Two old friends meet to converse, joke and argue with themselves as they wait through one day and then another for the mysterious Godot. The combination of music hall, poetry and tension redefined what is possible in theater, so that today Waiting for Godot is accepted as one of the most significant plays of the 20th century.
The Cort Theatre was built by and named for John Cort, general manager of the
Northwestern Theatrical Association, a theatre circuit centered in Seattle with
playhouses scattered throughout the western US and British Columbia. A fugitive
from a vaudeville comedy team called Cort and Murphy, Cort moved from performing
to management in the 1890s. The Shuberts acquired the theatre in 1927, two years
before Cort’s death.
The Cort is the only surviving, still active, legitimate theatre designed by
Thomas Lamb. Its classic exterior was inspired by the 18th century French Petit
Trianon at Versailles. Architecture from the period of Louis XVI also inspired
the interior. The lobby is constructed of Pavanozza marble with panels of Marie
Antoinette plasterwork. The proscenium arch was constructed in perforated
plaster treated with art glass that could be lit during performances; this arch
still exists but is not operational today
Run time 2 hours and 30 minutes with one intermission.
Cort Theatre
138 West 48th Street
Between 6th and 7th
Avenues
New York, NY 10036