1984 Seating Guide – Hudson Theater Seating Chart

Located on 44th Street, just next to Times Square, is the latest addition to Broadway – the Hudson Theater. Almost 50 years after its last Broadway performance in 1968, the Hudson Theater has returned in style, making it one of the most modern theaters on Broadway. If you’re looking to head to the Hudson Theater, then make sure to go through this extensive Hudson Theater Seating Chart to find yourself the best seats in the house.

The repurposed Hudson Theater is set to host the stage adaptation of 1984, a gripping novel by George Orwell about the struggles and courage of an average man in a war-ravaged world ruled by a Big Brother. 1984 remains to this day, and even more relevant to an extent with its message, one of the most acclaimed works of fiction of all time. The book has sold over 30 million copies around the world and has been translated into more than 65 languages. The play has been masterfully adapted by Robert Icke and Duncan Macmillan into what The London Times describes as ‘chilling’ and ‘ingenious’.

Without further ado, let us go through the Hudson Theater seating chart and help you find the best seats for you.

Hudson Theater Seating Chart

The Hudson Theater was built and managed by Henry B. Harris until his demise with the sinking of the RMS Titanic. When it opened in 1903, the Hudson had a number of distinctive architectural features which stay on to this day. Since its opening in 1903, the Hudson Theater was a popular venue for Broadway plays in New York. However, later years saw it being used as a TV studio, a cinema for adult movies, a rock concert venue, and from the 1990s, an event space for the Millennium Hotel. In 2015, the London-based Ambassador Theater Group leased the theater and refurbished it into a state-of-the-art venue and one of the most modern theaters on Broadway.

Today, the refurbished Hudson Theater includes brand new seats made of British dark mahogany and gold cushions on the seats rather than the usual red. The Hudson theater also boasts of some of the roomiest seating on Broadway. While some theaters on Broadway are cramped with seats that are 17-inches wide, seats at the Hudson Theater are 23 inches in width. The walls of the lobby have been restored and adorned by original crystal mosaics from 1903.

The Hudson Theater is one of the smaller theaters on Broadway. The theater has a total capacity of 976 seats which have been appropriately divided into 3 sections – the large and expansive orchestra, the dress circle and balcony. Understandably, you would want the best seats to get the most out of your Broadway experience. Let’s look at each section in detail and help you find the best seats in the theater.

Hudson Theater Orchestra

The Orchestra section has a total of 474 seats that are divided into two sections.

The first half of the orchestra has a total of 196 seats spread across 10 rows, from row A to row K (there is no row I owing to confusion with the number 1). The seats are numbered from 101 to 125, moving from left to right. This section is not only closest to the stage, but it also offers a uniquely immersive experience and is destined to be the best seats in the house.

The second half of the orchestra is divided longitudinally into 3 subsections – the center orchestra and the two side orchestras. The center orchestra here has 164 seats spread across 10 rows, from row L to row U. The seats are numbered from 101 to 118, moving from right to left.

The left orchestra has 57 seats divided into 8 rows, from row M to row T. The seats are odd-numbered from 1 to 15, moving from right to left. The right orchestra is similar in its layout to the left orchestra. The 57 seats in the right orchestra are even-numbered from 2 to 16, moving from left to right.

It can’t be denied that the Orchestra has the best seats in the Hudson Theater. These seats not only provide you with an uninterrupted view of the stage, but also bring you closer to the action. Sitting at the same level as the stage is a more immersive experience and hence, if you’re looking for the perfect Broadway experience at the Hudson, do go for seats in the Orchestra section. However, do remember that seats in the orchestra section are the most expensive seats in the theatre, though it’s a price one can dearly pay if they don’t wish to be seated far away from the stage.

Pricing

The seats in the first half of the center orchestra (Row A-K) are the most expensive seats in the house. Next up are rows L-S of the center orchestra, followed by seats in the side orchestra and the last few seats of the center orchestra.

Hudson Theater Dress Circle

The Dress Circle is the first elevated section of the Hudson Theater. Spread over 10 rows, from row A to row J, the dress circle has a seating capacity of 254 seats. The Dress Circle is further divided into three longitudinal sections – center, left and right dress circle.

Left Dress Circle – The left dress circle seats are spread across 10 rows (A to J) and are odd numbered. Seats begin at 1 and end at 17, moving from the aisle to the outside.

Center Dress Circle – The center dress circle seats are spread across 10 rows (A to J). Seats begin at 101 and end at 114, moving right to left.

Right Dress Circle – The right dress circle seats are spread across 10 rows (A to J) and are even numbered. Seats begin at 2 and end at 18, moving from the aisle to the outside.

The Dress Circle is what one would call the mezzanine in general Broadway terms. Being the first elevated section, seats in the first few rows of the center dress circle are one the best and offer the most stunning views. Not only can you see the action on the stage without any hinderance, but the entire span of the stage is comfortably in view, including the set and props at the back of the stage.

The sloped nature of the dress circle also provides a better viewing angle for its patrons and in cases where you find a tall person seated in front of you, the inclination will assist the cause and leave you with an unhindered view. Hence, seats in the dress circle are definitely some of the best seats in the house. You will be able to enjoy a thorough Broadway experience without it becoming a costly affair.

Pricing

Seats in the center and the first half are the costliest dress circle seats. As you move further back and to the sides, the prices fall, with the rear dress circle seats at the sides being the cheapest.

Hudson Theater Balcony

The Balcony is the second elevated section of the Hudson Theater. Spread over 8 rows, from row A to row H, the balcony is almost as big as the dress circle with a capacity of 240 seats. The Balcony, lie the dress circle, is further divided into three longitudinal sections – center, left and right dress circle.

Left Balcony – The left balcony seats are spread across 8 rows (A to H) and are odd numbered. Seats begin at 1 and end at 19, moving from the aisle to the outside.

Center Balcony – The center balcony seats are spread across 8 rows (A to H). Seats begin at 101 and end at 114, moving right to left.

Right Balcony – The right balcony seats are spread across 8 rows (A to H) and are even numbered. Seats begin at 2 and end at 20, moving from the aisle to the outside.

The seats in the balcony are obviously the furthest away from the stage. Even though seats in the orchestra and the dress circle offer far better seating options, sitting in the balcony isn’t all that bad. The Hudson Theater is one of the smaller theaters on Broadway and hence sitting anywhere, you feel yourself intimately close to the stage.

Pricing

Being the section furthest away from the stage, seats in the balcony are the cheapest seats in the theater. Prices of the first few rows of the balcony are comparable to the middle and last rows of the dress circle and orchestra respectively. If you are on a budget, then you should look for getting seats in the middle rows of the dress circle. If not, seats in the first few rows of the balcony are equally good and offer very good value for money.

Pro Tips

• Drinks are served in real glassware without a lid. Hence, it is advisable to have your drink at the bar as it may be a trouble and a task to keep things from spilling inside the theater.

• 1984 is a show that runs without an intermission. Make sure that you make a quick visit to the restrooms before the play starts.