Came here to see The Late Show with Stephen Colbert taped live, and if you're a genuine fan of his the way I am, it's worth doing at least once. Hard not to feel the history in the room either. The building has stood on Broadway since 1927, originally opened as Hammerstein's Theater, and it went on to host basically every era of American entertainment since: The Ed Sullivan Show, decades of Letterman, and Colbert taking over the desk in 2015. You feel that weight the second you sit down, before the taping even starts. Got the fortunate, or maybe unfortunate, luck of being pulled in as an audience member for two shows taped back to back on the same day, something I had no idea they even did until it happened to me. Sitting through both in a row, I started noticing little details I never would've caught otherwise, like how his suit looks nearly identical from taping to taping. Small thing, but it's the kind of pattern you only pick up on when you're stuck there for two straight shows. The energy in that room is genuinely unmatched. I've been to Fallon and Seth Meyers for comparison, and neither hits the same. Something about the size of the space, the history in the walls, and Colbert's own presence just makes it a completely different experience live than it ever comes across on screen. Sad to say this one's more memory than recommendation now. I was a big fan of his, and it stung to see the show get cancelled. My honest take: this administration had a hand in it. I guess freedom of speech only really applies to the people trying to take it away from you. I got to sit in that room live, more than once, before the curtain came down for good, and I'm glad I did. read more

My wife and I make regular trips to NYC a couple of times a month to catch a Broadway show or sit in on a TV taping. Last night, we went to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at the historic Ed Sullivan Theater. The band was electric, Colbert was sharp and totally in command, and the crowd brought nonstop energy. If you haven't been to one of these free tapings, I highly recommend it--it's a unique, high-energy experience that's well worth the time. read more

Ed Sullivan Theater - Performing Arts Near Me - New York, New York

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Great venue and historical site! Saw the Steven Cobert Show. Unique experience that one should do at least once. I'm going back. read more

We were very fortunate to get tickets for a taping of "The Late Show" with Stephen Colbert last month. Ethan Hawke and Cedric the Entertainer were the guests and we had an absolute blast. A few things to keep in mind when you come into the theatre...bring a sweater or jacket because it can get cold...turn off your cellphone...use the restrooms before the show starts because you won't be able to leave once the taping begins...and Be respectful of others in the theater. This is a must-do event if you are lucky enough to score some tickets. read more

What a cool place inside. We went for the Stephen Colbert Late Show taping on Monday afternoon (make sure you arrive in line before 4:00pm) and had a fun time. Once they let us into the theatre they seat you, I asked for the aisle seat and the friendly female staff member obliged. The seats are comfortable. The lighting is good but lots of big heavy cameras (4-5) tend to frequently block the stage view. Make sure you sit in the right middle side for the best view of the desk and band. There's monitors located everywhere so you can easily see Stephen and the guest at all times, if a camera man is blocking your view. You can use the restrooms in the basement about 20 minutes after you get seated. After the show, the restrooms are closed. The whole theatre is very old but it's been restored and decorated nicely all over. A very classy place! read more

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We had a good time being audience members for Stephen Colbert's Late Show. We had VIP tickets and went to front of line. We were first in the theater and at in front row. What a view and the band is very impressive in person. George Clooney was the guest. The theater is beautiful inside. The ceiling is jaw dropping. Two thumbs up! read more

The show itself was great, a wonderful experience, but many people in line wished they knew priority would be standing for 2-3 hours straight. Also not very happy they brought an entire group of college kids in to the front of the line to fill the front row. read more

Ed Sullivan Theater - Front door - Performing Arts Near Me - New York, New York

The Ed Sullivan Theatre is nearly a century old. The variety show The Ed Sullivan Show was broadcast from this studio! The Late Show with David Lettermen was then hosted here. I came here to watch a live taping of Stephen Colbert's show. It was so lively and entertaining. However, three hours of filming can be exhausting. Tickets are free! And everyone is friendly. read more

Ed Sullivan Theater - Performing Arts Near Me - New York, New York

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I should have been here long ago for David Letterman. I have regrets. But Colbert is no slouch. Got to see my first major network talkshow and it went as professionally as I imagined. The line greeter deserves all the raises. ALL OF THEM. He was forced to entertain two asshole Trumpers from Long Island that were behind me. How do I know they voted for Trump??? BECAUSE THEY NEVER SHUT UP. One horrible anecdote after another. I was resigned to having an awful experience and a migraine by the end but was saved again by the wonderful staff. I was by myself and they needed a single seat filled on the other side of the theater. I could have kissed them. I really can't gush enough about the staff. NO BACKPACKS. They will direct you to nearby hotels with bag checks, but do you really want the bother? You will go thru a metal detector so don't be a dope like me and forget to take your Swiss Army knife off your keys. It was confiscated but one of the staff put it in his pocket for safekeeping and gave it back to me after the show. Like seriously, the staff is awesome. The restrooms are closed DURING and AFTER the show, so when they give you the opportunity to go to the restroom, take it. They send people in groups but of course the jackasses behind me cut the line. The theater is chilly. I wore my leather jacket so my top half was fine, but my feet got cold. They warmed up later because there's a whole lot of up and down. So not bringing a bunch of stuff that has to stay in your lap is a must. The seats are roomy and the legroom is awesome. I've never been so comfortable in a live theater. I was seated towards the back on the side aisle (the band side) so the cameras obstructed my view most of the time, but there are multiple monitors above. The orchestra seats are labeled as Priority seating. If you get there after 4pm, you become General Admission and get the mezzanine which probably has a better overall view. Don't go if you're antisocial. You're there to applaud your arms off and laugh out loud like a crazy person. You're a part of the show, not just a passive viewer. There was a little old lady in front of me that was having the time of her life. She was perfect. The taping went surprisingly fast. Ours may have been a little bit longer because Colbert changed his tie and pre-taped his Chris Pratt interview. The teens in front of me finally decided to join the rest of us dweebs and clapped for him. But he talked about his church for 5 mins so, meh. This is definitely the best kind of touristy thing to do in NYC outside of a Broadway show. As a jaded native, I'm glad I finally got to do this. Thanks BMCC for the ticket! read more

Ed Sullivan Theater - Taraji P. Henson and Chris Pratt - Performing Arts Near Me - New York, New York

I attended a taping on 9/21/17 so I'll share my experience. I got tickets online the day they became available, which was about a 5 weeks in advance. I got a priority ticket which I assume guarantees entry if you show up on time. (The other ticket type is General) The ticket had plenty of instructions, so I assume things have changed quite a bit from previous years (people in other Yelp reviews complained about lack of instructions.) First, the line open at 3:30 outside the theater. Seating is first-come-first-serve so if you want to be front and center show-up at 3:30 and be prepared to wait. I showed up near 4:30, which is the deadline. If you show up after this point and there is a packed house, you may not be let in even with the priority ticket! I saw two people get denied. Also, you will wait outside until 5pm (we did). So that's 90 min of waiting outside if you want a good seat. While waiting outside, we were lectured. I couldn't say about what because no one at the end of the line could hear her. But thankfully, she came back and did the lecture again. She told us briefly about the show and it's content (we got lucky - more on that later), about cell phones (turn them off, no pictures), using the bathroom (only one shot - after we get our seats, but before taping), and asking questions during the Q&A with Stephen (don't ask weird questions like "Can I have a hug or a job") Because I showed up at 4:20, I was seated in very last row, which is the section BEHIND the balcony. Yes, these are the shitty seats. However, you can still see the desk and the band, as well as the very cool ceiling onto which animations are projected. The thing that is difficult to see would be Stephen during the monologue or anyone else (eg lead singer in a band) standing toward the front of the stage. Anyway, I went to use the bathroom, located in the basement, and they were out of paper towels. Nice work CBS. People were wiping their hands onto their pants. Good thing I dressed up. More on that in a minute. Also, the water fountain (or bubbla' as we say in Boston) was setup for water bottles, not people taking a drink directly. Because of this, people were forced into an awkward position and spilling water all over the floor. Seriously?! They can't fix this for people? We waited outside in the hot sun for over an hour. I was a little miffed. Regarding the "Dress code": The ticket states that you should dress for a nice dinner which means no solid white shirts; no large logos; no shorts. However, I've seen T-shirts and shorts on TV, as well as in person so it doesn't look like this is enforced at all. I didn't take my chances and wore khaki pants and a nice golf shirt. Also, if you're a fan of the Late Show you no doubt know that the Ed Sullivan Theater is on the cool side. The ticket even says so and recommends bringing a light jacket. I did not bring a jacket and I was OK, but it was definitely cool (I tend to get hot anyway) Back to taping....But wait! I was a single and they needed someone to sit mid-balcony to fill an empty seat. I raised my hand immediately and moved up 10 rows just like that. Bazinga! Cue Paul Mercurio, the warm-up guy. His job was to get us loud and excited for the show. In his words: " You can't watch passively like you're at home in a loveless marriage." This is a live-to-tape show, so our reaction to comedy and music is the only one recorded. Understood. Then he took some people from the crowd and asked them about their lives while making fun of their responses to his questions. It was funny, but predictable humor of a B level comic. Then the band comes out and plays music for 5 or 10 min. They take turns soloing and it's evident that they are a talented group. At some point, the stage manager makes his speech about the show telling us that we got a "Double stuffed Oreo" of a show because they do double tapings on Thursdays. That means we get to do two Intro/ monologues as well as the comedy for the Friday taping. Wow! (Hint: See a Thursday taping for the most content). He also gives a cue as to when we should stand and clap (eg.,when Stephen comes out for the monologue). He also pointed out that there are Applause signs (large LCDs above stage). Finally, Stephen arrives for his Q&A. He took several questions and then we began the show, which included Midnight Confessions. Overall, it was a lot of fun. I got to see Jim Parsons, Tatiana Maslany and The Killers perform! Later on, he had time for another Q&A so I was able to ask a question. I asked "Do you have any favorite Stand-up clubs?" His response? He's never been to a stand-up club in his life...he prefers improvisation. I knew that last part, but more than a few people in the audience were surprised! Bonus Material: What does Jeff Sessions call white people? The Amazing race. I am paraphrasing; this joke was cut from the Emmy's which he revealed during Q&A. read more

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For an older theatre, this place is still in great condition. I visited during the last week of the Letterman show and returned to see Stephen Colbert on his 1st show back from covid. It still has all its original charm and you can tell that there have been very little adjustments to the actual structure itself inside and out. Maintaining the integrity of a historical building is golden especially in this day and age. read more

It's such a beautiful theatre. I'm glad I finally got to see the inside. I love the Late Show with Stephen Colbert and highly recommend a taping - especially since you get to see the Ed Sullivan Theater's inside in person. It's gorgeous. read more

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Very surprised that the Ed Sullivan Theater only has 11 reviews?! But it's Stephen Colbert! The man is the reason I'm still sane after the election. And possibly the only silver lining... I was lucky to snag a ticket to a taping and I must say they run the production SO smoothly. They also treated the whole crowd so graciously during the whole process of lining up, waiting for our seats, and even during the taping they wanted us to have a good time! The things I learned the most about this experience are that 1) the middle seats aren't necessarily the best... because the camera practically blocks him during his monologue 2) Jon Batiste is way underrated because he is SO talented and fantastic live -- I don't think TV captures how great he and the band is! 3) the cheap seats allow you to see the beautiful ceiling (didn't catch a glimpse) 4) Colbert's mom dated Anastasia Somoza (no joke -- personal Q&A revealed this) read more

As a part of the birthday celebration I got us tickets for the late show with Stephen Colbert - my boyfriends favorite. To get to the show first you need to get online reservations( not a ticket). I believe that they release few weeks of those and you can choose the date. With your confirmation you need to wait in line to actually get tickets. The theater can have around 400 people. We got there at 1pm and waited in line for an hour before they started to give out tickets. We got 161 and 162 and were asked to come back in 1,5h for... Standing in next line. Even though you spend couple hours waiting(glad that it was beautiful day) it's totally worth it. Before Stephen comes to the stage another comedian is warming up the crowd- Pete very smart and sharp jokes. Stephen is so funny and professional. I enjoyed being there very much. My favorite part- while waiting for one guests band and Stephen were singing songs that audience requested. Super cool!! If you have time and are lucky enough to get tickets coming to see the late show with Stephen Colbert is something that you should do. read more

Ed Sullivan Theater - Performing Arts Near Me - New York, New York

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Everybody who has been to this theater who were with the group of audience I was in for today's show said that it is "redone". It was my first visit ( how i wish i was given the chance to see Dave Letterman's show here) so I can't make any comparison. Visually, I love the interior architecture of the theater. The details of the ceiling, wall, doors and frame of the lobby was mesmerizing. Classical design that they kept as historically everyone has adored for decades. Stephen was proud when he showed to us through the set's TV screen the newly remodeled dome of the theater. I'll try if i could download a photo from the internet and include it with this review (as you now photography is not allowed inside). The stage set has modern presentation, the lights for each letter of the show marquee changes occasionally. The spotlights for the host, the band and the guests were bright not to miss which is currently being taped. The stage floor is spotless from where we were seated. The seats are very comfortable, all were remodeled. We were lucky to be seated 5th row from the front right hand side facing the stage. I was at the edge near the aisle and how exciting the feeling was when the house band stand next to us while performing during one of the commercial breaks. The sound is amazingly good.... You could hear Stephen's voice even during the moment of audience's non-stop applause....The volume of the house band's instruments were pleasant to ears, not too loud and not too low. The first LSSC episode was held last September, the entire production and place is not even 6 months old. It was an amazing experience to be in. I have separate review for the show itself. Check it out. The theater has probably400 + seating capacity on the first floor and about 200+ on the second floor. The marquee outside is very iconic and the COLBERT signage vertically hanged above the marquee is so cool. Tourist and locals are enjoying to take selfies with it. Come by and be part of this iconic theater. read more

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History. It's all over the place here. It's a new set up, but you can tell what is left from the original design way back when. Got in on stand by tickets! I was walking by taking photos and wound up on the list for the stand by ones. I had about 45 minutes to burn before I would find out if I could make it in. So I walked around the corner and checked out Studio 54. The inside of this place is just really cool! If you get the chance, check it out! Colbert is way funnier in person on the late show, than he ever was on the Comedy Central show. I didn't realize I would like him as much as I do. Thanks! read more

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Lovely theatre. Saw the Late Show with Stephen Colbert here and was pleasantly surprised by the beautiful ceiling. I've also seen it used to project animations on it. I love that it has multi-purposes. I also think what they've done with the set is fun. I found the Captain America sheild charming and loved that there were books on shelves. Even if they are props, it gives it a Colbert-home feel. Whatever that means. I would recommend the show as well. Stephen Colbert is the ideal man. Sigh. read more

Ed Sullivan Theater - Performing Arts Near Me - New York, New York

I had the pleasure of seeing The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on January 31, 2018. This building is impressive. The seats in the theater are surprisingly roomy, unlike many Broadway theaters. The lighting on the set is dazzling, if you see a taping of the show you will love the colors. Colbert is a genuine individual who takes the time to answer audience questions before the show and even thanks the audience for being there. A very classy man. Jon Baptiste and Stay Human are worth the time spent on line to get in. Talented people that pump up the energy to get the show started in an upbeat way. read more

Ed Sullivan Theater - Waiting on line to get into the theater - Performing Arts Near Me - New York, New York

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In 2014, I attended two shows here when David Letterman hosted late night. I recently attended again now that Stephen Colbert runs the show. Both are great comedic talents by the way. As far as the theater goes, the guest seating arrangements and stage are still the same. The only difference is the position of the band, David had his band to his right (where Stephen now has his library), while as you guessed it - Stephen's band is on his left. It's still freezing cold inside the building, as it was in 2014!! As for production and crew, they've always had the most committed team dedicated to running a successful show. Even the interns do a fantastic job mobilizing and controlling the queues. Like any other live production/taping, there are strict cell phone policies that must be obeyed. Other than that, you're guaranteed to have a wonderful time! read more

We finally got tickets to see The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. We've been long time Colbert fans and my husband has been trying since Stephen began. Tickets are free from the website, but they go quickly so keep trying. We weren't sure what to expect when we arrived. Tickets don't have great instructions. We went to the theater at 12:30 pm (for a 5:30 showtime) and we saw there was already a line formed. We decided to wait in line as well. Some people had tickets and some did not and were hoping to get standby tickets. At 1pm staff came out and told us if we had tickets to stay in line. They would come out at 2pm and give out numbers and further directions. So we stayed and at 2pm they came out and set up the ropes. We were then checked in (tickets and identification shown). We each received a hand stamp and then a piece of paper with a number. That number was our position in line. We were 15/16 (remember though we were in line at 12:30pm). After giving us our number they instructed us to return at 3:45 pm and get in line with those numbers. They warned us to go the bathroom before returning to the theater. Returning at 3:45 pm, we got in line (on the sidewalk under the sign) and waited for entrance. We ultimately entered around 4:30 pm. We went through the standard metal detector. We then proceeded inside the main lobby, through more ropes to wait again. As numbers 15/16 we were in line toward the middle of the people coming in. Initially we saw people coming in after us who were lined up in front of us and we didn't understand why. Once the lines were moved around 5:15 pm, the front row of people was taken up to the balcony. We then waited for all those with disabilities to be taken into the theater. Staff were pretty vocal about the use of phones and camera DON'T USE THEM. You can be removed. Finally, around 5:20 we were allowed into the theater. We were taken in by an usher. As we approached the front rows, the second and third rows were filled. The usher escorted my husband and I to the front, along with 9 other folks. I think it was a total fluke. However, I was excited to get the center seat, front row. At 5:30 pm the warm up comedian, Paul Mercurio came out and talked about audience participation, how important it was, made us practice saying "Ste-phen" about 25 times as well as perfecting our laughter and screaming. He then called out various audience members for a variety of things both positive and negative. After about 20 minutes, Stephen came out and said hello, answered three audience questions. After that the stage manager came out, gave us more rules. Then came the best part of the evening, the band. They WERE AWESOME. By far, the highlight of the show. Incredibly talented. After about 10 minutes of music, the show began and Stephen comes out. It was great to see the show. I would recommend if you do, don't bring any bags (no shopping before hand), dress warmly, it's cold in the theater and go to the bathroom before you enter. The taping takes about 1 1/2 hours. Get there early! read more

Ed Sullivan Theater - Performing Arts Near Me - New York, New York

Saw The Late Show with Stephen Colbert here. Very nice theater with padded movie theater like seats and a really cool domed ceiling with different colors projected onto it. Really cool being in such a historic theater where Ed Sullivan held his show and people like Elvis Presley, The Beatles, and The Doors performed. read more

Jesus, what a hellhole. As others have pointed out, the management of the actual theatre must not care at all about the audience. It's a huge mistake, because for a live show you want happy people, not tired and angry ones. Let me explain. 1. Instructions - extraordinarily unclear. Possibly because it changes every day. But I managed to speak to quite a few folks and figured this out: a) if you get there on a regular day with no VIPs like Trump at 1:15pm you'll be between 100-170. Numbers matter because it's the order in which they generally seat you. (The general call time is usually 2:45pm) first people in line usually get to sit in the front row on the ground floor. BUT they also seat people based on empty spaces. Single aisle seats could be up for grabs near the front even if you're #200 b) if you get there around 1:40 you've hit the sweet spot because you're after #250, and up in the balcony. What they don't tell you is that the ground floor generally sucks because you can't get a good look at amazing ceiling. c) folks who show up at 5pm have a decent chance of waltzing right in with no waiting if there's c list guests. 2. The ridiculous amount of corralling. You'll line up for at least three hours outside, followed by another 40 minutes inside a cramped hallway with 260 folks. This is the sort of situation that should violate fire code. It's incredibly dangerous and completely insane they thought it was a good idea. (Somehow it says 438 for that space, but I think that's for the actual theatre which seats around 400. They must be nuts to shovel 250 people into the hallway. As it is, we all felt like chickens in one of those animal rights videos) 3. The absurd bathroom policy. You can't go until everyone is seated in the theatre, which is usually after we've all been waiting for two hours to get in. So about half of the audience gets up to go to the bathroom. All of these things need to change desperately. Oh, and the band release an album please. It's a shame that the folks at home only get to hear 10 seconds of each song. P.S. If you watch the band during the show, they'll occasionally talk to each other by whispering into their microphones and listening on their earbuds. It's a neat trick. P.P.S. It's not worth it. Watch it at home. The only thing you're missing is the band and the occasional mistake. And the hilarious warm up dude Paul who is probably better than the actual show. read more

I just saw Stephen Colbert here! My life is complete now. But seriously, the staff here were all great. We were on standby and got in at the last second, thanks to a very optimistic outside helper person assuring us that he would do his best to get us all seats. And he did! Yay! Also, the theater is gorgeous inside. The sound was great. The seats were comfy. And the Stephen Colbert was dreamy. read more

Historic and iconic is the Ed Sullivan Theatre. This classic building still has a vintage feeling and I appreciate CBS not going crazy with their remodel. Amazing LED display for Stephen Colbert. read more

I put in for 2 tickets at the first week of October and got a confirmation to reserve tickets by the 27th of October. I used 1Iota.com for free tickets which is legit by the way. Once you confirm your tickets, you can print the priority seating tickets or you can just save them to your phone. We arrived at Ed Sullivan Theater on Wednesday, November 29 at 3:00PM by Uber from Brooklyn. When we arrived at the door the line was about half way and waiting outside. The weather was cool but not freezing. When you enter through the back of the line, you are given a wrist band once you show your tickets as well as your photo ID. My hubby did not have his driver's license but was able to produce a photo from a credit card. They weren't too picky. The staff ask you to squeeze in and make the line as short as possible. I found the staff to be pretty friendly. By the way, if you're tempted to get some food at the Hot dog stand at the back of the line...don't! It sucks!!! Don't get it. Always make sure that your hotdogs are Sabrets or Nathan's. The hot dog we got from this particular stand was neither and I felt that the hot dog tasted like poo water. If you must, get the pretzel. We were ushered into the lobby by groups by 3:30, holding up our wrist bands in the air as we went in and went through a metal detector. Security did not confiscate drinks or food that I could tell. While standing in line in the lobby, it was 3:45pm when we were asked to go to bathroom in groups. We were in three groups. You go down some stairs to the bathrooms. By 4:04 the announcement was made that in 20 minutes we were going to go into the theater. Absolutely no phones are allowed. When we got to the door leading into the theater, we were told where to sit. We were lucky to sit on the third row from the front on the right side of the theater. I thought it was perfect! We were on the side in front of the house band. The view was perfect and no obstruction from the cameras. A comedian warmed up the audience and we were instructed on what was happening and when to applaud. The theater is cold! Make sure you wear something warm! The show was over by 7:00pm. Best experience of my life! read more

It's nostalgic and kept up. We came to see the Late Show and the set was great. Production was so smooth and employees made rules clear while being pleasant. read more

This theater is great. I was here to watch the Late Show with Stephen Colbert (with amazing guests to boot). They keep the theater a little on the cool side to keep the audience awake and alert, especially during the show taping. It's fun to go to such a historic place where the Beatles sang so long ago. :) read more

Went to see the Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The theater is nice, staff was polite and efficient, and everything is prompt in true NY fashion. Just bring jackets bc its HELLA cold in here! read more

Stephen was great. Would love to see him another time in another venue. The wait was long with no explanation. The warm up guy was not funny and kept swearing at the audience. They said they were running behind schedule but wasted time with the warm up guy and extra music. Wished I had just walked out when I had the chance. Was disappointed. read more

What an all around awesome experience and ironically the founder of yelp was a guest. The redone theater is so cool. Stephen is very entertaining and John Batiste and his band are so gifted. The entire experience was one of the best times I have had, highly recommend and worth the effort while in the city. read more