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Jones Beach Theater

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Northwell at Jones Beach Theater
The Beach
BERJAYA
The exterior of Jones Beach Theater, c. 2007
Map
Interactive map of Northwell at Jones Beach Theater
Former names
New Jones Beach Marine Stadium (1952–1953)
Jones Beach Marine Theater (1954–1994)
Jones Beach Amphitheater (1994–2000)
Jones Beach Theater (2000–2002, 2017)
Tommy Hilfiger at Jones Beach Theater (2002–2006)
Nikon at Jones Beach Theater (2006–2016)
Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater (2017–2024)
Address1000 Ocean Parkway
Wantagh, NY 11793-4800
LocationJones Beach State Park
Coordinates40°36′04″N 73°30′08″W / 40.60101°N 73.50232°W / 40.60101; -73.50232
OwnerNYS OPRHP
OperatorLive Nation Entertainment
Seating type
outdoor ballpark styled chairs
Capacity15,000
Eventvarious
Construction
BuiltOctober 1949
OpenedJune 26, 1952
Renovated
  • 1992
  • 2013
  • 2017
  • 2024
Expanded
  • 1998
  • 2009
Cost
$4 million
($54.1 million in 2025 dollars[1])
ArchitectRobert Moses
Website
parks.ny.gov/parks/jonesbeach/

Northwell at Jones Beach Theater, known simply as Jones Beach Theater, is an outdoor amphitheatre partially built over the water of Zachs Bay at Jones Beach State Park in Wantagh, New York. It is one of three major outdoor arenas in the New York metropolitan area, along with Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, and the PNC Bank Arts Center near the Jersey Shore. JBT is managed by Live Nation Entertainment.[2] The theater was designed to specifications provided by Robert Moses, who created Jones Beach State Park.[3]

History

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BERJAYA
Original Jones Beach Marine Stadium 1930s
BERJAYA
Jones Beach Theater Construction 1951

In the 1930s, before the Robert Moses design, the original Jones Beach Marine Stadium was constructed as part of a Depression Era work relief program. Built over water, it developed a reputation as a venue for music and aquatic sports. In 1945, the temporary wooden structure was deemed unsafe and demolished. Construction of a new venue began in 1949 according to designs provided by Robert Moses. Sand was dredged between the theater and the stage to restore the water gap that had characterized the marine theater.[4]

Opened in June 1952 as the New Jones Beach Marine Stadium, the venue originally had 8,200 seats and hosted extravagant, often waterborne musicals.[4][5] The opening show was an elaborate staging of the operetta A Night in Venice by Johann Strauss II, produced by film producer Mike Todd, complete with floating gondolas and set pieces. It starred Enzo Stuarti, Thomas Hayward, Norwood Smith and Nola Fairbanks.[6] Bandleader Guy Lombardo–at the invitation of his friend Robert Moses–and his brother Carmen produced numerous musicals at Jones Beach featuring elaborate floating sets and water features. The musicals were considered affordable and accessible for working-class families despite their million-dollar budgets. The performances rarely made a profit, but were still considered worthwhile by the Lombardo brothers.[7][8][9] Lombardo was known to arrive to the venue by motorboat from his Freeport home, disembarking directly onto the stage.[4] In 1954, the early phonograph recording star Billy Murray died of a heart attack while attending a Lombardo production of Arabian Nights at the theater.[10]

Lombardo's final show was the 1977 production of Finian's Rainbow, with Christopher Hewett in the title role. After Lombardo's death in 1977, the series resumed in 1978 with Annie Get Your Gun, starring Lucie Arnaz. Beginning in the 1980s, the primary focus of the venue would change to concerts.[11]

In 1991 and 1992, under contract from concert promoter Ron Delsener, the theatre underwent an extensive renovation, adding a second level and increasing the capacity to 11,200 seats. The capacity was expanded again in 1998 to hold 15,000 seats.[12]

In 2002, the company of clothing designer Tommy Hilfiger purchased the naming rights to the venue, renaming it "Tommy Hilfiger at Jones Beach Theater" for four years.[13] On April 13, 2006, Tommy Hilfiger's company, under new ownership, declined its option to keep the company's name on the theater, and naming rights were purchased by the camera company Nikon, which renamed the venue "Nikon at Jones Beach Theater".[14]

For a time the venue had a strict no-alcohol policy except in designated VIP boxes located behind the orchestra and the VIP tent area.[citation needed] Separate additional tickets are required to enter a VIP tent area.[15]

In 2009, Jones Beach introduced The Bay Stage, which has a general admission capacity of 5,000. The performances are staged behind the concessions on the theater property. The theater property is located a short distance from the VIP area but The Bay Stage events cannot be viewed or heard from the VIP area.[16]

In October 2012, Hurricane Sandy did major damage to the theater. Various structures were destroyed and much of the lower part of the arena was flooded, including the lower section of seats which were flooded more than halfway up.[17] The venue reopened on May 31, 2013, after a $20 million rehabilitation project.[18]

In January 2017, Jones Beach Theater undertook another renovation which added LED lighting, more cafes, and larger concourses. Nikon's naming rights contract expired at the end of 2016, and in February 2017, New York health system Northwell Health purchased the naming rights to the venue, renaming it the Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater.[19]

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  2. ↑ , Live Nation: Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater. Accessed September 22, 2023.
  3. ↑ Caro, Robert (1974). The Power Broker. Knopf. pp. 816–819.
  4. 1 2 3 "Jones Beach Theater". Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame. Retrieved July 15, 2026.
  5. ↑ Dietz, Dan (2010). Off Broadway Musicals, 1910–2007. McFarland & Company: Jefferson, North Carolina. p. 315. ISBN 9780786433995.
  6. ↑ "Long Island's "A Night in Venice"" (PDF). Northport Journal. Northport, New York. July 31, 1952. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  7. ↑ Cline, Beverly Fink (July 10, 2012) [1979]. The Lombardo Story. Ebookit. ISBN 978-0-9868763-1-8.
  8. ↑ Stacey, Lee; Henderson, Lol, eds. (2014). Encyclopedia of music in the 20th Century. London: Routledge Taylor and Francis Group. p. 379. ISBN 978-1-135-92946-6.
  9. ↑ Merritt, Jim (June 16, 2022). "Remembering when Jones Beach brought Broadway to Long Island". Newsday. Archived from the original on July 21, 2025. Retrieved July 15, 2026.
  10. ↑ The Official Website of Billy Murray
  11. ↑ Bleyer, Bill. "Jones Beach, the marvel by the sea". Newsday. Archived from the original on January 20, 2008.
  12. ↑ Fischler, Marcelle S. (June 14, 1998). "Waaay Up There: The New Upper Deck at Jones Beach". The New York Times.
  13. ↑ "Universal, Nestles Ink Deal". PromoMagazine.com. July 1, 2003. Archived from the original on February 4, 2012.
  14. ↑ Bleyer, Bill (April 13, 2006). "Nikon new naming sponsor for Jones Beach Theater". Newsday. Archived from the original on March 11, 2007.
  15. ↑ "Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater". LiveNation.com.
  16. ↑ "The Bay Stage at Jones Beach Theater". LiveNation.com.
  17. ↑ Murphy, Nicole (November 5, 2012). "Jones Beach Looking to Rebuild After Wrath of Sandy". Wantagh-Seaford Patch. Retrieved February 9, 2013.
  18. ↑ "Jones Beach Theater Reopens Friday Night". CBS News New York. May 30, 2013. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
  19. ↑ Schneider, Marc (February 6, 2017). "Jones Beach Theater Naming Rights Goes to Health Giant". Billboard. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
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