NYC Performing Arts Spaces Blog

Free Space in Tribeca as Your "Blank Canvas"

Posted by Emily Bowles, 6 days ago - 0 comments

Tags: rehearsal space, theatre, residencies, call for applications, free space, music, dance

Space on White, a new facility in Tribeca, is seeking an innovative, artistic NYC organization to be its resident company.  And they hope to find one through a video contest that they are calling "The Blank Canvas Giveaway"!

 

If you are an artistic, theatre, dance, music or production company looking for a rehearsal and performance "home", develop a short performance skit on video (1-4 minutes), showcasing your organization’s talents and mission while answering Space on White's prompt question: “What could you do with Space on White as your blank canvas?”  More contest details are available here.

 

There will be two winners chosen: 

 

FIRST PLACE (by judges' vote): 80 hours of free space at Space on White, as well as a residency, which includes publicity through Space on White, storage space, and more.

 

SECOND PLACE (determined by highest number of views on the Space on White YouTube channel): 50 hours of free space at Space on White.

 

Click here for contest details and more information about Space on White.

From Our Friends at the League of Independent Theater

Posted by David Johnston, 3 weeks ago - 0 comments

Tags: theatre, tax incentives, community boards

OK, we're blogging lots here today at NYC Performing Arts Spaces, but people just keep sending us stuff we think you might want to know about.  This is from our friends at the League of Independent Theater (LIT) - not to be confused with the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen - and their new series of talks, "Get Lit with LIT."

 

The League of Independent Theater is proud to present the first Get Lit with LIT event of 2010 with special guest David Pincus, Chair of the Theater Task Force for Manhattan Community Board 4.  David will discuss the important new Tax Credit proposal that is making it's way through the the Community Boards now.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010
The Lark Play Development Center
939 Eighth Avenue, 2nd Floor

7:00 PM

Come and join an important conversation with the League and David Pincus on this exciting new legislation that could really make a difference for the viability and sustainability of small theaters in New York City.

Plus free beer. 

What the Heck is the Theater Subdistrict Council Grant?

Posted by David Johnston, 3 weeks ago - 0 comments

Tags: fundraising, theatre, theatre groups

This info came from our friends at Jazzmobile....

The Theater Subdistrict Council is pleased to announce the second round of a grant program designed to recognize the vital role that theater plays in the overall economic and social well-being of New York City.  Projects receiving support will seek to celebrate the live art form of theater and create and expand the audience base attending live theater, as well as enhance the body and quality of performance options.  Funding for the grant program is provided through contributions to the Theater Subdistrict Fund made in connection with the transfer of development rights from Broadway theaters.
 
Eligibility in this second phase of the grant program is open to organizations and/or consortia that:

*offer theater-related cultural programs based in and operating in the five boroughs
*are incorporated in New York State
*have been in existence and providing cultural services for two years
*had an operating income of $200,000 or more in FY09

Further background information on the grant program as well as an Intent to Apply form and instructions will be available on the NYC Department of City Planning and NYC Department of Cultural Affairs websites as of the close of business Friday, February 12th, 2010.  Completed Intent to Apply forms must be postmarked by April 9, 2010.  The Intent to Apply is the first step in the application process.  Respondents to the Intent to Apply will be notified in June if they will be invited to submit a full application; a decision regarding which projects will be funded in the pilot phase of the grant program will be announced in September, after a review of the full applications.
 
Those considering submitting an Intent to Apply are strongly urged to attend one of three information sessions to learn more about the application process.  All three sessions will cover the same information, and reservations are essential to assure we can accommodate you. Locations and times are as follows:
 
Friday, Feb 19, 2010      10:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon  
Bruno Walter Auditorium at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts (enter at Amsterdam Avenue at 65th Street)

Monday, Feb 22, 2010     2:00 p.m. - 3.30 p.m.
Marriott Marquis Hotel - Astor Room, 7th floor - 1535 Broadway (between 45th and 46th Streets)
 
Tuesday, Feb 23, 2010   10:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon 
Spector Hall, NYC Dept. of City Planning, 22 Reade Street

You must register for the information sessions by emailing theatersubdistrictcouncil@gmail.com.  Be sure to indicate which session, the number and names of people attending, and the organization/s they represent.  Also be sure to bring downloaded application materials to the information sessions; these will not be available at the sites.
 
To review grant program materials and download the Intent to Apply form go to
 www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/home.html or  www.nyc.gov/html/dcla/html/home/home.shtml.

Blogging from The Road: Paramount Theatre, Seattle

Posted by Emily Bowles, on February 6, 2010 - 0 comments

Tags: theatre, performance space, blogging from the road

Courtney Jones worked at NYCPAS as Assistant to the Director for two years before embarking on the national tour of “WICKED” as an ensemble cast member. She is a graduate of SUNY Purchase College and has danced professionally in New York City with Jennifer Muller/The Works, among others. This is her eighth blog from the road (click "blogging from the road" in our tag cloud [right column] to see all her blogs!).

 

Believe it or not, five straight weeks of sunshine in San Diego left me yearning for a gloomy day, so heading to Seattle was actually quite exciting.  The moment I stepped into downtown Seattle, I immediately felt rejuvenated.  I remember thinking if my alma mater, SUNY Purchase, were its own city, it would be downtown Seattle.  Youth groups rallying on the street, local musicians playing their music on every corner and lots of energy. 

I was so inspired by Seattle that I did something I had not done since I had been on tour.  I contacted an old professor of mine who I knew had completed his MFA in Dance at the University of Washington to find out if there were any dance studios where I could take a class as a visitor.  He referred me to a wonderful space called Velocity Dance Center (thanks, Michael!). 

Professionally, Seattle brought changes to the cast of Wicked: we said goodbye to both Myra Lucretia Taylor, who played the lovely Madame Morrible, and Lenny Wolpe, who played The Wizard (see photo of cast on their final performance).  And we welcomed Randy Dawson and Richard Kline of "Three’s Company" fame!

 

The Paramount Theatre had a lovely charm, however the backstage layout proved to be more than difficult.  With only one elevator and the women’s ensemble dressing room on the fifth floor, visits to and from the dressing room were nearly impossible.   If you did decide to wait for the elevator, you would be waiting a very long time and risked the possibility of getting trapped, which happened on more than one occasion (sorry, Shanna!).

Since we were in the “Emerald City” and had played the house before, the audiences were knowledgeable and really great.  The staff members at nearby restaurants were used to our time constraints between shows -- they showed us great respect, and got us in and out with lovely service.  I would also like to thank the Taphouse Grill for letting me celebrate my 28th birthday there with the entire cast -- we had an awesome time. 

For those who have never visited Seattle, make sure you make it down to the Pike Place Market and, although I regretfully did not make it there, don’t forget the Space Needle.  Seattle was a beautiful and exciting city to play.  Thanks, Seattle.  I will definitely be back!

2010 Artist Residency with Theater Director Cara Scarmack

Posted by Emily Bowles, on December 17, 2009 - 0 comments

Tags: theatre, artist residency

From our friends at chashama:

 

"2010 Artist Residency with Theater Director Cara Scarmack

Cara Scarmack seeks performers to participate in an artist residency obtained through The Field's Sponsored Artist Program.  The residency will take place in New York City from January – March 2010.  The sessions will meet for six hours per week, and the experience will culminate in a public performance at The Kitchen in March. 

The residency components will be two-fold.  One aspect of the residency will focus on rigorous actor training and ensemble building using exercises grounded in Stanislavski, Grotowski, and Barba.  The exercises will serve as the group's working platform, as the other aspect of the residency will be devoted to generating "from scratch" material for a new project Scarmack is devising.  Rather than work towards a concrete finished play production, the group will create the first pieces of a performance that emerge through the unique group dynamic. 

Scarmack is a theatermaker who relies 100% on the autonomy of the actor to create the material with which she can work.  She is seeking generous, passionate, brave, instinctual, and inventive actors to inspire, challenge and surprise her and the group, and for whom she hopes to do the same. 

Residency Dates: Saturday, January 9 – Monday, March 22, 2010

Residency Rehearsals: Saturdays 10am – 2pm; Sundays 1 – 3pm

Performance at The Kitchen: Monday, March 22nd

All rehearsals will take place in New York City, in Chelsea.

If you are interested, please submit your resume and a letter of interest, including information about your training as well as the motivations and influences in your work to Cara Scarmack at carascarmack@gmail.com. 

 

Deadline to Apply:  resume and letter of interest due by December 31, 2009."