Robyn Goodman and Carole Rothman founded Second Stage Theater in 1979 to produce "second stagings" of contemporary American plays, later expanding to new works as well. In 1982 they secured a permanent venue with the McGinn–Cazale Theater. In 1999, the company opened a new 296-seat venue, the 43rd Street Theater, designed by Dutch architect
Rem Koolhaas; this location was renamed the Tony Kiser Theater in 2011. The Second Stage Theater Uptown series was inaugurated in 2002 to showcase the work of emerging artists at the McGinn–Cazale Theater at 76th Street. Second Stage finalized its acquisition of the
Helen Hayes Theater, a 597-seat Broadway theater at 240 West 44th Street, in April 2015 for $24.7 million. The first Second Stage production at the Hayes Theater was
Lobby Hero in early 2018, after renovations and upgrades. Second Stage is one of four nonprofit theater companies that own and operate theaters on Broadway. In 2023, Second Stage gave up its off-off-Broadway space. In February 2024, Second Stage named Bennett Leak their interim artistic director for the 2024–25 season. Also in February 2024, Second Stage decided to let go of the Tony Kiser Theater, its off-Broadway space, at the end 2024, due to high rent and unfavorable lease terms. Second Stage plans to continue producing off-Broadway theater, and will reopen another off-Broadway space elsewhere. == Awards and honors ==