Atlantic Theater Company Moves Second Stage and Acting School

Atlantic Theater Company has announced the relocation of its second stage, acting school and administrative offices to 111 Eighth Avenue (Port Authority Building between 15 and 16 Street) in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood.

Following eight rewarding years on West 16th Street, Atlantic will enter its third decade with this milestone move to a new address, which will occupy 25,000 square feet. The new space will house a ninety-nine seat state-of-the-art black box theater with direct street access, lobby with gallery, nine rehearsal and classroom studios, a scenic shop, street level box office, dressing rooms, student/faculty lounges and administrative and artistic staff offices and is expected to be fully operable in January 2006.

 

Coburn Architecture, PC; Denham Wolf Real Estate Services, Inc. and Andrew Lance, of Gibson Dunn and Crutcher LLP are currently overseeing the renovation and build-out of 111 Eighth Avenue. The City of New York generously contributed a $1 Million grant toward the new complex, with additional contributions funded by private donors and friends of Atlantic.

 

"We certainly could not have asked for a better way to celebrate our 20th Anniversary Season then to move into this stunning new office and theatre complex", remarked Neil Pepe, Atlantic Theater Company's Artistic Director. "The 99-seat state-of-the-art black box theater will create production opportunities for emerging artists and enable Atlantic to continue our long-standing mission to cultivate new work while investing in an artistic ensemble."

 

The Atlantic Acting School, a private conservatory and undergraduate program in conjunction with New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, was founded by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright David Mamet and celebrated actor William H. Macy when they taught "Practical Aesthetics," their unique acting technique, to a group of NYU students from 1983 to 1985. Upon graduation from the program, Mamet and Macy turned the name, Atlantic Theater Company, and it's not-for-profit status over to this group encouraging them to "create your own work."

 

"Officially founded in 1985, Atlantic Theater Company has since presented over 100 productions in the last twenty years and remains committed to their mission of producing great plays simply and truthfully while utilizing a resident artistic ensemble...Similarly, Atlantic Acting School fosters new generations of theater artists and audiences by creating a student ensemble that allows emerging actors to hone their craft in a safe yet challenging environment," according to press notes.

 

Atlantic Theater Company's 2005-2006 20th Anniversary season began with the New York Premiere of celebrated young playwright Rolin Jones' The Intelligent Design Of Jenny Chow.   Pepe is currently directing a double-bill by Nobel Prize winning playwright Harold Pinter comprised of his most recent and first plays Celebration and The Room, which begins previews on Wednesday, November 16. Three-time Tony Award-nominated playwright Martin McDonagh will return to Atlantic with the American premiere of his Oliver Award winning play The Lieutenant Of Inishmore beginning February 8, 2006.  The season concludes with Atlantic's first musical in it's twenty year history. Spring Awakening, directed by Three time Tony Award nominee Michael Mayer, features music by Grammy nominated singer-songwriter Duncan Sheik with book and lyrics by Steven Sater.

 Since it's inception, Atlantic has produced more than 100 plays including the Tony Award-winning production of The Beauty Queen Of Leenane, the world premieres of Woody Allen's A Second Hand Memory and Writer's Block, last season's hit World Premiere of David Mamet's Romance, Jez Butterworth's Mojo, Tom Donaghy's Minutes From The Blue Route the American premieres of Blue/Orange, Dublin Carol and The Night Heron, the New York premieres of The Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow and The Cider House Rules, the revivals of American Buffalo, Edmond, The Hothouse and Hobson's Choice. Atlantic "maintains an ensemble of acclaimed actors, writers and directors including David Mamet and Macy."

For more information on the Atlantic Theater Company, its Acting School and upcoming season, visit www.atlantictheater.org.