Webster Hall officially reopens on April 29 with a two-night stint by Spanish singer-songwriter Rosalía followed by Patti Smith on May 1-2. All four of these shows are sold out. (And there are the
rumors that a band such as the Strokes, the National or the Yeah Yeah Yeahs will christen the new space at the end of the month before the official slate of acts.)
Ahead of the debut this month, here's a look at how the landmarked venue is shaping up outside here on 11th Street between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue...
As previously reported, Webster Hall is now owned by BSE Global and The Bowery Presents, who's booking the acts at the venue.
And here's a recap from a previously released press announcement:
The renovations at Webster Hall aimed to preserve the iconic features of the venue, while modernizing it to meet today’s entertainment standards and enhance the guest experience. The Lounge (formerly The Marlin Room) has been revamped to serve as a bar and meeting spot for ticketholders both before and after shows in the Grand Ballroom.
Design details of The Lounge include elegant gold stenciling on the walls that pays homage to the original historic design, and fluted glass along the bar that mimics the venue’s former windows.
In the Grand Ballroom, the original stage remains, while acoustics were enhanced to create an optimal live event experience. Fans and artists returning to Webster Hall will notice other new features such as central air conditioning, expanded restrooms, additional stairwells for smoother entry and exit, and the venue’s first-ever elevator that will serve guests with disabilities and speed up each show’s load-in and load-out process.
Behind the scenes, an artist compound was built with upgraded amenities to provide direct access to the Ballroom stage, creating a more comfortable and inviting environment for performers and their management. The venue’s basement level, formerly known as The Studio at Webster Hall, will also return, with more details to be announced at a later date.
The architect of the revived venue is OTJ Architects, the contractor is Shawmut Design and Construction, and acoustic design is by L’Acoustics. Once open, Webster Hall will employ an estimated 70 people across various positions in the venue, between front of house and back of house, on any given event night.
This landmarked building has been around since 1886. It re-opened as Webster Hall in October 1992 after the Ballinger family purchased and renovated the space that was known as
The Ritz during the 1980s.
And for making it this far in the post, here are bonus photos of
the Moxy East Village across the street from Webster Hall...
The 13-floor hotel via Marriott is expected to open at the end of the year.
Previously on EV Grieve:
When Webster Hall reopens, there might be a Moxy Hotel across the street
First sign of upcoming renovations at the former Webster Hall
Permits filed to renovate Webster Hall
The Webster Hall marquee looks to be in danger of falling
