Designed by Eero Saarinen with the collaboration of Jo Mielziner, the Vivian Beaumont Theater opened on Oct. 21, 1965 with a revival of Georg Büchner's Danton's Death starring James Earl Jones and Stacy Keach.

The venue was named after heiress Vivian Beaumont Allen, who donated $3 million for its construction, but sadly died in 1962 before its completion. The theatre, along with its smaller off-Broadway venue the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater, has been operated by Lincoln Center Theater since 1985. The intimate Clare Tow Theater, situated on the roof of the Vivian Beaumont, was added in 2012.

The Vivian Beaumont Theater is the only Broadway theatre not located in the theatre district around Times Square.