Paul Simon To “Reopen” The Legendary Beacon Theatre With Two Performances On February 13 And 14 Following Seven-Month, $15-Million Restoration

Tickets Go On-Sale On January 25 At 9AM

New York, NY – January 15, 2009- MSG Entertainment announced today that the ideal person to re-open the venerable Beacon Theatre is the great New York musician Paul Simon. Paul Simon will host two historic concerts on Friday, February 13 and Saturday, February 14 following MSG Entertainment’s 7-month, $15 million restoration of the iconic venue. Tickets to these celebrated performances will go on-sale starting at 9 AM on January 25.

“The Beacon is one of New York’s most beloved and historic venues and we are proud that the restoration has returned it to its original grandeur,” said James L. Dolan, chairman of Madison Square Garden and president and chief executive officer of Cablevision Systems Corporation. “Following our restoration of Radio City Music Hall and our upcoming renovation of Madison Square Garden, our state of the art venues in New York City will continue to create memorable experiences for all of our patrons. There is no better person to help us reopen the Beacon following a seven-month $15 million restoration than the celebrated singer/songwriter and New Yorker, Paul Simon."

MSG Entertainment (MSGE) acquired the Beacon Theatre in November of 2006. The Beacon now plays host to more than 100 events, concerts and family shows annually. Beginning in August of 2008, the Beacon was closed for a seven-month restoration, in which MSGE spent $15-million restoring all aspects of the building. The comprehensive restoration extended from the front of house to the back of the loading docks, and, similar to the restoration of the beloved Radio City Music Hall in 1999, the building retains the integrity and grandeur of its original architectural vision.

The Beacon Theatre, a 2,800-seat venue located at Broadway and 74th street in Manhattan, was built in 1928 and designed in the art deco styling of the day by architect Walter Ahlschlager. Shortly thereafter, Warner Brothers purchased the venue and infused it with Moroccan and Greek influences to create its current eclectic and distinctive architectural character. Designated a New York landmark building by the NYC Landmarks Preservation Committee in 1979, the Beacon has become a venerable rock room for generations of New Yorkers and an intimate setting for unforgettable concerts and events.

It is only fitting that one of New York’s very own would celebrate another New York icon as Paul Simon takes the stage, following MSGE’s restoration, to “reopen” this legendary theatre. Simon first performed at the Beacon in 1990 alongside Paul McCartney and returned for a critically acclaimed three-night run in December of 2000. Simon also made an appearance at the Theatre in 2003 for Willie Nelson’s nationally televised 70th birthday celebration. Simon’s highly anticipated two-night run on February 13 and 14 to reopen the Theatre will mark his first show at the Beacon in nearly six years.

Throughout his incomparable and distinguished musical career Paul Simon has been the recipient of many honors and awards including 12 Grammy Awards, three of which ("Bridge Over Troubled Water", "Still Crazy After All These Years" and "Graceland") were albums of the year. In 2003 he was given a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award for his work as half of the duo Simon and Garfunkel. He is an inductee of The Songwriters Hall of Fame and is in the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame both as a member of Simon and Garfunkel and as a solo artist. His song "Mrs. Robinson" from the motion picture "The Graduate" was named in the top ten of The American Film Institute's 100 Years 100 Songs. He was a recipient of The Kennedy Center Honors in 2003 and was named as one of Time Magazine's "100 People Who Shape Our World" in 2006.

On May 23rd, 2007, Mr. Simon was the recipient of the first annual Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. Named in honor of the legendary George and Ira Gershwin, this newly created award recognizes the profound and positive effect of popular music on the world’s culture, and will be given annually to a composer or performer whose lifetime contributions exemplify the standard of excellence associated with the Gershwins.

Tickets to either of the two historic nights, and all concert events at the facilities at Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall and the Beacon Theatre, are available beginning on the first day of sale through Ticketmaster Charge By Phone and all Ticketmaster Outlets, and beginning on the second day of sale at the Garden and Music Hall Box Office. Tickets for February 13 and 14 will range from $80-$265 and will go on-sale starting at 9 AM on January 25. All tickets purchased for Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall and the Beacon Theatre events contain a Facility Charge. TicketMaster purchases are also subject to their service charge. The telephone number for Madison Square Garden Event and Ticket Information is (212) 465-MSG1. The Group Sales number is (212) 465-6080. The telephone number for the Madison Square Garden Disabled Services department is (212) 465-6034; for the Radio City Music Hall Disabled Services department, (212) 465-6115 for tickets and information. The TicketMaster information and TicketMaster Charge by Phone number is (212) 307-7171. Tickets are also available online at www.wamuatmsg.com or www.radiocity.com or www.thegarden.com or www.beacontheatrenyc.com