New York Theatre Workshop

Coordinates: 40°43′36″N 73°59′24″W / 40.726564°N 73.990088°W / 40.726564; -73.990088

The entrance to NYTW's mainstage

The building next to the mainstage houses a black box theatre, offices and rehearsal spaces

New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) is an Off-Broadway theatre noted for its productions of new works. Located at 79 East 4th Street between Second Avenue and the Bowery in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, it houses a 198-seat theatre for its mainstage productions, and a 75-seat black box theatre for staged readings and developing work in the building next door, at 83 East 4th Street.

History

Founded by Stephen Graham, New York Theatre Workshop seeks to "provoke, produce and cultivate the work of artists whose visions inspire and challenge all of us." Its mission is to "explore perspectives on our collective history and respond to the events and institutions that shape our lives." NYTW presents five to seven new productions, over 80 staged readings, and numerous workshop productions to an audience of over 60,000 patrons.^[1]

Some of the theatre's progeny – such as Rent and Dirty Blonde – have transferred to commercial productions. The new works of well-established playwrights, such as Caryl Churchill, Doug Wright, and Tony Kushner – a former NYTW associate artistic director – have also been produced at NYTW. In keeping with its mission, NYTW continues to bring new work from theatre legends and emerging artists alike. The theatre maintains connections with many theatrical artists, whom it refers to as "The Usual Suspects".

In 2005, NYTW purchased a vacant building at 79 East 4th Street, which it is developing into set and costume shops.^[2] On January 11, 2006, Mayor Michael Bloomberg donated several city-owned buildings to arts organizations, including New York Theatre Workshop, on East Fourth Street, designating the block Fourth Arts Block.^[3]

Affiliated artists

Some of the notable theatrical artists whose work has been produced at New York Theatre Workshop

Alan Ball, writer/director Anne Bogart, director Caryl Churchill, writer Martha Clarke, writer/director/choreographer Rinde Eckert, writer/composer Elevator Repair Service, performance group The Five Lesbian Brothers, performance group            Deb Filler, solo performer Les Freres Corbusier, performance group David Gordon, director/choreographer/writer Tony Kushner, writer

Theater Mitu, performance group, company-in-residence Jonathan Larson, writer/composer Charles L. Mee, writer Will Power, writer Paul Rudnick, writer Claudia Shear, writer/performer Ivo Van Hove, director Naomi Wallace, writer Doug Wright, writer/performer UNIVERSES, writers/performance ensemble

References

Notes

1. ^ New York Theatre Workshop
2. ^ "Update on Renovation Plans: NYTW's New Scenic and Costume Shop" at NYTW site
3. ^ http://www.fabnyc.org

External links

• New York Theatre Workshop at the Internet off-Broadway Database
• New York Theatre Workshop
• New York Theatre Workshop collected news and commentary at The New York Times