This guide on the David H. Koch Seating Chart will help you find the best seats in the house. Get real-time seat availability and pricing, insider tips on the best seats and more.
Navigating The David H. Koch Theater Seating Chart
The David H. Koch Theater is a massive theatre with 2,586 seats in total. These seats are spread across six different subsections namely orchestra, first ring, second ring, third ring, fourth ring and fifth ring. Let's look at the David H. Koch Theater seating chart in detail you help you decide which seat to opt for.
David H. Koch Theater - Recommended Seats
• Value for money seats
- Orchestra: Rear rows
- Rings: Front Row seats of Rings 3 & 4
• If money were no matter
- Depending on the kind of ballet
• Best views of the stage
- Orchestra: First Rows E-O in Center Orchestra
David H. Koch Theater Orchestra
The orchestra is the biggest seating section in the David H. Koch Theater and closest to the stage. Seats in this section are placed in a big block with two aisles separating the section into three subsections. There are 21 rows in total in the orchestra section starting with A and ending with V, the last row of the section. The middle subsection has consecutively numbered seats in the rage of 101 to 147, with row R being the longest. The left orchestra subsection has odd numbered seats from 1 to 31 while the right orchestra subsection has even numbered seats in the range of 2 to 32.
In terms of the view offered, the orchestra section houses some of the best seats. Do avoid the front couple of rows though since you need to see the entirety of the stage when watching a ballet and that's difficult when you're seated in the front row.
David H. Koch Theater Rings
The rings are five separate sections of elevated seating located on top of the orchestra. The first ring is right on top of the orchestra while the fifth ring is at the top of the theater. There are six rows in the first ring section from A to F and five rows each in the second and third rings from A to E. The fourth ring is the biggest with 14 rows of seating from A to O. The fifth ring doesn't run the length of the theater like the other four rings and is essentially two single rows on either side of the theater, labeled fifth ring right and fifth ring left. In rings first to fourth, there are additional rows of seating available on either side from AA to CC.
The rings offer a pretty good view of the stage and the elevation ensures that you don't miss anything that's going on in the stage. Avoid the extreme corner AA-CC rows though since they offer a side angle of the stage, which isn't really the best way to enjoy a ballet.
Which Seats Offer the Best View?
For ballets, locating the best seat in the house depends mostly on the type of show you're going to watch. For instance, if the ballet is a one-person performance, you would want to be closer to the stage so that you can enjoy and appreciate their movements and expressions. On the other hand, if you're watching an epic with an ensemble cast, it's better to maintain some distance from the stage since there'll be a lot to see and focus on being too close to the stage won't let you do that. Generally though, seats in the center orchestra from row E to O are considered the best in the theatre. Also, seats close to the center aisle also offer excellent views of the stage.
Which Seats/Section Offer the Best Value for Money?
New York Ballet tickets can be pretty expensive, particularly for popular shows like The Nutcracker. Still, you wouldn't want your ballet experience to be ruined by bad seats which don't offer a workable view of the stage. The solution then, is to opt for value for money seats. In the David H. Koch Theater, the rear rows of the orchestra section are considered value for money since they offer a pretty decent view of the stage and don't cost as much as the premium orchestra seats. In rings three and four, the front row seats are quite decent and offer good value for money. If you don't mind the side view, seats in rows AA to CC of the four rings are easy on the pockets.
30-Second Takeaway: David H. Koch Theater
- Opened as part of the 1964–1965 World’s Fair, the David H. Koch Theater (previously the New York State Theater) was the former home of the New York City Opera.
- The ideal way to experience the Koch Theater is to attend a performance. New York City Ballet shows can sell out quickly, so play it safe by booking tickets in advance.
- At Columbus Avenue and 63rd Street, the David H. Koch Theater is a few short blocks from Columbus Circle. The easiest way to get there is by subway.
- The Koch Theater box office is open every day—check the theater’s website for hours. If you’re going to a show, arrive about an hour before it starts, so you have time to pick up your tickets.
- Nowadays, dance fans sing the praises of the theater, which stages everything from panel discussions, company premieres, and scholarship auditions, to brand-new works commissioned from leading choreographers.
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FAQs:
The Auditorium is an elegant proscenium-style theater with 2,550 seats on six levels, combining classic design with impeccable acoustics and sightlines.
Generally though, seats in the center orchestra from row E to O are considered the best in the theatre. Also, seats close to the center aisle also offer excellent views of the stage.
The David H. Koch Theater is a traditional proscenium theater with seating for 2,544. Part of New York's famed Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts complex, the theater occupies the south side of the main plaza (at Columbus Avenue & 63rd Street) that it shares with the Metropolitan Opera House and David Geffen Hall.
A wheelchair-accessible elevator is located to the right of the Box Office windows in the Lobby to transport individuals from the Lobby to the Orchestra Level of the Theater. On the Orchestra Level, there are elevator banks on both sides of the theater that access all other levels.
