Access Info: About Access

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ACCESS THEATER is located at 380 Broadway @ White Street,
(2 blocks South of Canal) on the 4th Floor.

Train: N/R train to Canal (closest), 6/1/9/A/C/E

ACCESS THEATER is one of New York's premier producers of new works and innovative voices in the Off-Off Broadway scene. Under Founding Artistic Director Jacqueline Christy, its eighteen-year history is rich with the early works of then-unknown theater artists, artists now recognized and respected for the contributions they have made to modern theater.  Stephen Belber, Brian Dykstra, David Johnston, Josh Lefkowitz, Matthew Freeman, David Foley – these playwrights will be produced for years to come, and they all got their start with works produced by Access Theater.

Since 1992, ACCESS THEATER has served as a cost-effective rental alternative to New York's Off-Off and Independent Theater scene. When not producing its own works, Access seeks innovative, not-for-profit producing organizations devoted to the production of new works. ACCESS THEATER's volunteer staff defers salaries and fees, diverting revenue into its mission of offering a well-maintained, subsidized and therefore affordable, downtown venue for the showcasing of emerging artists and their efforts.  As such, it has served as host to an impressive roster of theater artists, from The Working Theater to Fringe NYC. ACCESS THEATER often serves in a co-producing capacity, picking up and extending runs of renters' productions. ACCESS prides itself on its reputation as one of the most affordable, lovingly maintained theater houses in New York. The New York Times, Time Out New York, and others, with histories of overlooking downtown venues, 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). Access has joined forces with organizations big (Scholastic Publishing) and not-as-big (Manhattan Children's Theatre, Battery Dance) to create programming geared outward, toward our community and its families. Access continues to seek ways to create resources for others, with subsidized, sometimes free, rehearsal and performance space for not-for-profit organizations in need of our resources.

Stairs to Access

ACCESS THEATER has produced hundreds of new plays, many of which have gone on to Off-Broadway productions, regional theaters, British theaters, and feature film development. Recent successes include: Josh Lefkowitz's HELP WANTED: A PERSONAL SEARCH FOR MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT AT THE START OF THE 21ST CENTURY, which moved to the regional theater circuit following its initial run at Access; co-productions with Blue Coyote Theater Group of  David Johnston's ORESTEIA (one of TIME OUT NEW YORK'S Best of 2007), BUSTED JESUS COMIX (2005 GLAAD award nominee for Outstanding Off-Off Broadway Theatre), and David Foley's PARADISE, among many others; world premieres of Brian Dykstra's critically acclaimed Off-Broadway solo show, BRIAN DYKSTRA:  CORNERED & ALONE; Israela Margalit's 3 O'CLOCK IN BROOKLYN; Darian Dauchan's FALLEN PATRIOTS; Bryan Dykstra's STRANGERHORSE; and Stephen Belber's TAPE, which premiered at Access and went on to be presented at the Humana Festival of New American Plays and became a feature film starring Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke.

Other past production highlights include: CAGES, currently being developed into a feature film by Gary Fleder (director, KISS THE GIRLS, THINGS TO DO IN DENVER WHEN YOU'RE DEAD); ALICE DOWN THE HOLE; and the sold-out, extended run of Susan Gregory Thomas's THE MOST YOU. LARRY THOMPSON: TRAGEDY OF A YOUTH, by Dusan Kovacevic (UNDERGROUND, WHITE HOTEL), had a special performance at the United Nations; THE KILLING ACT, featuring Dominic Fumusa, went on to a reading at the Williamstown Theater Festival; the NY premiere of FORSAKING ALL OTHERS, by Brian Dykstra, came to Access after sold-out, extended runs in London and Los Angeles; and THE EMPTY PLATE / SAKINA'S RESTAURANT by Aasif Mandyi went on to a successful run at the American Place Theater.
 

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