Theatre or Theater?

With a new Broadway season kicking off, it’s an apt time for a refresher on this word.

What is the standard spelling, in American English, for the art in which thespians act on a stage?

1. theater

2. theatre

3. Both are equally standard.

And the correct answer is the first option, “theater.” This is the standard spelling in American English; “theatre” is the standard spelling in British English. In Associated Press style, “theatre” should be used only if it’s part of a proper name, such as “Winter Garden Theatre.”