138 West 48th Street
New York, NY 10036
The James Earl Jones Theater is the only existing and functioning legitimate theatre designed by Thomas Lamb. Lamb’s exterior design was inspired by the 18th century French Petit Trianon at Versailles and his interior design by the architecture from the period of Louis XVI. The stage’s arch is comprised of perforated plaster treated with art glass, and was designed to be lit during productions. The arch still remains, but it cannot be lit. The Cort Theatre was constructed and named for John Cort, general manager of the Northwestern Theatrical Association. He resigned as a performer with a vaudeville comedy team called Cort and Murphy to work in management in the 1890s. The first production at the Cort was Peg o’ My Heart starring Laurette Taylor and directed by Oliver Morosco in 1912. John Cort’s first production at the venue was The Princess Pat, an operetta, in 1915. In 1927, the Shuberts obtained ownership of the theatre.
The Cort Theatre’s stage arch is comprised of perforated plaster treated with art glass.
The Cort opened in 1912 with Peg o’ My Heart starring Laurette Taylor.
