NEW YORK CITY: The Flea Theater’s long-awaited new home in TriBeCa will open this fall. The performing arts complex, designed by Architecture Research Office, is the first theatre to open in downtown Manhattan in 11 years. The first performance in the space will begin Aug. 21, and the official opening will be Sept. 28.
The new performing arts complex will include three theatres, each named after A.R. Gurney, Sigourney Weaver, and Sam Cohn. The Flea will include an intimate indoor/outdoor performance space, a large black box theatre, and a below-ground theatre that uses arches dating back to the building’s origins in the 1700’s.
The inaugural production will be the world premiere of Nick Robideau’s Inanimate (Aug. 21-Sept. 24), which explores objectum sexuality, feeling like an outsider, and the journey of finding acceptance. The cast will feature the Flea’s resident acting company, the Bats. Courtney Ulrich will direct.
The new space will support more dance, music, and theatre programming. The Flea will welcome female-driven company New Georges; LAVA, the feminist acrobatic dance collective; and the Bang Group, a dance company devoted to craftsmanship, creative liberty, and aesthetic diversity.
The Flea, founded in 1996 by founding artistic director Jim Simpson, writer Mac Wellman, and designer Kyle Chepulis, produces new and experimental theatre works. It is currently led by artistic director Niegel Smith.
