59E59 THEATERS

About

The Drama Desk Award winning 59E59 Theaters is the number one Off Broadway destination in New York City.

Story

MISSION

The Drama Desk Award winning 59E59 Theaters is the number one Off Broadway destination in New York City. Nestled just around the corner from the famous Delmonico Hotel (now the Trump Park Avenue), 59E59 Theaters is a spectacular modern theater complex with three stages and a lively bar on the mezzanine level.

Owned and operated by the Elysabeth Kleinhans Theatrical Foundation, a not-for-profit foundation, 59E59 Theaters brings new, innovative and invigorating work to East Side audiences.

59E59 Theaters presents Off Broadway productions by not-for-profit companies from across the United States and around the world, including an annual festival of new British theater called Brits Off Broadway and a preview of shows going to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe called East to Edinburgh. See information on the individual theaters to License space.

HISTORY

59E59 Theaters is owned and operated by the Elysabeth Kleinhans Theatrical Foundation, a not-for-profit operating foundation. The Foundation was set up to create a new, state-of-the-art theater complex that would bring new, challenging and experimental work in an underserved location on 59th Street between Park and Madison Avenues in Manhattan.

In 2002, the building at 59 East 59th Street was donated to the Foundation. The building was essentially gutted, and the theaters were designed and constructed. The architect, Leo Modricin, worked with the Foundation to create a facility with an inviting ambiance to foster neighborhood attendance as well as provide excellent support for companies performing in the three spaces.

Our largest space, THEATER A, opened in February 2004 with the first performance of The Stendhal Syndrome produced by our resident company, Primary States, In April 2004, the other two spaces, THEATER B, and THEATER C opened with productions for our first annual BRITS OFF BROADWAY FESTIVAL. Since that time, the theaters have been continuously busy with shows generally running for three to six weeks.