East Village's Duo Theater Eligible for Partners in Preservation Grant

Fourth Arts Block (FABnyc) has announced the selection of Duo Multicultural Arts Center, a founding member of FABnyc, as one of 40 sites in New York City for Partners in Preservation, a program of American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation to help educate the public about the importance of historic sites. Through Partners in Preservation, Duo Theater has the opportunity to receive a grant for historic restoration based on popular vote. The size of the grant is dependent on votes.

The theater at 62 East 4th Street has a colorful history reflective of its central location in New York's famed East 4th Street Cultural District, the unique arts corridor located between Second Avenue and Bowery. The building is much admired for the distinctive circular fire escape on its façade, but less visible is the extraordinary theater space inside the building-which has housed revolutionaries, social activists, union builders, arts luminaries, as well as provided a backdrop for infamous scenes in film and television.

The building was constructed in 1889 as a dance and catering hall with restaurants on the bottom floors, meeting halls on the next two floors, and residences on the top stories. In the 1930s, the dance hall was converted into a theater stage. In the 1960s, Andy Warhol rented the Fortune Theater for his "Boys to Adore Galore" film screenings. In the 1970s, Francis Ford Coppola used the theater as a setting for The Godfather: Part II. In 1981, this historic space was put under the care of the Duo Multicultural Arts Center, providing a much-needed venue for the underrepresented and talented Latino artists in the East Village. Last year, the exterior of the building, co-owned with Rod Rodgers Dance Company, received a $2.1 million dollar restoration.

From April 26 to May 21, 2012, anyone 13 years of age and older, anywhere in the world can vote online - either from their web-enabled mobile device, online or on Facebook - for one of 40 historic New York City places, by visiting www.Facebook.com/PartnersinPreservation or www.PartnersinPreservation.com.

Partners in Preservation guarantees funding for the three historic places that receive the most votes, with additional grants awarded to a number of the other sites after review by American Express, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and an advisory committee composed of New York civic and preservation leaders. Thus, every vote counts, not just as an acknowledgment of a true landmark of New York City, but also a chance to preserve its legacy.

"Duo Theater at 62 East 4th Street is thrilled and honored to be a part of this short list of historical landmarks in New York City and encourages everyone to get involved in this exciting opportunity by making their daily vote between now and May 21st, 2012," says Michelangelo Alasa, Artistic Director of Duo Multicultural Arts Center.

A vibrant addition to the line of theaters in the East Village, Duo continues to develop and produce works by Latino playwrights and consistently features rigorous programming of dance, film, theater, and music.

FABnyc was founded in 2001 as the nonprofit leadership organization for the East 4th Street Cultural District, a historic and vibrant arts corridor in Manhattan between Second Avenue and Bowery. Now a neighborhood-wide coalition of arts and community groups, FABnyc drives community and economic development, while also preserving the Lower East Side's rich heritage and creative energy. FABnyc provides services to its member theaters and arts organizations, including leading the development and conversion of 100,000 square feet of arts space, marketing the neighborhood as a cultural destination, and offering discount ticketing and other community events and programs. Home to more than 24 arts groups, 12 theaters, and 8 dance and rehearsal studios, the East 4th Street Cultural District serves more than 1,250 artists and 250,000 audience members each year.

For more information please visit Fourth Arts Block's (FAB's) website: www.fabnyc.org