The Day – Chic new hotel in New York City celebrates Broadway

Visitors to the latest chic hotel to open in New York’s theater district can easily walk to any Broadway show — or they can stay inside and celebrate them.

The Civilian — a 203-room hotel with bars, lounges and a bistro — is packed with hundreds of pieces of Broadway art, including sketches, set models, costume pieces, photographs and artifacts that show theater past and present.

“I think people don’t realize that this neighborhood is just like a walking history of so much,” said award-winning architect and theater designer David Rockwell during a tour of the hotel he helped craft. “So I think it deserves to have a place that’s dedicated to that.”

The 27-story building — at 305 W. 48th Street, between 8th and 9th avenues — is from Sixty Collective hotelier Jason Pomeranc, who says the goal is to immerse visitors in a theatrical experience. The Civilian opened Wednesday.

Nearly every inch of the Civilian has been designed with a theatrical flourish, from the marquee-inspired lighting, dramatic curtains, stage-like elements to the raw industrial materials of backstage life.

On display are set models of shows — like “Hadestown” designed by Rachel Hauck and “Slave Play” by Clint Ramos — and sketches from “Chicago” designed by William Ivy Long. The hotel plans to cycle new items in every year or so.

Wallcoverings throughout the guestroom floors and elevators are taken from abstracted details from costume designs by Isabel and Ruben Toledo (“After Midnight”) and William Ivey Long (“Beetlejuice” and “Hairspray”). Creators hope this is a chance for the talent offstage to shine.

“I’m always amazed when I work on a project and there’s a moment in the show when you realize 25 people touch that moment to make it work. So, in some ways, this is a chance to be exposed to all of those different people,” said Rockwell.

One wall area displays art from 20 artists and students who offered works inspired by a quote — “It’s a city of strangers/Some come to work/Some to play” — from the musical “Company.” A piano — lent by Rockwell himself — will become the focus of impromptu performances, the hotel’s creators hope.

There’s also a private library finished in royal blue hues and marquee lightbulbs where visitors can find replica guns and a crown from “Hamilton,” the original set model for “Company” as well red boots from “Kinky Boots” and a pink shrug from “Cabaret.” “This really feels like a dressing room,” says Rockwell.

Upstairs, the guest rooms — a two-person Cozy or a 4-person Spacious — have one of two color schemes — deep blue or wine-maroon — hand-painted details, four-poster beds, upholstered benches and framed costume and set sketches. High design meets homey.

On the beds are pillows with abstracted patterns by costume designers Jeff Mahshie and David Zinn. Luggage fits under the bed, and bathrooms with glazed porcelain sinks have heated floors.

“Even though the rooms are more petite than what we’ve done in the past, I don’t believe that the guest should have to sacrifice anything on a visual or textual experience, whether it’s the rich velvets from the fabrics…