Explore the Drama Book Shop

June 2023

Residents of the Midtown rentals at 555TEN are accustomed to being squarely in the center of Manhattan’s finest cultural establishments and entertainment venues. From Lincoln Center and, of course, to Broadway, the area around 555TEN is a mecca for all things dramatic and the finest theater productions, new and those with storied, decades-long runs. 555TEN residents are also just a few blocks from another iconic New York institution, which is part of the city’s theater lore: the Drama Book Shop.

For over a century, the Drama Book Shop has been proving its mettle as New York’s finest shop for theatrical works, boasting upwards of 8,000 plays, as well as accolades, including a Tony Award Honor for Excellence in Theatre, which is given in recognition of achievement in theater in categories outside the Award’s traditional categories. Its central location on West 39th Street became home in 2020 when it came under new ownership.

Its new owners include another theater legend, Lin-Manuel Miranda, along with friend and fellow Drama Book Shop patron Thomas Kail, as well Jeffrey Seller and James Nederlander. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s history with the store began long before he took on the mantle of owner. In fact, the beginnings of his career can be traced to December 2001, when Wesleyan University theater troupe Back House Productions, founded by Kail and others, became the store’s resident theater company. In 2002, the group began rehearsals for a new musical in the Arthur Seelen Theatre below the store’s then 40th Street location. That musical, directed by Kail, was none other than Miranda’s In the Heights, which became a Tony Award-winning sensation and a mixing of theater greatness only possible in New York City.

The Drama Book Shop’s current location was designed by Hamilton’s scenic designer, David Korins, and his team. The old-world ambiance, with dark wood shelving and pendant lights, is complemented by a full-service cafe, which adds to the shop’s homey appeal. Today, the Drama Book Shop continues to serve the theater and arts scene and the greater community with a welcoming space for its patrons. 555TEN residents need only walk a few blocks to browse the shelves and check out the offerings over a pastry and coffee, all while steeped in a true piece of the city’s theater past and future.

Contact our team to learn more about the benefits of living in the middle of NYC culture at 555TEN.