The building's interior and part of its exterior were designed by architect Stanford White; its entryway gaslights are among the few remaining examples in New York City.

[4] Today, the club still holds "Pipe Nights" honoring theatrical notables, and maintains a kitchen and wine cellar and a billiard table in its usually busy Grill Room.

Past recipients include Helen Hayes, José Ferrer, Garson Kanin, Christopher Plummer, Jason Robards, Jack Lemmon, and Marian Seldes.

When completed, a series of meetings was held, and a small group of founding fathers turned the clubhouse over to newly invited members in a grand ceremony on December 31, 1888.

[15] Members of the Players included the local pillars of society of the day, prominent bankers, lawyers and businessmen, as well as those identified with other arts — writers, journalists, sculptors, architects and painters.

Presidents of the club have included Joseph Jefferson, who succeeded Booth as president after his death, as well as John Drew Jr., Walter Hampden, Howard Lindsay, Dennis King, Alfred Drake, Roland Winters, José Ferrer, Robert Lansing, John Bartholomew Tucker (pro tem), Michael Allinson and Lynn Redgrave.

New York producer and longtime member Herb Blodgett took his place, and in June 2010, it was announced that theatrical manager Johnnie Planco would replace him.

[16] The longtime syndicated columnist Earl Wilson said in 1964: "Long ago a New Yorker asked the difference between the Lambs, Friars, and Players, since the membership was, at the time, predominantly from Broadway.