Broadway Bathrooms: Imperial Theatre

The Imperial Theatre is currently home to Carousel, and was recently totally and completely renovated for The Great Comet. For Carousel, the layout is much more what you'd expect of a Broadway show. The theatre's longest running tenant was Les Misérables, and it has been home to over 4,500 performances since being built in 1923.

The theatre has one set of restrooms for guests on the mezzanine level. Please note the also have an accessible restroom on the orchestra level, but all other guests will be sent to the mezz level. The line for the restrooms goes along the mezz lobby and down the stairs to the orchestra level, and into the lobby.

Pros:

-The bathroom is fairly large so the line moves quite quickly

-The staff is ready to go at intermission to move folks through as fast as possible

Cons:

-Because the line goes downstairs and into the lobby it's sometimes difficult to join if you're in the wrong spot, and you end up chasing the end of the line down the stairs

-There is an accessible restroom in the orchestra area, but for general guests expect everyone to be heading to one set of restrooms

How to make sure you get there on time?

Per usual, you'll need to be prepared to head to the restroom right away at intermission. I'd highly recommend aisle seats if you plan to use the restroom. This is a large theatre, and everyone heading to one restroom at the same time means the line gets very long very quick.

If you're on the orchestra level do not expect the accessible restroom to be faster. Not only is it not for you if you're able to walk up the stairs, it's also small and your best bet is to join the line for the upstairs restrooms.

Where to sit?

If you're sitting at the mezzanine level the good news is your close to the bathroom. The bad news is that if you don't get there quickly you'll have to run down the stairs to find the back of the line as folks from the orchestra section are joining it. I'd highly recommend grabbing an aisle seat if you can, or the closest alternative. This will help make sure you're a part of the line when it forms, instead of chasing it.

The women's restrooms are on stage right, so if you can't get an aisle seat pick seats towards stage left to give yourself some additional space to join the line while it's still on the mezz level.

Folks at the orchestra level should plan to head up the stairs right away to join the line. The closer you are to the stage, the harder it will be to make it to the restroom. I've managed to make it to the bathroom and back from the front row - but it was an aisle seat that allowed me to head directly to the restroom immediately at intermission (and next to a very nice couple who urged me to hurry to make it in time!), so if you plan to be upfront consider either a aisle seat or holding it until the end of the show.

P.S. The stage door at the Imperial is on 46th - not on 45th where the main entrance to the theatre is. If you plan to stage door for the show you're seeing make sure to exit on to 46th (ushers can help you find the best spot).