The State Theater

I'm a big fan of 'Star Trek', the original series, so there's a soft spot in my heart for anything International Style and I particularly love the State Theater........

The beaded curtain that rises the full length of the front windows is made up of 8,000,000 gold colored beads, now sunbleached, one for every New Yorker in 1964 when the theater was built.

My friend Nina and I were just there last night to watch Balanchine's black and white ballets....what better way to spend an evening than Hindemith, Stravinski, Balanchine and Philip Johnson!

Standing on the travertine balcony looking at the chandeliers......Johnson said that if it was good enough for God, it's good enough for us.....St Peter's is built of travertine.....

The gigantic Elie Nadleman sculptures ' Circus Women and 'Two Nudes' are carved from virgin vein Carrara marble, purportedly the last such huge pieces. Lincoln Kirsten had them brought in before the last wall was completed....when the Lincoln Center leadership saw the 'goils' they ordered them removed but, it was too late......the last wall had been completed so they had to remain......they're affectionately known as the hermaphrodites.

I particularly love the Promenade reminiscent of piazzas which you might find in the great capitals of Europe but ours is under an 18k gold ceiling......it's been replaced 3 times so far.

The central globe chandelier weighs two tons, has 55 faceted diadems and uses 500 bulbs and 5,000 watts of electricity. It's supposed to resemble trumpets. The best part of the theater is the stage...I don't have pictures but I did dance there...it's floors are beautifully sprung and looking out onto the house is like looking at a giant jewelry box.