Atlantic to Rename its Main Stage the Linda Gross Theater

Atlantic Theater Company has announced the dedication and theater renaming ceremony of its main stage theater at 336 West 20th Street. In honor of Atlantic board member Linda Gross and husband Daniel Gross's contribution to the award winning theater company, the main stage theater will be renamed Atlantic Theater Company at The Linda Gross Theater on Monday, May 14th.  The renaming ceremony will serve as a kick-off for a capital campaign to renovate the front and back of house of the 165 seat Off-Broadway theater that is housed in a century old converted gothic revival church.

The dedication and renaming ceremony will begin at 5:30 p.m. with remarks from Atlantic Artistic Director Neil Pepe and Managing Director Andrew D. Hamingson, the unveiling of the new theater façade and a champagne toast with members of Atlantic's Ensemble and celebrity guests.

Linda Gross, Ph.D. is a psychoanalyst with a private practice in Manhattan. She is a training and supervising analyst and has also served as an instructor at the Philadelphia School of Psychoanalysis, where she also serves on the board in addition to the board of the American Board of Certification of the National Association for the Advancement of Psychoanalysis. She is a co-founder of the Women's Financial Network and the Women's Analytic Forum. Linda's true passion in life is attending theater. She has been fascinated by the stage since the age of four, when her parents took her to see Where's Charley and she got to visit with Ray Bolger in his dressing room following the performance.  Linda and her husband, Daniel are also avid collectors of contemporary art.  She currently serves on the boards of Atlantic Theater Company and the Shakespeare Society.

Co-founded by David Mamet and William H. Macy, Atlantic Theater Company is the award-winning Off-Broadway theater dedicated to producing great plays simply and truthfully by both emerging and established playwrights. Since its inception, Atlantic has produced more than one hundred plays. Over the last two decades, Atlantic has garnered four Tony Awards, five Lucille Lortel Awards, nine Obie Awards, and an Outer Critics Circle Award.

Atlantic recently entered its third decade with a milestone move of the Atlantic Acting School and administrative offices to the Port Authority Building at 111 Eighth Avenue, following a $4 Million renovation. The new headquarters, encompassing 25,000 square feet, houses Atlantic Stage 2 - a ninety-nine seat state-of-the-art black box theater, a lobby with gallery, nine rehearsal and classroom studios, a scenic shop, box office, dressing rooms, student/faculty lounges and administrative and artistic staff offices.

Last season Atlantic was awarded the 2006 Lucille Lortel Prize for Outstanding Body of Work and two of the company's acclaimed 2005-2006 season productions headed to Broadway. Atlantic's critically acclaimed production of Martin McDonagh's The Lieutenant Of Inishmore, directed by Wilson Milam, transferred to the Lyceum Theatre, where it was nominated for five 2006 Tony Awards, including Best Play. Atlantic's acclaimed world premiere production of the new musical Spring Awakening with music by Duncan Sheik, a book and lyrics by Steven Sater and direction by Michael Mayer, also opened to rave reviews on Broadway this season, where it is now playing at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre.

Atlantic Theater Company at the Linda Gross Theateris located at 336 West 20th St (between 8th & 9th Avenues).  Atlantic Stage 2 is located at 330 West 16th St (between 8th & 9th Avenues). For membership information, wheelchair seating, and/or group sales call 212-691-5919.  Visit www.atlantictheater.org for more information.