On Broadway, where older theaters have been notorious for cramped quarters, the Hudson Theater added wider seats during a recent renovation. The Lyric Opera of Chicago put in wider seats in the summer of 2020, following the example of the Music Hall in Cincinnati and the Academy of Music in Philadelphia. We’ve never spent so much time on seats.” “Venues are working diligently to improve that experience. Martinez, a partner with OTJ Architects, a Washington-based firm. “The entire patron experience has really been under a lot of scrutiny,” said Gary F. As coronavirus restrictions are dropped, presenters face the challenge of luring back patrons who, during more than a year without theaters, have grown accustomed to consuming home entertainment from the sprawling comfort of their own couches and recliners. Since the pandemic struck, the owners of theaters and live venues have come to see such investments as more urgent than ever.
