Chanin Theatre, ca.1925.

Designed by Herbert J. Krapp for producers Irwin and Henry Chanin, Chanin's 46th Street Theatre opened in 1925. Soon after the Chanins leased it to the Shuberts who bought it outright in 1931. Known as the 46th Street Theatre between 1931 and 1990, the Nederlander Organization (its new owners as of 1981) renamed it in honor of composer Richard Rodgers in 1990.

The theatre included a number of innovative features including a sloped orchestra level which offered excellent sight lines, and Chanin's 'democratic' seating plan, in which all patrons entered through the same doors regardless of ticket level. This theatre has the distinction of presenting the greatest number (11) of Tony Award-winning Best Plays and Best Musicals. Since summer of 2015 it has been the home of the musical phenomenon, Hamilton.