James Earl Jones Theatre: Tickets, Seating & What to Know
A restored historic Broadway house with one of the strongest accessibility profiles in the neighborhood — a practical guide to buying tickets, where to sit, and how to plan the night. Also searched as the Cort Theatre NYC, its name for over a century.
About the James Earl Jones Theatre
The James Earl Jones Theatre — James Earl Jones Theatre West 48th Street New York NY, at 138 West 48th Street, for GPS purposes — has been on West 48th Street since 1912. Designed by Thomas W. Lamb, it is the only surviving, still-active legitimate Broadway theater Lamb designed. The theater operated for over a century as the Cort Theater New York before the Shubert Organization renamed it in 2022 to honor James Earl Jones, who made his Broadway debut in 1957 and whose career spanned six decades of American theater.
What makes the James Earl Jones especially useful for visitors right now is the combination of historic character with a restoration that meaningfully upgraded its access profile. Elevator access to all three levels, accessible restrooms on every floor, and a step-free entrance put it ahead of many older Broadway houses. This fall it becomes home to WANTED, the first new musical of the 2026–27 Broadway season, with previews from October 15 and opening night on November 8.
Is the James Earl Jones right for you?
This theater suits a wide range of visitors — including those who might have passed on upper-level seats at older, less accessible Broadway houses.
Drama and serious-play lovers who want a classic house with genuine architectural character
Visitors with mobility needs who want more flexibility than most older Broadway houses offer
First-time Broadway visitors who want a prestige historic house without the scale of a giant musical theater
Visitors who want full captioning, audio description, or hearing loop support
Visitors with mobility needs booking mezzanine or balcony — internal steps remain; confirm with the box office
Visitors expecting a giant spectacle house — at about 1,092 seats this is a mid-size room, so even a full musical like WANTED plays at a closer scale than the biggest Broadway theaters
A short history worth knowing
The theater opened on December 25, 1912, built by producer John Cort and designed by Thomas W. Lamb. The Shubert Organization acquired it in 1927. The 2022 renaming honored James Earl Jones — among the defining James Earl Jones Broadway performances across his career — and was accompanied by the most significant renovation in the building’s history, adding elevator access, upgraded support spaces, and accessible restrooms on all levels.
James Earl Jones Theatre Seating Guide
The James Earl Jones has three seating levels: Orchestra, Mezzanine, and Balcony. At 1,092 seats it is a mid-sized Broadway house. For a full section-by-section breakdown, see the James Earl Jones Theatre seating guide.
The straightforward, access-safe choice
Center orchestra is the right recommendation for most visitors: step-free access, good proximity to the stage, wheelchair seating available.
Step-free from entrance · Wheelchair seating availableA strong broader-stage option — with nuance
Front mezzanine center is a genuinely good seat. Elevator access reaches this level, but within it, rows step down at approximately two steps each.
Elevator access to level ~2 steps per row internally · Handrails at row endsUsable for the right visitor — plan carefully
Elevator access does reach this level — approximately 55 steps otherwise — but the same internal row-stepping applies here as in the mezzanine.
Elevator access to level ~55 steps via stairs · ~2 steps per row internallyElevator access to all three levels is genuinely useful. But “elevator access to the level” and “step-free within your row” are two different things. If navigating any steps at all is a concern, orchestra is your answer.
Accessibility at the James Earl Jones Theatre
The James Earl Jones Theatre has one of the stronger accessibility profiles of any older Broadway house — a direct result of the 2022 renovation.
What you need to know
Getting to the James Earl Jones Theatre
The James Earl Jones is at 138 West 48th Street, between Sixth and Seventh Avenues — a few blocks north of the main Times Square cluster.
By subway — Times Square cluster
The 1, 2, 3, N, Q, R, and W trains at Times Square–42nd Street put you about a six-minute walk north to 48th Street.
By subway — Rockefeller Center
The B, D, F, and M trains stop at 47th–50th Streets–Rockefeller Center on Sixth Avenue, nearly at the door.
Arrive with time to spare
If you have mezzanine or balcony seats and plan to use the elevator, give yourself 25–30 minutes before curtain.
Build the Night Around the James Earl Jones
West 48th Street sits between two strong restaurant corridors — the Theater District’s core dining stretch to the south and the Hell’s Kitchen edge to the west.
How to time dinner before a Broadway show.
Named picks for pre-theater and post-show dining.
Where to stay if this theater is your anchor.
Subway lines and rideshare strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Through official Broadway ticketing channels for the current production, or in person at the James Earl Jones Theatre box office at 138 West 48th Street.
At 138 West 48th Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues. Contact the Shubert box office for current hours, since they can shift by performance schedule.
WANTED, a new original musical, is the next show at the James Earl Jones Theatre. Previews begin October 15, 2026, and opening night is November 8, 2026.
Yes — the venue operated as the Cort Theatre New York from 1912 until 2022, when the Shubert Organization renamed it to honor James Earl Jones. Some visitors still search for it as the Cort Theatre NYC.
Approximately 1,092 seats across Orchestra, Mezzanine, and Balcony levels — a mid-sized Broadway house.
Yes. The entrance and Orchestra level are entirely step-free. Elevator access reaches the Mezzanine and Balcony, though internal row steps remain within those levels. Wheelchair seating is available on all three levels.
138 West 48th Street, between Sixth and Seventh Avenues in the Theater District. Nearest subway: Times Square–42nd Street (1, 2, 3, N, Q, R, W) or 47th–50th Streets–Rockefeller Center (B, D, F, M).
The bottom line on the James Earl Jones
The James Earl Jones is one of the more interesting houses to book right now — the combination of genuine 1912 architecture and a real 2022 access renovation produces historic character without the usual historic-building access limitations.
Orchestra seats are the simplest and most access-safe choice. And if you are booking for WANTED, the mid-size house keeps a large-cast musical feeling close — see the WANTED show guide for dates, cast, runtime and age guidance.
The House Is Restored — Now Choose the Right Seat
The James Earl Jones Theatre combines old-Broadway character with a stronger access profile than many historic houses. Start with the new seating chart to compare Orchestra, Mezzanine, Balcony, elevator access, and row-step details, then build the rest of the night around WANTED, dinner, hotels, transit, and the Theater District.
James Earl Jones Seating Chart & Best Seats
Compare Orchestra, Mezzanine, Balcony, center-vs-side sightlines, accessibility, elevator access, row steps, and the best seats for WANTED before buying.
Open Seating Guide Previews Oct 15WANTED Broadway Guide
Official tickets, cast, previews vs. opening, the true Clarke family story, runtime and age guidance for the season’s first new musical.
Open Show GuideBroadway Seating & Ticket Strategy
Seats · Timing · ValueBroadway Seating Guide
Compare orchestra, mezzanine, balcony, boxes, side seats, premium zones, and obstructed-view listings across Broadway houses.
When to Buy Broadway Tickets
Know when buying early matters, when waiting can work, and how timing changes for plays, limited runs, weekends, and strong seat inventory.
Last-Minute Broadway Tickets
TKTS, same-day listings, rush, lottery, and practical ways to compare late options without choosing awkward seats blindly.
Broadway Rush and Lottery Tickets
How discount systems work, what tradeoffs to expect, and why cheap seats can be great — or risky — depending on the view.
First-Time Broadway Guide
For visitors choosing their first show or first theater: seats, arrival, timing, intermission, dress, and Theater District basics.
Best Broadway Shows for Date Night
Compare Broadway nights by tone, dinner pairing, room feel, pacing, and how the full evening works beyond the ticket.
Plan the James Earl Jones Theatre Night
Dinner · Hotels · TransitRestaurants Near Broadway
The James Earl Jones sits north of the busiest 44th–45th Street crush, with Theater District, Times Square, and Hell’s Kitchen dining all close by.
Pre-Show Dining Guide
Plan reservation timing, walking buffer, check arrival, and post-show movement so dinner and theater work together.
Best Pre-Theater Restaurants NYC
Use this when you want stronger restaurant choices around Broadway rather than only timing and logistics advice.
Hotels Near Broadway
Compare Theater District, Times Square, Midtown West, and Hell’s Kitchen hotel zones for a Broadway-centered trip.
How to Get to a Broadway Show
Subway, walking, rideshare, and arrival timing for Theater District shows, including the West 48th Street houses.
Parking Near Broadway
When driving makes sense, when it does not, and how to avoid turning a Broadway night into a Midtown garage problem.
Nearby Neighborhood & Theater Guides
48th Street · Theater District · Nearby HousesTheater District
The practical guide to Broadway’s center: theaters, crowds, hotels, restaurants, walking routes, and first-time visitor logistics.
Times Square
Best when convenience, subway access, and being right in the center matter most — especially for short Broadway trips.
Midtown West
A useful broader Midtown base for hotels, restaurants, transit, and walking routes around the north Theater District.
Longacre Theatre Guide
A nearby 48th Street Broadway house useful for comparing location, room feel, and pre-show logistics.
Walter Kerr Theatre Guide
A nearby restored Broadway house with a compact feel, useful for comparing actor-forward rooms and seating strategy.
Palace Theatre Guide
A Times Square landmark nearby, helpful for comparing restored-house context, scale, arrival, and Midtown planning.