F. Murray Abraham, Edward Albee and More to Appear at Theater for the New City's Mortgage Burning

When Theater for the New City burns its mortgage Saturday, January 26, 2013 at a community celebration from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, celebrities participating will include F. Murray Abraham, Edward Albee, David Amram, Charles Busch, Vinie Burrows, City Council Member Rosie Mendez, Thunderbird American Indian Dancers and surprise guests.

The gathering will include testimonials, performances , reading of a proclamation from the City Council, and the opening of an art exhibit. The Thunderbird American Indian Dancers will bless TNC's newly-secured permanent home, as they did in 1986 when the theater first moved into its permanent home in the former First Avenue Retail Market Building. A plaque will be unveiled that contains the names of all donors--over 100 in number--who contributed toward the mortgage payoff. Coinciding with the mortgage event will be the opening of a retro-spectacle, "TNC: 40 Years of Struggle and Triumph," an art exhibit curated by Peter Ketchum with some historical support from Carolyn Ratcliff. It features programs, scripts, and photos of historic TNC productions including plays by Charles Ludlam, Maria Irene Fornes and Sam Shepard.

The two-hour event will be held in the Johnson Theater of TNC, located at 155 First Avenue (at East Tenth Street). The gathering is free to the community, but space is limited so reservations are requested. To reserve your place, please email Jon Weber at jon@theaterforthenewcity.net or call (212) 254-1109.