New Atlantic Theater Company Space to Open June 14

Atlantic Theater Company has announced the grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony and celebration of the brand new 99-seat, state-of-the-art Atlantic Stage 2 theater at 330 West 16th Street on Wednesday, June 14th at 10:00 a.m. Atlantic Stage 2 will present two productions of new works each season and serve as a home theater for the Atlantic Theater Company Acting School.

The outdoor grand opening ceremony will begin at 10:00 a.m. with remarks from Atlantic Artistic Director Neil Pepe, Managing Director Andrew D. Hamingson, Atlantic Founding Member and Atlantic acting school Executive Director Mary McCann, Co-founder and Co-chief Executive Officer of Taconic Investment Partners, Paul E. Pariser and actress Kathryn Erbe among other civic officials and celebrities to be announced. Following the ribbon cutting, guests will be invited to tour the new facility and enjoy a breakfast buffet and music.

In January 2006, Atlantic 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. In addition to Atlantic Stage 2, the new headquarters, encompassing 25,000 square feet, houses a lobby with gallery, box office, scenic shop, dressing rooms, nine rehearsal and classroom studios serving 250 students , student/faculty lounges and Atlantic's administrative and artistic staff offices.

Coburn Architecture, PC; Denham Wolf Real Estate Services, Inc. and Andrew Lance, of Gibson Dunn and Crutcher LLP oversaw the renovation and build-out of the new headquarters located in the Port Authority Building at 111 Eighth Avenue. Theater consultant: Fisher Dachs Associates (Joshua Dachs, Douglas Stebbins). Acoustical engineer: a-kou-stiks (Paul Scarbrough). The Mayor's Office and the New York City Council generously contributed a $1 Million capital grant toward the new complex. The American Express Company and The Lila Acheson Wallace Theater Fund at the New York Community Trust are seed sponsors of Atlantic Stage 2.

"Atlantic Stage 2 has been designed with 79 permanent tiered seats and 20 additional more-flexible seats. With 33 feet of width and 31 feet of depth, the theater feels intimate, while the 16 feet of height allows optimum staging and design possibilities. The wire rope grid gives the space an easy, safe working environment to allow for a quick load in and change-over from show to show. The engineered acoustics will contain the sound with precision to complement the state-of-the-art sound package with computerized playback, many speaker and microphone options, a wireless headset system, and backstage monitors. The lighting package includes an ETC Express 250 with a 96 ETC dimming rack, a full inventory of instruments, cable, strip lights, and color scrollers. The theater was designed with supporting areas including 2 dressing rooms, a backstage studio, a full-service box office, scene shop, and production office," state press notes.

Ten By Twenty, a one-act festival of twenty ten-minute plays commissioned by notable playwrights whose work has been produced at Atlantic over the past two decades including David Mamet, Craig Lucas and David Rabe will premiere the same evening and run through Saturday, July 1st. Ten By Twenty will reunite many of Atlantic's ensemble of actors and directors to inaugurate the new theater, including Ted Danson, Kristen Johnston and Jan Maxwell.

Atlantic Theater Company "is the award winning Off-Broadway theater dedicated to producing great plays simply and truthfully utilizing an artistic ensemble. Atlantic believes that the story of the play and the intent of the playwright are at the core of the creative process,:"state press notes. Since its inception in 1985, Atlantic has produced more than 100 plays. Atlantic is currently presenting the world premiere of the musical Spring Awakening, directed by Michael Mayer and featuring music by Duncan Sheik and book and lyrics by Steven Sater, which will officially open Off-Broadway on Thursday, June 15, 2006 at the Atlantic Main Stage (336 West 20th Street).

This season, Atlantic was awarded the 2006 Lucille Lortel Prize for Outstanding Body of Work. The company's critically acclaimed limited engagement production of Martin McDonagh's The Lieutenant Of Inishmore, directed by Wilson Milam, transferred to Broadway's Lyceum Theatre in April and has been nominated for five 2006 Tony Awards® including Best Play.

Tickets to Ten By Twenty are $25 per evening and available through Telecharge by calling 212-239-6200 or by visiting. Telecharge.com.

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, ext. 1092. Visit www.atlantictheater.org for more information.