Neil Simon Theater

A musical-comedy house built for producers Alex Aarons and Vinton Freedly, the 'Al' + 'vin' of the theater's original name. Designer Krapp continued his string of Adamesque-inspired theaters. Architecturally undistinguished, the producers aspired the Alvin to be the mecca of high-brow, well-produced musical comedy. Adele Astaire and Fred Astaire performed in the premiere production, Funny Face, on November 22, 1927. The producers lost control of their theater (as had many others) during the depression year of 1932. CBS used the theater as a radio studio throughout the 30s and into the mid-40s, when it was again used for legitimate productions. The Shubert Organization purchased the Alvin in 1975 renamed it in honor of playwright Neil Simon during the highly successful run of his Brighton Beach Memoirs. The theater, designated a New York City landmark in August 1985, is now part of the Nederlander Organization