The David H. Koch Theater is a traditional proscenium theater with seating for 2,544. Part of New York’s famed Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts complex, the theater occupies the south side of the main plaza (at Columbus Avenue & 63rd Street) that it shares with the Metropolitan Opera House and David Geffen Hall. The David H. Koch Theater is home to New York City Ballet.
The theater, designed by architects Philip Johnson and John Burgee, opened on April 23, 1964 and was formerly known as the New York State Theater. It continues to undergo a series of renovations and improvements to make it state-of-the-art in all technical areas.
The auditorium features a hybrid of traditional and continental style seating on the orchestra level, five “Rings” (balconies), faced with jewel-like faceted lights and a large spherical chandelier in the gold paneled ceiling.
The lobby is filled with sublime pieces of art, commissioned specifically to highlight various aspects of the world of the ballet, including mythology, numbers, the human body, and a multitude of relevant themes, including many suggested by George Balanchine. These masterpieces are created from a wide variety of media and materials, such as marble, bronze, wood, and even found elements such as a firehouse and the plexiglass turret of a World War II bomber.
For more information, including seat maps and a panoramic view of the theater, please visit the David H. Koch Theater web site.
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