Jerry Seinfeld launching Beacon Theatre residency
Comedian Jerry Seinfeld smiles on the stage at the Beacon Theater in Manhattan Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015, as the Madison Square Garden company announced "Jerry Seinfeld, The Homestand," a 2016 residency in which Seinfeld will perform six shows at the theater. Credit: Craig Ruttle
Comedian Jerry Seinfeld has found a place where he can be master of his domain.
Following in the footsteps of fellow Long Islander Billy Joel, Seinfeld, who grew up in Massapequa, is setting up a residency at the Beacon Theatre in Manhattan starting Jan. 7 and will continue once a month till June.
“I bought Billy Joel’s house about 15 years ago. I figured as long as I have his house, why don’t I steal his whole career,” joked Seinfeld at the press conference Tuesday at the Beacon.
Seinfeld got the idea of doing a residency, his first anywhere, from attending one of Joel’s shows at Madison Square Garden, where the Piano Man has been performing monthly for two years.
“When Billy Joel does ‘New York State of Mind’ in the Garden, it sounds different, it feels different than when he does it in Charlotte,” Seinfeld said. “I thought this is a really unique moment to see a guy who has come from this area. Your career kind of comes out of the culture you grew up in. New York and Long Island is what gave me the perspective to do what I do.”
James Dolan, executive chairman of the Madison Square Garden Company, made a prediction to the press while standing center stage at the Beacon.
“This is going to be the hottest ticket of 2016,” Dolan said. “I suspect this will be one of the fastest sell-outs that we ever had. We are excited about it.”
“Jerry Seinfeld: The Homestand” tickets ($79-$175) for Jan. 7, Feb. 18, March 2, April 14, May 5 and June 8 go on sale Monday at 10 a.m. at ticketmaster.com and 800-745-3000.
“There’s no place else in the world I’d rather be than this theater,” Seinfeld concluded. “It was originally a vaudeville house so it was made for comedy. There’s something just right about this one.”
(The Dolan Family owns controlling interests in Madison Square Garden and Cablevision. Cablevision owns Newsday.)
David J. Criblez is a reporter for Newsday's exploreLI, covering entertainment-related events from local music to stand-up comedy to festivals.
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