New Amsterdam Theatre

The New Amsterdam Theatre is one of the oldest operating theaters on Broadway and stands as a primary example of Art Nouveau design in the United States. When the building opened in nineteen hundred three, it was heralded as The House Beautiful, a nickname earned by its elaborate, oversized interior ornaments including massive sculpted fruits, flowers, and vines that were intended to make the large auditorium feel surprisingly intimate. Its architects, Henry Herts and Hugh Tallant, designed the theater with a dual theme in mind, blending the spirit of drama with historical references to the Dutch settlement of New Amsterdam.