Broadway industry members plan to open a new studio space in 2019, which will include the largest rehearsal studios in Manhattan.
The studios, which are meant for rehearsals, auditions and offices for large Broadway productions, will take over two floors of 1601 Broadway, spanning 51,346 square feet. The studio space is slated to begin construction mid-July and open in January 2019.
Across the two floors, the spaces will include two 4,000 square-foot studios with 24-foot high ceilings, which will be the largest studios in Manhattan, as well as studios of differing sizes for dance and music rehearsals, production offices and costume fittings.
Jeff Whiting, who is a director and choreographer, is the project manager for the space, which is being developed in partnership with members of the theater community from all areas. Partners include The Shubert Organization, Music Theatre International, producer Barry Weissler, director/choreographers Susan Stroman and Andy Blankenbuehler, composer Stephen Flaherty, lighting designers Beowulf Boritt, set designer David Korins, sound designer Kai Harada, orchestrator Alex Lacamoire and actor Joshua Henry.
“We want to build a home for artists to create, and we dedicate this space to the creation of art and the cultivation of the artist,” Whiting said in the press release.
The space will also house theater training institute, The Open Jar Institute, as well as Whiting’s company, Stage Write Software, which tracks staging and choreography.
