Cherry Lane Theatre was founded in 1924 and is known as the longest continuously Off-Broadway theatre in New York City! Cool, right?!
As most historical buildings in Manhattan, their story always starts with a long list of other businesses occupying the space. Before Cherry Lane Theatre became the longest continuously Off-Broadway theatre in New York City, a lot happened there!
This building was built in 1836, where is started off being a local brewery spot. After that what closed down, the space was the home of a tobacco warehouse and later on, a box factory.
It was only in the year of 1924 that a group of artists was able to transform it all into a beautiful theatre that showcased a ground-breaking performances, was a pioneer in countless works and had an important role in the future of the Arts.
Cherry Lane’s mission?
“To cultivate an urban artist colony, honor our groundbreaking history, and engage audiences in creating theater that illuminates contemporary issues, and at its best, transforms the spirit.”
Cherry Lane Theatre is located in the super trendy neighborhood called Greenwich Village, in Manhattan. The space is today the home – and “lab”, as they explain – of new American works. They also continue hosting amazing ground-breaking productions.
In 1998, they launched Cherry Lane Studio. Yes, it also has a past life! This space was once a restaurant owned by a renowned family called Carroad. During the 1960’s and 1970’s, it also served as a late-night gay club that was pretty entertaining.
It’s said that during the 1950’s, during an excavation that happened in the neighbor building, an underground river was found and it came filled with thousands of cute and friendly turtles.
Today, the Studio is:
“…a safe haven for the development of new plays. Our programs allow playwrights to hone their work without the pressure of reviews before sophisticated, thrill-seeking audiences who want to discover the bold new voices of today.”
So this fantastic place offers 2 stages – the main stage with 179 seats and Studio with 60 seats. They usually have 2 or 3 simultaneous productions happening. So, be sure to check online for further info, upcoming projects and ticket prices.
As we mentioned, it’s amazing that they are the longest Off-Broadway theatre in New York City! We definitely recommend this fantastic experience!
Many of our readers and clients, enjoy our tips and services, because we focus on unique tours and experiences around New York. That (re)said, if you are looking to explore other spots like this one, we would surely recommend checking out House of Yes, in Bushwick.
If you’re the type that enjoy uncovering spots on your with friends and no tour guide, you’ll definitely love our Greenpoint Self-Guided Tour in Brooklyn. It’s one of the coolest neighborhoods in Brooklyn today!
But wait! If you’re a business, let us surprise your team or your clients with the most amazing corporate experiences in town!
Location: 38 Commerce Street
Photo Credit: Brian Dubé
