Access Theater Seeks Bold, Diverse Theatrical Voices For Its 2018-2019 Residency Program

Applications are now open for Access Theater's 2018-2019 Residency Program.

The Access Residency Program is designed to support the work of daring, original, and diverse theatrical voices by providing an artistic home base for their work. Each year, Access selects seven companies for one-year residencies and six individual artists for six-month residencies. Past residents include some of New York's most innovative companies including Elevator Repair Service, New Light Theater Project, and Concrete Temple Theatre.

By supplying space for rehearsals and public showings throughout the year, the Access Residency program provides a low-pressure environment in which performing artists can develop a project, grow as an ensemble, or simply hone their craft.

"This past year has been the first time in ten years that we have had an artistic home...As our first major residency, this opportunity was a sign to our ensemble, audiences and supporters of No.11 Productions' continued growth. There are many challenges in being a nomadic indie theatre company and our year at Access has anchored us in ways that have allowed us to soar creatively." - 2017-18 Resident Company, No.11 Productions.

"We've worked at Access in some capacity for almost five years. We've always enjoyed the energy of the space the most. As a resident artist, you get a chance to create with positive people and artists in a positive environment." - 2017-18 Resident Company, New Light Theater Project.

"Being an Access Resident Artist has enabled us to experiment, to try things and then try other things, in search of the most appropriate, meaningful choice versus making a choice because there is not time to find out what the other choice could be." - 2017-18 Resident Company, Concrete Temple Theatre.

"The greatest part about being an Access Resident Artist is the incredible amount of care and support from the Directors as well as the community of residents. In addition, having the access to free space to do work has been life-changing as a young, just-out-of-college theatermaker. Thanks to Access, I have been able to host two closed table readings, receive my first public reading at TNC, and now have plans to create a concert version of the show to premiere this upcoming fall/winter." - 2017-18 Resident Artist, Steven Meeker, Jr.

The residency runs September 1st to August 31st. Applications close June 24th, 2018.

Access Theater is actively committed to cultivating an inclusive artistic community that embraces and reflects the diversity of our world, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin, citizen status, ancestry, age, religion, disability, sex or gender identity.

To learn about our 2017-2018 Resident Artists, click here.

To learn more about the 2018-2019 Residency Program, and to apply, visit our website here.

Since 1992, ACCESS THEATER has been a home to New York City's leading downtown artists. When not producing its own work, Access serves as a cost-effective curated arts venue seeking innovative, not-for-profit producing organizations devoted to new works in the Off-Off Broadway community. Offering a well-maintained, subsidized (and therefore affordable), downtown venue for the showcasing of emerging artists and their efforts, Access has served as host to an impressive roster of theater artists. The New York Times, Time Out New York, and others are regular attendees of productions at Access Theater, and have praised its efforts, describing Access as "one of the theaters to pay attention to in downtown New York." (New York Times). Past productions include: Bedlam Theater's premiere of Hamlet / St. Joan, which ran to great acclaim and moved to a successful run at the Lynne Redgrave Theater; The Empty Plate / Sakina's Restaurant by Aasif Mandvi, which went on to a successful run at the American Place Theater; and Josh Lefkowitz's Help Wanted..., which moved to the regional theater circuit following its initial run at Access.