Theatre Row Building, Performing arts complex in Theatre Row, Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan, US.
The Theatre Row Building is a performing arts complex on West 42nd Street in Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan, housing five Off-Broadway stages and a studio space. The venues vary in size, so the building can accommodate both small productions and slightly larger shows under one roof.
The building opened in 1976 as part of a broader effort to shift West 42nd Street away from its reputation as a rough entertainment strip toward a home for the arts. Over the following decades, it helped anchor Hell's Kitchen as a recognized center for independent theatre in New York.
The small stages inside are often used by independent theatre groups trying out new plays before they move elsewhere. The audience sits close to the stage, making the experience more direct than in a large house.
The building stands between 9th and 10th Avenues, close to several subway lines, making it easy to reach from most parts of the city. Since each stage runs its own schedule, it is worth checking what is on before you arrive.
After the 2019 renovation, all five stages were renamed in honor of local theatre supporters rather than famous productions or performers. Reading the names on the doors is a small way to discover people who shaped the Off-Broadway world without ever stepping into the spotlight themselves.
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