Editing Studio 54 (section)

== <span class="anchor" id="Theater spaces"></span>Design ==
[[File:Studio 54 New York Cabaret 6.jpg|thumb|Interior of the theater during the production of the musical ''Cabaret'']]
Studio 54 is located at 254 West [[54th Street (Manhattan)|54th Street]] in the [[Midtown Manhattan]] neighborhood of [[New York City]], New York, U.S.<ref name="Katz h950">{{cite book | last=Katz | first=Chuck | title=Manhattan on Film 2: More Walking Tours of Location Sites in the Big Apple | publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation | date=2002 | isbn=978-0-87910-975-2 | page=145}}</ref><ref name="Alleman e161">{{cite book |last=Alleman |first=Richard |title=New York: The Movie Lover's Guide: The Ultimate Insider Tour of Movie New York |date=March 6, 2013 |publisher=Crown |isbn=978-0-8041-3778-2 |pages=141-142}}</ref> Designed by [[Eugene De Rosa]] as the Gallo Opera House, it contained 1,400 seats when it opened in 1927.<ref name="nyt-1926-07-09" /><ref name="p1677032682" /><ref name="p1031794627" /> De Rosa's original plans called for lounges, restrooms, and [[promenades]] on three stories, as well as an opera museum below the primary floors.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 22, 1926 |title=Office Building for New Gallo Theatre: Sixteen-story Structure for San Carlo Company in Fifty-Fourth Street |work=[[The New York Times]] |page=RE1 |id={{ProQuest|103750752}}}}</ref> By 1933, when it was being used as the Casino de Paree nightclub, the theater had 650 seats on the orchestra level and 500 seats in the balcony.<ref name="p1529088997" /> [[CBS]] documents show that, when the theater was used as CBS Studio 52 in the mid-20th century, it had 828 seats on three levels: 312 in the orchestra, 371 in the balcony, and 145 in a [[mezzanine]].<ref name="Ellerbee p. 52">{{harvnb|Ellerbee|2016|p=52|ps=.}}</ref> The modern-day theater has 1,006 seats across two levels: 519&nbsp;in the orchestra and 487&nbsp;in the balcony.<ref name="roundabout-seating">{{Cite web |title=Rent a Venue: Studio 54 |url=http://www.roundabouttheatre.org/Your-Visit/Rent-a-Venue/Studio-54.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916000830/http://www.roundabouttheatre.org/Your-Visit/Rent-a-Venue/Studio-54.aspx |archive-date=September 16, 2016 |access-date=July 10, 2014 |website=[[Roundabout Theatre Company]]}}</ref> The theater contained nightclub tables during the late 20th century, which were removed in 1998 after Studio 54's re-conversion into a theater and replaced with [[rake (theatre)|raked]] seating.<ref name="Playbill At This Theatre" />

Ida Louise Killam designed the original interior with a gold, blue, and rose [[Color scheme|palette]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 10, 1927 |title=New Gallo Theatre.: Woman Decorator Will Assist in Itl Interior Equipment |work=[[The New York Times]] |page=RE1 |id={{ProQuest|104137164}}}}</ref> One early observer described the theater as having "a [[Samuel Roxy Rothafel|Roxy]] foyer and a [[Plitt Theatres|Paramount]] promenade".<ref name="nyt-1989-04-05" /> The orchestra seats were originally divided by five aisles. The orchestra-level walls were [[Cladding (construction)|clad]] with [[Walnut (wood)|walnut]], and the trimmings at balcony level and in the mezzanine lounge were also made of walnut. The [[vaulted ceiling]] contained a dome measuring {{convert|50|ft}} across, as well as indirect lighting.<ref name="nyt-1927-07-20">{{Cite news |date=July 20, 1927 |title=Gallo Opening Sept. 26.; First Offering in New Theatre Will Be the Opera Company. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1927/07/20/archives/gallo-opening-sept-26-first-offering-in-new-theatre-will-be-the.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913165351/https://www.nytimes.com/1927/07/20/archives/gallo-opening-sept-26-first-offering-in-new-theatre-will-be-the.html |archive-date=September 13, 2022 |access-date=September 13, 2022 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> This dome is decorated with medallions.<ref name="nyt-1989-04-05" /> According to CBS documents, Studio 54's [[proscenium]] arch measures {{convert|27|ft|0|in}} high and {{convert|43|ft|8|in}} wide. There was a fly system {{convert|58|ft}} above the stage.<ref name="Ellerbee p. 52" /> Backstage were six dressing rooms, as well as a {{convert|15|by|40|ft|adj=on}} rehearsal space at stage left.<ref name="Ellerbee p. 53">{{harvnb|Ellerbee|2016|p=53|ps=.}}</ref>

To avoid disrupting the construction of the [[New York City Subway]]'s [[IND Eighth Avenue Line|Eighth Avenue Line]], structural engineer David M. Oltarsh placed the Gallo Opera House's foundation, orchestra, and balcony within an enclosure that was suspended from the theater building's roof.<ref name="p1113016673">{{Cite news |date=August 13, 1926 |title=New Gallo Theater Will Swing in a Cradle |work=[[New York Herald Tribune]] |page=26 |id={{ProQuest|1113016673}}}}</ref> The modern mezzanine-level promenade has an exhibit with information on the theater's current production.<ref name="Playbill At This Theatre" /> The theater also contains a bar in its lobby, which is a tribute to the former Studio 54 nightclub.<ref name="Playbill 2017">{{Cite web |date=July 26, 2017 |title=Step Inside Broadway's Studio 54 |url=https://playbill.com/gallery/step-inside-broadways-studio-54 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220914185641/https://playbill.com/gallery/step-inside-broadways-studio-54 |archive-date=September 14, 2022 |access-date=September 14, 2022 |website=Playbill}}</ref>

=== 54 Below ===
{{Main|54 Below}}

The cabaret club [[54 Below]] opened in Studio 54's basement on June 5, 2012.<ref name="nyt-2022-06-03">{{Cite news |last=Gardner |first=Elysa |date=June 3, 2022 |title=Broadway's Beloved Basement Club, Feinstein's/54 Below, Turns 10 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/03/arts/music/feinsteins-54-below-anniversary.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714145559/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/03/arts/music/feinsteins-54-below-anniversary.html |archive-date=July 14, 2022 |access-date=September 17, 2022 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref name="Franklin 2017">{{Cite web |last=Franklin |first=Marc J. |date=June 7, 2017 |title=See the Feinstein's/54 Below Star-Studded 5th Anniversary Celebration |url=https://playbill.com/article/see-the-feinsteins-54-below-star-studded-5th-anniversary-celebration |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127021028/https://www.playbill.com/article/see-the-feinsteins-54-below-star-studded-5th-anniversary-celebration |archive-date=November 27, 2021 |access-date=September 17, 2022 |website=Playbill}}</ref> It was designed by architect Richard H. Lewis, set designer [[John Lee Beatty]], lighting designer [[Ken Billington]], and sound designer [[Peter Hylenski]].<ref name="nyt-2012-05-31">{{Cite news |last=Piepenburg |first=Erik |date=May 31, 2012 |title=A Broadway Hangout, Old Chum |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/01/theater/54-below-a-cabaret-club-for-broadway-lovers-to-open.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714145620/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/01/theater/54-below-a-cabaret-club-for-broadway-lovers-to-open.html |archive-date=July 14, 2022 |access-date=September 17, 2022 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> A staircase from ground level leads to a rectangular room with leather and wood decorations, as well as a red, purple, and brown color palette. The room contains 140 seats in a cabaret-style arrangement and 16 seats in a bar to the right.<ref name="nyt-2012-05-31" /> Originally, 54 Below presented shows every day of the week,<ref name="nyt-2012-05-31" /> with 4,000 performances in its first five years.<ref name="Franklin 2017" /> In partnership with musician [[Michael Feinstein]], the club was renamed Feinstein's/54 Below in 2015;<ref>{{Cite news |last=Holden |first=Stephen |date=September 2, 2015 |title=Michael Feinstein and the Club 54 Below Agree to a Partnership |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/03/arts/music/michael-feinstein-and-the-club-54-below-agree-to-a-partnership.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220718100936/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/03/arts/music/michael-feinstein-and-the-club-54-below-agree-to-a-partnership.html |archive-date=July 18, 2022 |access-date=September 17, 2022 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> the club reverted to the name 54 Below when the partnership ended in July 2022.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gardner |first=Elysa |date=July 7, 2022 |title=Cabaret Champion Michael Feinstein Teams With Café Carlyle |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/07/arts/music/michael-feinstein-cafe-carlyle.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707205050/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/07/arts/music/michael-feinstein-cafe-carlyle.html |archive-date=July 7, 2022 |access-date=July 7, 2022 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>

===Upstairs at Studio 54===
[[Josh Hadar]] of Allied Partners created a 175-seat cabaret space on the second floor, called Upstairs at Studio 54.<ref name="nyt-2003-10-01" /> The space opened in February 2001<ref name="p408881238">{{Cite news |last1=Wloszczyna |first1=Susan |last2=Gundersen |first2=Edna |last3=Gardner |first3=Elysa |date=February 9, 2001 |title=Dundee isn't done yet – he's on the loose in L.A. |work=USA Today |page=01E |id={{ProQuest|408881238}}}}</ref> and is accessed via its own entrance at ground level.<ref name="nyt-2003-10-01" /> This space was used exclusively for special events.<ref name="Agenda New York 2004 p.">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9kAsAQAAMAAJ |title=Agenda New York |publisher=Agenda:USA, Incorporated |year=2004 |page=48 |access-date=September 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220425131048/https://books.google.com/books?id=9kAsAQAAMAAJ |archive-date=April 25, 2022 |url-status=live |issue=v. 16}}</ref> Performances occurred during nights when plays were not being staged. The musical ''[[Newsical]]'' was staged there from October 2004<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gelder |first=Lawrence Van |date=October 20, 2004 |title=Theater Reviews; 'Newsical' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/20/theater/arts/theater-reviews-newsical.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922131757/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/20/theater/arts/theater-reviews-newsical.html |archive-date=September 22, 2022 |access-date=September 17, 2022 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> to April 2005.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 17, 2019 |title=Newsical (Upstairs at Studio 54, 2004) |url=https://playbill.com/production/newsicalupstairs-at-studio-54-2004 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922131824/https://playbill.com/production/newsicalupstairs-at-studio-54-2004 |archive-date=September 22, 2022 |access-date=September 17, 2022 |website=Playbill}}</ref>