From Where We Sat: The St. James Theatre

Today, we have the next in our series of seating articles based on many of your emails requests and questions, namely "how were your seats?" Sure, I'm aware of another website that provides a similar service that covers New York theaters, national theaters and concert and sporting venues. I hope to provide a bit more information and insight. That said, if there's anything more you'd like to know or want to share your own experiences please feel free to contact us on social media at JKsTheatreScene.

From Where We Sat:

The St. James Theatre

The Theatre: 

• 246 W. 44th Street
• Current capacity: 1709 seats
• Orchestra, Mezzanine and Balcony seating

What We Saw There:

• The Queen of Versailles (review HERE)

Where We Sat: 

• Mezzanine Center Row H, Seats 101 & 102. The seating in this theater has average leg room. The seats themselves were comfortable and in excellent condition.

What We Paid: 

• $79.00 (Mailer discount price) The same seats on a Wednesday matinee are currently $119.00 each at the box office. We saved $40.00 a ticket and paid no fees!

The Location: 

• Upon entering the theater, we were directed straight ahead and up the stairs. The staircase is pretty big and steep, but not unmanageable. (There is no elevator to the upper levels.) At the landing, our seats were straight ahead. At that point in the mezzanine, row H begins in the center only.
• Row H is the eighth row from the front railing of the mezzanine.

Seat Amenities and Exiting the Theatre:

• These seats are comfortable and well maintained.
• The rows of the mezzanine are essentially stadium seating. From here you are looking at everything straight on and down. 
• Exiting the theatre is particularly easy and simple from here. The wide aisle begins there. Then it is straight ahead, around a corner and down the steps. With several exit doors from the box office lobby, and the side lobby, getting out is pretty painless. I will say it isn't as easy from the orchestra seats.  
• We were out of the theater and on our way in less than 5 minutes post curtain call.

So how was the view*?

• We had a full view of the action, including the front of the stage and upstage.
• The seats were pretty close to dead center, and with the rake of the seats, we were pretty much seeing it straight on, with the actors in view from head to toe at all times. I don't think people in the orchestra seating on the extreme sides or too close to the tall stage can say the same.
• The seats are also close enough that facial expressions and set and costume details were crystal clear.

The bottom line:

• I would choose these seats specifically. The view is perfect, and they are comfortable.

* - Your seating preferences may vary, of course. And these seats may not be as ideal for a different production.

Other seating at The St. James Theatre

• We have seen several productions at this theater and we've sat in various locations in the orchestra, mezzanine and balcony areas. 
• A couple of times, we sat in the left side and center orchestra sections. The seats had an average amount of leg room. You could see the whole stage at once, but it isn't too far from the stage, so you can still see the details and facial expressions. The legroom is less generous in the orchestra, but it isn't uncomfortable. The seats there have a typical rake, so seeing over others can be difficult if someone tall sits in front of you. Do with that information what you will.
• The view from the balcony is full, but the angle is steep and the stage feels pretty far away. The leg room is not great. If stairs are an issue for you, I do not recommend sitting up there. That said, the price difference in these seats may make sitting there a great economic choice, if that's an issue for you. (This production did not offer balcony seating.)