Lyric Stage Company of Boston Announces New Rehearsal Studio, Partnerships

Matt Chapuran, Managing Director of the Lyric Stage Company of Boston, announced today these exciting new developments.

"For over forty years, the Lyric Stage has helped grow the Greater Boston arts community, providing opportunities for local performing artists start or enhance their careers. With the cooperation of the YWCA, we have recently extended our lease at 140 Clarendon Street and expanded our artistic resources. We couldn't be more proud to offer assistance to our fellow artists in need, and look forward to collaborating with some very different organizations in very different ways."

First, the Lyric Stage and Boston Dance Alliance are thrilled to announce a special partnership that allows BDA member dancers and choreographers to rent rehearsal studio space below market rates in the Lyric Stage's newly renovated studio, ClarenDon Hall. The collaboration is a joint response to an acute shortage of usable rehearsal space for both the theatre and dance communities in Boston, and aims to strengthen ties between the two performing arts communities.

Debra Cash, Executive Director of Boston Dance Alliance said, "Our unique cross-disciplinary partnership with the Lyric Stage provides an affordable new rehearsal space on the Boston side of the river where choreographers of genres from ballet to Bollywood can create. As far as I know, this is the first time a dance organization and a theatre in the Boston area have made this kind of commitment to share such a valuable resource."

Through the generous support of The Boston Foundation, BDA Basic, Premium and Organizational members will be able to rent ClarenDon Hall during the periods when the Lyric Stage is not using the studio to rehearse its own professional productions.

Located on the fourth floor of the theatre's Back Bay home at 140 Clarendon Street, this soundproofed, 1,040 square foot space has a state of the art sprung wood floor suitable for all genres of dance and is wheelchair accessible. A grant from The Boston Foundation is providing operating support for ClarenDon Hall and the collaboration.

Julie Burros, Chief of Arts and Culture, City of Boston, also celebrated this new collaboration. "The Boston Creates Cultural Plan highlighted the need to find innovative approaches to solve some of the challenges in the arts and culture sector, including a lack of rehearsal and performance space. The partnership between the Boston Dance Alliance and the Lyric Stage is a perfect example of how this can work, mobilizing partnerships outside of City Hall to maximize available resources for Boston's artists. It's these types of partnerships and collaborations that will help us achieve the goals of the plan, helping Boston realize its full creative potential."

Boston Dance Alliance will be celebrating the launch of ClarenDon Hall with its members, supporters, and friends at a December 6 Open House from 6:00-8:30 p.m.

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The Lyric Stage is also pleased to announce a new partnership with Fresh Ink Theatre, which includes designating Fresh Ink Theatre as the Lyric Stage's "Official New Play Partner." Fresh Ink champions previously unproduced new plays by New England playwrights. The still-evolving partnership will include the Lyric Stage providing facilities and marketing support to Fresh Ink and will allow the Lyric Stage access to Fresh Ink's growing roster of local talent.

Spiro Veloudos, Producing Artistic Director of the Lyric Stage, says, "I am thrilled that we are partnering with Fresh Ink. They are one of the top-notch fringe companies on the Boston scene. I think their commitment to Boston writers is admirable and is in concert with our mission to provide opportunities for Boston based theatre artists, I look forward to the first full production that comes out of this partnership."

Louise Hammill, Artistic Director of Fresh Ink Theatre says, "Fresh Ink is excited to join the Lyric Stage as a New Play Development Partner. The resources provided by the Lyric Stage as part of this collaboration, including space, marketing, and logistical support, are of huge value to a small company like Fresh Ink. We are also excited about the future of new play development in Boston, and look forward to working with the Lyric Stage to further develop and sustain New England artists."

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ClarenDon Hall is also available for rental to other Boston non-profit performing arts groups. For example, Boston Baroque will use the Hall for three weeks this spring to rehearse its upcoming opera, Handel's Giulio Cesare. Miguel A. Rodriguez, Boston Baroque's Executive Director, says: "We are delighted with the opportunity to rehearse our next opera production at the Lyric Stage's new rehearsal space. Its location in the center of the city makes this ample space an ideal place to rehearse with our guest artists and orchestra members. We can't wait!"

For information on renting ClarenDon Hall, email Matt Chapuran at matt_chapuran@lyricstage.com. ClarenDon Hall may not be used for public events.

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