, not a literal ghost—though Broadway has plenty of those—but a name that no longer exists on the marquee at 138 West 48th Street.
It’s the James Earl Jones Theatre now.
Shubert Organization, the massive entity that owns the place, officially renamed it in 2022. It wasn't just a PR stunt. It was a massive, $47 million overhaul of a building that was, quite frankly, starting to show its age in ways that weren't always charming. If you haven't been back since the "Cort" days, you're going to find a space that feels fundamentally different.
The theater originally opened in 1912. John Cort, the man behind the original name, was a former actor turned powerhouse manager who came out of the Pacific Northwest. He wanted something that looked like the Petit Trianon at Versailles. He got it. But by the 2020s, the "Versailles" vibe was competing with cramped lobbies and the general wear-and-tear of a century of foot traffic.
The Massive Renovation Most People Missed
Broadway renovations are usually just a fresh coat of paint and some reupholstered seats. This was different.
The Shuberts actually bought the plot of land next door. They built an entirely new annex. It’s rare. In Midtown, space is more valuable than gold, so expanding the footprint of a landmarked building is a logistical nightmare that requires more permits than you'd ever want to read about.
Why do this? Because the old Cort Theater NY NY had a problem common to all Shubert houses of that era: the bathrooms. Honestly, if you've ever tried to use the restroom during a 15-minute intermission at a sold-out Broadway show, you know it's a marathon. The new annex added massive amounts of lounge space and—more importantly—modern, accessible restrooms.
Architecture and the Thomas Lamb Legacy
Thomas Lamb was the architect. If you're a theater nerd, that name carries weight. He designed the Mark Hellinger, the Lunt-Fontanne, and dozens of others. His style was all about opulence. At the James Earl Jones Theatre, you can still see the original Marie Antoinette-inspired interior.
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The proscenium arch is a masterpiece of plasterwork. During the restoration, artisans painstakingly cleaned the gold leaf and repaired the delicate flourishes that had been dulled by decades of dust and stage smoke. It’s bright now. It’s almost startlingly white and gold when the house lights are up.
Why the Name Change Actually Matters
Renaming a Broadway theater isn't done lightly. James Earl Jones is, obviously, a legend. He made his Broadway debut in this very building in 1958 in a play called Sunrise at Campobello.
There’s a deep symmetry there.
The move was part of a broader push by the Black Theatre Coalition and other advocates to make Broadway reflect the people who actually work on its stages. Jones is one of the few actors to have won the "EGOT" (though his Oscar was honorary), and his voice is essentially the tectonic plate upon which American acting sits.
When they dimmed the lights for the unveiling, it wasn't just about Jones. It was about acknowledging that the history of the Cort Theater NY NY is now inextricably linked to the history of Black performance in America.
A Quick History of Hits (and Flops)
Every theater has a "personality" dictated by the shows it hosts. The James Earl Jones Theatre (the artist formerly known as the Cort) has always been a "play house." While the massive musicals go to the Majestic or the St. James, the 48th Street spot is where the serious drama lives.
- The Diary of Anne Frank (1955): This was a seismic event in New York theater history. It ran for over 700 performances.
- The Magic Show (1974): A weird, wonderful Doug Henning vehicle that proved you could run a magic show on Broadway for years.
- Suffs (2024): The recent musical about the women’s suffrage movement. It showed that the new annex and improved acoustics could handle a modern, belt-heavy score perfectly.
The Logistics: Seating and Sightlines
Let’s talk about the "cheap seats."
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In many old Broadway houses, if you sit in the balcony, you’re basically looking at the top of the actors' heads. The Cort—er, Jones—is relatively intimate. It holds about 1,000 people.
The "Secret" about the Balcony:
Honestly, the front row of the balcony (the third level) offers a better view than the back of the mezzanine. Because the theater is narrow, you feel closer to the stage than you do in the cavernous houses like the Gershwin.
However, the "Extreme Side" seats in the Orchestra are still a gamble. You'll lose about 20% of the stage if the set has high walls. If you're buying tickets for a play with a minimalist set, go for it. If it’s a big production, stick to the center.
Accessibility Improvements
This is the big win. Before the 2022 renovation, if you were a theatergoer with a disability, the Cort was a nightmare. It was built in an era that didn't care about elevators.
Now? There is a modern elevator that reaches all levels. This is a game-changer. It sounds like a small detail, but for a theater that’s over 110 years old, it’s a feat of engineering. They had to reinforce the original structure while carving out a shaft for the lift.
Real Advice for Your Visit
If you're heading to 138 West 48th St, don't just show up five minutes before curtain.
The new lounge in the annex is actually a place where you’d want to hang out. Usually, Broadway bars are a counter in a hallway where you're being shoved by three different people. Here, there's actual breathing room.
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Where to Eat Nearby:
Forget the tourist traps on Times Square. Walk a few blocks north to Hell’s Kitchen.
- Joe Allen: The classic "actor's hangout." It's on 46th. If a show closes after a short run, its poster goes on the "Flop Wall" here.
- Totto Ramen: If it’s a cold night, go here. It’s fast and incredible.
Arrival Tip: The 49th St Station (N, R, W) is the closest. But if you're coming from Grand Central, it's a very easy 10-15 minute walk. Don't take a Lyft through Times Square unless you enjoy sitting in a stationary car while watching the meter run.
The Future of the Venue
What’s next? The theater is now positioned as one of the most technologically advanced small houses on Broadway. The renovation included a total overhaul of the rigging system and the electrical grid.
This means directors can bring in more complex lighting rigs and digital projections that the old Cort simply couldn't power. We are seeing a shift where "straight plays" (non-musicals) are becoming more cinematic, and this building is ready for that.
The name change might take a few more years to fully stick in the public consciousness. You’ll still hear old-timers call it the Cort. You’ll still see it listed that way in some older guidebooks. But when you stand in front of that beautiful, restored facade, it's clear that the building has started its second century with a much stronger foundation than its first.
Actionable Steps for Your Broadway Trip:
- Verify the Name: If you are booking a tour or looking for a specific historical marker, search for "James Earl Jones Theatre" to get the most updated box office hours.
- Check the Annex: Even if you have Orchestra seats, take a walk up to the new annex levels during intermission to see the architectural blend of the 1912 original and the 2022 expansion.
- Book "Center Mezzanine": For the absolute best value-to-view ratio in this specific house, rows A through D of the Mezzanine provide a perfect "God's eye view" of the stage without the premium Orchestra price tag.
- Avoid the 48th St Congestion: If you're driving, use a parking app for a garage on 47th or 49th. 48th Street is notoriously narrow and often blocked by delivery trucks for the theaters, making it a "dead zone" for drop-offs.
The Cort Theater NY NY is gone, but the spirit of the space is better preserved now than it has been in decades. It’s a rare example of New York actually getting a renovation right—keeping the history while fixing the headaches. Go see a show there, even if just to see the plasterwork. It’s worth the price of admission.