The auditorium off the entrance lobby of 66 West Twelfth Street is an elegant, intimate space that seats 550. Circular rings on the domed ceiling, a curve at the back of the stage and at the front of the theater, and a prominent proscenium arch create a sense of unity and enclosure in the space. Ceiling lights hidden behind an inner ring reflect off an outer ring to create a glowing, diffused light. Lack of columns allow unobstructed views of the stage from all points in the room. The domed ceiling forms a hill, incorporated into the raked seating plan of the two larger classrooms in the center of the floor above. On the mezzanine, plans indicate an area outside the auditorium along the West Twelfth Street wall intended for “talk-over niches.” These informal social spaces were also used elsewhere in the building.

The auditorium, named originally for real estate developer Bernhard Mayer (1852-1929), was renamed in the 1990s for John L. Tishman of Tishman Realty & Construction. In 1993, a year after the auditorium was restored by the architectural firm of Prentice & Chan Ohlhausen, the New York City Landmarks Commission granted landmark status to 66 West Twelfth Street's first floor lobby and auditorium.

Includes stage platform, proscenium arch, balcony, projection room, swating diagram, and auditorium "desk," with microphones, speakers, seating layout, and technical elements. Some original drawings.