NEW YORK – Broadway welcomed a new theater Wednesday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Jake Gyllenhaal.
The “Brokeback Mountain” and “Nightcrawler” star was on hand with a pair of oversize golden scissors to reopen the Hudson Theatre with “Sunday in the Park With George,” the venue’s first theatrical production in nearly 50 years.
“I can’t stress enough how important it is to have joy in this world and that’s what this space is and that’s what this show is all about. It’s all about love and joy so I hope people will come and experience that with us.”
Gyllenhaal helped cut a green ribbon with co-star Annaleigh Ashford, and his name will adorn a plaque commemorating the event. The ornate, refurbished theater wasn’t quite ready for its close-up, with garbage cans still in plastic in the lobby and signs still needing to be hung.
Opened in 1903 – a week before the New Amsterdam Theatre – the Hudson becomes both Broadway’s oldest theater and its newest. It’s the first new Broadway theater in almost 20 years and becomes the 41st such venue.
The Hudson sits just off Times Square – east of Broadway on 44th Street. The theater opened in 1903 with a production of “Cousin Kate” starring Ethel Barrymore. It was built by producer Henry B. Harris, who died aboard the Titanic.
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