Princeton's McCarter Theatre Replacing Iconic Red Seats For 1st Time Since 1929

PRINCETON, NJ — The red seats that have hosted audiences at McCarter Theatre Center's Matthews Theatre since 1930 are getting their own curtain call this summer, as Princeton University and McCarter undertake a full replacement of the historic venue's seating.

The Ed and Marie Matthews Theatre has welcomed some of the world's most celebrated artists and performances since it opened, from Jimmy Stewart to Yo-Yo Ma, from Lucille Ball to the world premieres of "Our Town" and "Having Our Say." This summer's renovation will replace all of the theatre's seating while preserving key elements of its original 1930s design.

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The iconic end standards, installed in 1930 and featuring the Triangle Club logo, will be restored and reinstalled as part of the project, according to officials.

The new seats will be produced and delivered by Irwin Seating Company, the family-owned Grand Rapids, Michigan, manufacturer that built McCarter's original seats in 1929. The company still operates the same factory floor where those original seats were made nearly a century ago.

The new seating will feature cast aluminum, steel and maple wood construction, with molded foam cushioning and red velour upholstery. The current seating layout will remain unchanged, so patrons will find their seats in the same locations they've always occupied, now upgraded for comfort and durability. Carpeting throughout the theatre will also be replaced.

Architects Marvel Design and theatre consultants Charcoalblue led design and theatre planning for the project. The firms' past collaborations include St. Ann's Warehouse on the Brooklyn waterfront, TheatreSquared and the newly renovated Lyric Theatre on Broadway in New York.

McCarter Theatre, located on the Princeton University campus, is an independent nonprofit and two-time Tony Award winner whose legacy dates to 1930. Thornton Wilder's "Our Town," George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart's "You Can't Take It with You," and William Inge's "Bus Stop" all premiered on the McCarter stage.

More than 5,000 students participate in McCarter's educational programs across the region each year.

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