Best Performing Arts in New York

The Lincoln Center for Performing Arts is a massive venue when it comes to live entertainment. The Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors has something for everyone: internationally recognized dances, high-level performances, special events and jazz. Watch out for Live From Lincoln Center, a program that has famous orchestras and artistes performing. Lincoln Center holds about 400 live performances a year, ranging from classical to modern productions. And as if that wasn't enough, the Center also hosts many events put on by the Film Society at Lincoln Center. There are guided tours on a daily basis that explore the world-renowned Metropolitan Opera House, Avery Fisher Hall, the New York State Theater (home of the New York City Opera) and the Vivian Beaumont Theater. During the tour, your guides will entertain you with fascinating stories and give you a glimpse of a rehearsal in progress.

The Metropolitan Opera House, with its wonderful Marc Chagall paintings and grand arches is arguably the most impressive building in the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. The space is divided between the Metropolitan Opera during the autumn and winter, and the American Ballet Theater during spring. Ballet performances are predominately in the classical style. Visit the website to find out about taking a fascinating tour of the opera house.

Minskoff Theatre was established in 1973 and named after the Minskoff brothers who were theater developers. This cultural gem of Theater District has hosted many wonderful productions and unforgettable performances. In recent times, The Lion King is its most highly acclaimed shows, which showcases the best of Broadway talents. Seeing Times Square from its glass lobby will be an experience you are not going to forget for a long time.

Designed by Philip Johnson to resemble a box of jewels, David H. Koch Theater is home to the New York City Ballet. Situated within the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts on the Upper West Side, it is one of the most popular addresses for arts in the city. Chandeliers and glass adorn the walls and ceilings in this glinting, glitzy theater and its striking architecture is as much an arresting vision as the shows inside it, if not more. The likes of John Raitt and Ethel Merman have graced this stage in the past. The beautiful performances of the ballerinas and the musicians weave a mesmerizing story out of their performances and is a must visit for the culturally inclined.

One of New York City's true gems, the Brooklyn Academy of Music is a world class performing arts center. Located at the edge of the Fort Greene neighborhood of Brooklyn, it offers some of the city's finest concerts and theatrical events. From opera and classical music to African dance and modern theater, the packed schedule offers something for everyone's taste. The complex is also home to Bam Rose Cinemas.

Home to the legendary dance company The Rockettes, Radio City Music Hall is one of the most spectacular and famous performance venues in the United States. Its locale in the heart of the Big Apple has made it a cultural center, particularly during the Christmas season. Originally opened in 1932 and nicknamed "The Palace for the People," Radio City was renovated in 1980. Anybody who is anybody has performed here - New York legends Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and Sammy Davis, Jr. are just a few that spring to mind, and to this day, the stage remains a showcase for entertainment royalty.

A renowned entertainment venue in the Big Apple, Madison Square Garden has gained iconic importance around the world. Attracting crowds since 1968, the stadium is abuzz with voices of Knicks and Rangers fans. With a capacity of 18,000, it is considered to be Midtown Manhattan's revered and oldest entertainment spot. From glamorous music concerts to award shows, the venue has witnessed some of the biggest events over time. A sought after venue in New York City and sitting right above Penn Station, it is easily accessible for everyone.

From Merce Cunningham to Alvin Ailey, the Joyce Theater is the center of dance in New York. An old movie house renovated in 1981, this art deco space is a haven for modern and traditional dance, offering a wide array of performers from around the world. Group lectures and seminars are also offered. Tickets are available at the box office or online; call or visit the website for more information.

This small but classic theater is named after Eugene O'Neill, the great playwright who won the Nobel Prize for literature. The cozy atmosphere serves as a comfortable venue for talents to perform and people to watch. Though the place is a bit small, the place considered ideal for the intimate vibe it offers. This is one of the popular theater destinations in the neighborhood.

Located in the center of the theater district, the Palace Theater attracts tourists and locals alike. Featured plays that have graced the Palace's historic stage include Fiddler on the Roof, The Woman in White and An American in Paris. The beautiful, European style of the theater adds extra charm to your theater-going experience.

Built in 1939, the McKittrick Hotel closed down before its opening, owing to the World War II. The well-decorated rooms, antique furniture and lavish interiors were left abandoned. Until, the Punchdrunk production company decided to use this hotel for their innovative theatrical play Sleep No More. Instead of conducting drama on a single stage, at McKittrick Hotel every room has something different to offer; audiences can wander from room to room and be a part the act too. So while you are in town, do visit this hotel and be a part of the conniving and fearful world of Lady Macbeth, witches and other characters.

On the opening night of this famous music house, Tchaikovsky conducted and New York's elite waited in line to enter. Carnegie Hall quickly became an international Mecca of classical music, attracting the brightest stars from Bernstein to Toscanini. Today, over 100 years later, top orchestras and modern music share this venue. The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Frank Zappa and Frank Sinatra have all headlined here. Many musicians claim it has the best acoustics in the world. Tours are available during the day. Practice, practice, practice isn't the only way to get to Carnegie Hall!