NoHo has been home to a thriving theater community for decades, and after a difficult year of closures, your support is needed now more than ever as this community reopens.
Gene Frankel Theater: Named after the influential Gene Frankel, a pioneer of the Off-Broadway movement, The Gene Frankel Theater has been a part of NoHo since 1949! The theater seeks to promote the legacy of Frankel by promoting and fostering new theatrical talent. They are open for business, currently offering services in media, filming, live streaming, and photoshoots. Bookings are by phone or email only. Learn more here. They are now open a 100% capacity and are offering outdoor performances!
Duane Park: Though not a traditional theater, Bowery’s Duane Park is an interesting place to see a show! A night at Duane Park comes with exciting burlesque performances, jazz, and dinner. Read more here to find information on both indoor and outdoor upcoming events now occurring on a weekly basis.
The Public Theater: This long-running theater has been a NoHo institution for over 60 years! The Public still carries out the vision of Joe Papp as a non-profit, civically engaged theater driven by artists. The Public Theater normally offers a multitude of featured shows split between several venues: Joe’s Pub and their more traditional theater spaces. The Public is also home to the Library, a full-service restaurant and bar with occasional performances. It’s the perfect place to start or end your night at The Public. After a long COVID closure, The Public has reopened for some limited performances, plus drinks at Joe’s Pub! Find more information about the Public Theater here.
Sheen Center for Thought and Culture: A project of the archdiocese of Manhattan, the Sheen Center promotes arts and cultural events on multiple stages in the historic Loretto Theater building. The Sheen Center has also brought the arts to your home more recently by introducing “Sheen Talks,” a virtual show that presents the best in talks about film, theater, music, & art. This theater has reopened for performances. Check their website to hear about upcoming events. Learn more here.
Bowery Poetry Club: While not home to theater, the Bowery Poetry Club is still a fantastic place to see a performance. Since 2001, the Bowery Poetry Club has brought live poetry readings to NoHo. With performances from award-winning poets to open mic nights, the Bowery Poetry Club has something for every poet and poet-at-heart. They are currently offering a series titled “No Desk Poetry Concert.” You can join their poetry programming online through Zoom and Facebook Live. You can also check out their Instagram page @BoweryPoetry which is offering weekly writing prompts, low-cost writing workshops & live performances every Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday! To help support the Bowery Poetry Club, you can find their donation link here. More information here.
Astor Place Theater, home to the Blue Man Group: Part of NoHo’s historic Colonnade Row, the theater was originally opened in 1968 and was an early center of off-broadway theater. It has been home to the Blue Man Group, which got its start here, since 1991. The Blue Man Group is a legendary, iconic performance that incorporates music, art, and performances to create an iconic, truly one-of-a-kind experience. Both the theater and Blue Man Group have reopened for shows! Read more here.
La MaMa: One of the pioneers who turned this area into a center for the performing arts, including theater, dance, and more – La MaMa is a neighborhood institution and an internationally beloved experimental, Off-Off Broadway theater. With spaces spread throughout the East Village and NoHo, there’s performances of all kinds happening in their recently reopened facilities. Check it out here.
Elevator Repair Service: Founded in 1991 by Artistic Director John Collins, the Elevator Repair Service creates original works with an ongoing ensemble. The theater’s pieces range in both subject matter and literary forms through the combination of elements such as slapstick comedy, hi-tech and lo-tech design, literary and found texts and the group’s own highly developed style of movement. See what they’re up to here.
Photo by The Public Theater.
