STAGE TUBE: Tour of the New Claire Tow Theatre

In February 2010, Lincoln Center Theater (under the direction of Andre Bishop, Artistic Director, and Bernard Gersten, Executive Producer) announced plans to expand its operations to the roof of the Vivian Beaumont Theater. For a tour of the new theater, watch the video!

Construction began this spring on a 23,000 square foot, two-story addition which is designed by noted architect Hugh Hardy of H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture.

Budgeted at $41 million, it will house a 131-seat theater and dressing rooms, as well as much needed rehearsal and office space for the LCT staff and an outdoor terrace surrounded by a green roof. The theater will be named the Claire Tow Theater, in honor of the wife of longtime LCT Board Member Leonard Tow, recognizing the Tow Foundation's outstanding leadership support. It will become the home of LCT3, Lincoln Center Theater's programming initiative dedicated to producing the work of new artists and the development of new audiences. Completion of the project is anticipated in early 2012.

This new project will bring to fruition Lincoln Center Theater's long held desire for a third theater to present the work of the next generation of LCT's playwrights, directors and designers. As plans evolved for the campus-wide Lincoln Center Development Project, which is making Lincoln Center more open and accessible, this new addition became a reality as well. The Claire Tow Theater will play a vital role in this expansion with LCT3 productions adding a new dimension of creative activity, as well as bringing a new audience, to Lincoln Center. Paige Evans is the Director of LCT3.

This new addition is designed by renowned architect Hugh Hardy of H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture LLC and is intended to be LEED Silver certified by the U.S. Green Building Council. It will mark a homecoming of sorts for Mr. Hardy who early in his career worked on the design of the Vivian Beaumont Theater as the assistant to designer Jo Mielziner who, with architect Eero Saarinen, designed the Lincoln Center structure that also houses the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater.

Lincoln Center Theater has established a Capital Campaign to fund the construction cost as well as to provide endowment and operating funds for LCT3 programming in the new theater. The Capital Campaign has raised 90% of the $41 million construction cost with generous leadership support from Lincoln Center Theater's Board of Directors and Lincoln Center. The additional funds needed will be raised during the public phase of the Capital Campaign.

Lincoln Center Theater created LCT3 to offer new artists fully staged productions. Each year LCT3 will produce a season of new plays and musicals in its new home. LCT3 not only serves as a nurturing arena for artists to hone their skills but will also provide a stepping stone for these artists who, it is hoped, will continue their professional lives at LCTs larger venues. All tickets to LCT3 productions are priced at an affordable $20.00.