La MaMa to Open New 150-Seat Downstairs Theater This Fall with SHANK'S MARE

A new 6,500 square-foot multi-disciplinary venue -- named THE DOWNSTAIRS -- featuring a 150-seat theater, a large exhibition space, and a classroom -- will open this fall at La MaMa's Annex (66 E. 4 St.), it was announced today by Mia Yoo, La MaMa's artistic director. BroadwayWorld has learned that Martin Kapell is the designer for the new theater.

The creation of THE DOWNSTAIRS -- located in the basement of the Annex building that also houses the Ellen Stewart Theatre -- raises the number of performance venues at La MaMa to four, joining the Ellen Stewart Theatre (66 E. 4 St.) and the long-running First Floor Theatre and The Club at 74 E. 4 St.

The opening of THE DOWNSTAIRS coincides with the debut of La MaMa's Master Plan -- a multi-million dollar construction project to be undertaken in three phases -- and is the first step of the Plan's upcoming renovation and restoration of all La MaMa theaters, rehearsal studios, and lobbies over the course of the next several years. La MaMa's Board of Directors has deemed the renovation and restoration plan as essential to La MaMa's future.

In addition to offering performances in its 150 seat theater, THE DOWNSTAIRS also houses a classroom and exhibition space.

Ms. Yoo likens THE DOWNSTAIRS as the internationally-renowned experimental theater's new experiment: "THE DOWNSTAIRS is an evolving space for new media and multi-disciplinary artists and residencies, as well as a place to network with our local and global communities through art. We are embracing 21st century tools for collaboration and production, and are very excited about making new art for new audiences."

She adds, "Just as La MaMa founder Ellen Stewart created a new vision of theatre that allowed audiences and artists to interact in unprecedented artistic exchanges 54 years ago in the East Village, our vision for The Downstairs is a non-traditional theatre space that will redefine how audiences and artists of the next generation interact and engage with art."

La MaMa Board President Frank Carucci states, "At a time when other arts organizations are losing spaces or moving out of Manhattan entirely, La MaMa remains steadfast in its mission to support an intergenerational and diverse community of artists and audiences."

SHANK'S MARE - one of numerous productions featured in La MaMa's month-long 2015 Puppet Series this November in all four theaters at La MaMa - christens THE DOWNSTAIRS with performance starting November 6. Created by Tom Lee and Japanese Master Puppeteer Koryu Nishikawa V., SHANK'S MARE uses traditional Japanese puppetry, video projections and live music in an exploration of life and death and how traditions are preserved.

The public is invited to attend a sneak preview of The Downstairs on September 28 from 6:30 to 8 pm. To schedule attendance, visit www.lamama.org.

Photo: Instagram