New York City’s Upper West Side is brimming with culture and history. Museums, architectural wonders, churches and historic places of worship, parks, gardens and so much more offer a glimpse into life as it was and life as it is today throughout NYC’s UWS. One shining example of art, architecture, and a great place to catch a concert or comedy show is the historic Beacon Theatre.
The Beacon Theatre is a legend in and of itself but has also hosted many of music's legendary performers. The Beacon has hosted such rock and roll icons as the Rolling Stones, Eddie Vedder, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and Coldplay, to name a few.
The Allman Brothers Band made their final appearance at the Beacon in October of 2014. Special events like the Tribeca Film Festival and talks given by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and President Bill Clinton have also taken place in this historic theatre. Jerry Seinfeld even had a residency at the Beacon Theatre at one time.
The Beacon was designed by illustrious architect Walter Ahlschlager, whose portfolio includes many famous buildings across the U.S. including the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee and the Mercantile Bank Building in Dallas, Texas. The Beacon was built in 1929 and bears the Art Deco style of the day. It is truly a gorgeous example of early 20th century architecture and design.
The theatre is a 2600 seat venue and was designated an NYC landmark in 1979. In 2006 the venue was acquired by Madison Square Garden. In the next three years, the MSG company painstakingly restored the Beacon to its original art deco Roaring 20s grandeur. Extensive historical research went into the restoration project as did the tedious recovery of original artwork that had been buried beneath layers of paint. The Beacon Theatre remains an intimate setting for concerts and events. Many New Yorkers have wonderful memories made at the Beacon Theatre.
The Beacon Theatre is still making memories for today’s concertgoers and comedy lovers alike. Concerts at the Beacon feature Sphere Immersive Sound. This is the latest technology in audio systems and uses 3D beam performing audio to immerse the audience in targeted sound that’s more crystal clear than anything that came before.
Here are some of the upcoming shows that are sure to interest visitors to NYC’s UWS:
Irish singer-songwriter Glen Hansard is coming to the historic Beacon Theatre on Friday, September 6th at 8:00 p.m. (doors open at 7:00 p.m.). Hansard has been the frontman for the band The Frames and has won an Academy Award for the song “Falling Slowly” from the 2007 Irish movie Once, in which he also acted. Hansard’s musical style runs the gamut from folk to indie folk to indie rock. Tickets are currently on sale through the Beacon Theatre website.
Peter Frampton The Positively Thankful Tour
Iconic 70s rocker Peter Frampton brings his smooth rock to the Beacon Theatre on Thursday, September 12th at 8:00 p.m.(doors open at 7:00 p.m.). Frampton’s stop at the Beacon is part of his Positively Thankful Tour leading up to his induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in October. Count on Frampton to put on a fantastic show featuring some of his most popular hits and many new tunes as well. Tickets for Frampton’s one-night-only concert are on sale through the Beacon’s website.
John Oliver and Seth Myers
John Oliver of the hit HBO show Last Week Tonight teams up with Seth Myers host of Late Night on NBC to continue their residency at the Beacon Theatre. Join them on September 22nd for their hilarious and unique take on current events. Skilled writers and performers both, Oliver and Myers deliver an unmissable evening of humor and insight. Tickets for John Oliver & Seth Myers are on sale now at the Theatre’s website but hurry as only a few seats remain. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. and doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Hilarious comedian and television star Wanda Sykes is coming to the Beacon Theatre on Thursday, September 26th at 7:30 p.m. Sykes' hilarious show is sure to be a hit with her fans old and new as she presents her one-of-a-kind take on the topics of the day and her observations on life. Tickets are going fast so be sure to lock yours down at the Beacon Theatre’s website.
The Beacon Theatre is located at 2124 Broadway between West 74th and West 75th Streets. That’s a stone’s throw, or three minute walk from The Wallace. No matter when you visit there is sure to be an event. We encourage you to catch a show while you’re in town. You can find out more about these upcoming shows, purchase tickets, or check out future shows at the Beacon Theatre’s website.
The Wallace offers luxury accommodations convenient to all NYC’s UWS has to offer. Book your stay today and enjoy a show at the Beacon Theatre. What are you waiting for?