The Chicago Musical Guide | Ambassador Theatre Seating Chart

Sultry Jazz tunes, the forgotten era of the 20s, and synchronised choreography the likes of which Broadway has never seen before—Chicago is an undeniable Broadway classic. With productions across the world including a 1970’s Broadway debut, the musical is a certified global phenomenon. The show returned to Broadway in 1996 at the Richards Rodgers Theatre before moving the production to the Ambassador Theatre in 2003. Planning on catching this iconic show? Our Ambassador Theatre Seating Chart will help you find the best seats!

The 1996 revival of Chicago is directed by Walter Bobbie with the original book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse. Over the years many name celebrities have been a part of the production including Michelle Williams, Usher, Brooke Shields, Alan Thicke and many more. The show features showstopping tunes like All That Jazz, Cell Block Tango, and I Can’t Do It Alone backed with breathtaking dance numbers from a game ensemble.

This Ambassador Theatre seating chart has all the information you would need to have a magical Chicago experience. From seating chart and a detailed look at each section to restaurants nearby and ways to get to the t

Ambassador Theatre Seating Chart

The Ambassador Theatre opened in 1921, intended to primarily host musical comedies and operettas. The first show that ran on this theater was The Rose Girl, followed by a string of iconic shows like The Diary of Anne Frank, We Bombed In New Haven, Celebration, Godspell, Dreamgirls, and Topdog/Underdog, before becoming home to the Broadway revival of Chicago in 2003.

Herbert Krapp designed the interiors of the Ambassador. The theater walls, ceiling, boxes, doorways and arches utilize more intricate Adam-style decoration, widely known to be Krapp’s favorite design themes. The theatre was built on a lot that was too small, which resulted in the auditorium being built diagonally. This caused the auditorium to be distinctly hexagonal and the stage to be very wide, resulting in a lack of wing space.

The Ambassador Theatre has 1088 seats, spread across three primary sections, orchestra, front mezzanine, and rear mezzanine. There are limited seats available for the pit and some standing row seats too. Each of these seats offer a distinct viewing angle and varied price points, depending on the view offered.

We have looked at each of the primary section in detail and also the price point for each. Let’s start with the Ambassador Theatre orchestra.

Ambassador Theatre Orchestra

The orchestra section of Ambassador Theater holds a total of 565 seats, effectively making it the biggest section in the theatre. Like most Broadway theaters, the Ambassador Theatre orchestra is divided into subsections, left orchestra, center orchestra, and right orchestra. The left orchestra seats are odd numbered, falling between 1-29, the center orchestra seats are subsequently numbered from 101 to 114, the right orchestra seats are even numbered in the range of 2-30.

In the center orchestra, the front rows (AA-B), middle seats (105-109) are the best in the theatre, offering a clean view of the stage and bringing patrons as close as physically possible to all the action. The middle rows in this section are also good, offering a good look at the stage without any obstructions.

As you move further back, the quality of the view offered understandably dips, with the last few rows offering an average view at best. Center orchestra pricing follows a similar pattern, with the front row seats being the most expensive and the last row, the cheapest.

The left and right orchestra are pretty identical when it comes to viewing angles. Although, the seats closer to center orchestra are quite good while the extreme corner seats can be avoided.

Pricing

The centre section is the most expensive, with the cost for seats in rows AA-B matching (and in some cases exceeding) the cost of front mezzanine seats. The left and right orchestra follow a similar pattern, with prices being similar to center mezzanine seats and decreasing with each row. The last few rows are the cheapest and make for a decent deal if the view offered is not a priority for you.

Reviews

We saw Chicago at the Ambassador Theatre. It was a great way to see a Broadway show without breaking the bank. We sat on the right side towards the back of the orchestra and our view was perfect – Txjhgirl

Sat in orchestra seats, row G. Was pleasantly surprised at the amount of legroom given the reviews. Row G was WAY closer to the action than I had expected, probably due to the slightly smaller seat pitch – Mike

Ambassador Theatre Front Mezzanine

With a total seat count of 264, the front mezzanine section is considerably smaller than the orchestra. The front mezzanine has five rows in total (A-E) with four subsections, two on the left and two on the right.

Looking at view on offer, the front mezzanine offers a uniformly good look at the stage, especially the first few rows, which are considered amongst the best in the theatre. The last few rows of this section can be avoided if you don’t have a strict budget to follow. If you’re looking for cheap tickets for Chicago The Musical, go for the corner front mezzanine seats over corner orchestra seats.

Pricing

The front mezzanine rows are amongst the most expensive in the theatre, rivaling the price of premium orchestra seats. The middle and side mezzanine seats are priced similarly to the left and right orchestra seats, while the last rows of this section are amongst the cheapest

Reviews

Well what can I say… it was the best show I’ve seen and will probably see in a long time! Fantastic!! The theater was great too, we were sat in the front row of the mezzanine, we had an excellent view – Rosie

Beautiful theatre on the 49th Street. Elegant and intimate. All seats are good seats, including those at the back of the rear mezzanine. Chicago is currently playing. A very good show in a very good place – Stephane

Ambassador Theatre Rear Mezzanine

The final section of the Ambassador Theatre is the rear mezzanine. Like the front mezzanine, this section is also divided into four subsections with varying number of seats. The view offered by most rear mezzanine seats (except the first few rows) is pretty average, which explains the relatively lower prices.

If you’re on a tight budget and don’t care about the stage view, any seat in the mezzanine would be the best option. The standing row seating section is also a great option for budget conscious people.

Pricing

The seats in the front and center of the rear mezzanine are the most expensive seats and are dearer than the side and back row orchestra seats. The prices fall as you move further back in the section, with the last rows mezzanine seats being the cheapest in the house.

Reviews

One good thing about a small theater is that your cheaper mezzanine seats are closer to the stage than they would in larger, fancier theaters. That and the nice theater staff are the redeeming factors of this theater – Jay

The show Chicago was amazing but the theatre needs some work. The seats in the mezzanine are very tightly packed with no legroom for tall people like my husband – Bee

Pro Tips

• The restroom queue can be pretty long and there’s a high possibility of you missing parts of the second act if you need to visit the restroom during the intermission. Use the restroom before the show begins or better yet before you leave for the show to avoid missing parts of the second act.
• The minimal legroom for most seats in the rear mezzanine section can be a problem. If you or anyone you’re watching the show with are tall, please look for seats in the front mezzanine or orchestra for additional legroom.
• The refreshment and drinks are considerably expensive, so we would recommend eating before you go to avoid spending too much money.
• Theatre is not completely wheelchair accessible. There are two small steps into theatre from the main entrance from the sidewalk. The side entrance has no steps from the sidewalk, please alert Box Office upon arrival.
• In the mezzanine level, there are approximately 2 steps per row. Entrance to front mezzanine is behind row E. Entrance to rear mezzanine is in front of row A.

Restaurants Near Ambassador Theatre

Here are some of the best restaurants around Ambassador Theatre:

1. Junior’s: Serving fine deli fare with a BBQ to boot, the deserts are the star attraction at this Brooklyn-themed restaurant.

2. Planet Hollywood: Get your fix of Hollywood memorabilia and good ol’ American fare in 1540, Broadway.

3. John’s Pizzeria: Serving their trademark thin-crust pizzas since 1929, John’s Pizzeria in 260, West 44th Street, is a classic NYC eatery.

4. Orso: A theatre district classic, Orso in 322, West 46th Street, brings gourmet Tuscan cuisine to New York with ample aplomb.

5. The Lambs Club: A clubby, art-deco style restaurant in 132 West 44th Street, with cocktails and steaks to die for!

6. City Kitchen:This takeout joint serves the city’s best ramen in a straightforward, no-fuss manner, focusing on the quality of the food instead.

If you’re looking for more dining options near Ambassador Theatre, our Broadway theatre district restaurant guide will come in handy.

Getting There

The Ambassador Theatre is located at 219 West 49th Street, making it accessible from most parts of the city.

There are many buses and metro trains you can take to reach the Ambassador Theatre. Buses plying to Theatre District are M104, M42, M6, M10, and M27/50. If travelling by subway is more your thing, you can take the 1, 9, C or E train to 50th Street or the N or R train to 49th Street.

Travelling in your car? There are numerous paid parking spots close to the theatre too. Some of them include LAZ Parking, Edison ParkFest, Bright Management, and Impark.

Buy Discounted Chicago Broadway Tickets

Looking to score cheap tickets for Chicago on Broadway? Get great last minute deals on Chicago tickets on Headout, your one stop, on-demand mobile concierge.

Choose your show, select your seats, and show up at the theatre on the day of the experience. In the meantime, a Headout representative will take care of the legwork and meet you at the theatre before your show to hand-deliver your tickets.

Have further questions about the Ambassador Theatre seating chart? Need details about specific seats? Just drop your question in the comments below and we’ll get back to you!