New York City (Fodor's, 2012) - Fodor's [101]
The Village East Cinema (181–189 2nd Ave., at E. 12th St., East Village | 10013 | 212/529–6799 | www.villageeastcinema.com | Subway: 6 to Astor Pl.; L to 1st Ave.), with programming more on the indie side than that of its SoHo sister the Angelika, is housed in a former Yiddish theater that was restored and converted to a six-screen multiplex. Catch a film that’s screening in the original theater space upstairs (you can call ahead to find out); its Moorish Revival–style decor, domed ceiling, and grand chandelier are best appreciated from the balcony.
Theater
At the cozy 178-seat theater belonging to the Classic Stage Company (136 E. 13th St., between 3rd and 4th Aves., East Village | 10003 | 212/677–4210; 212/352–3101 or 866/811–4111 tickets | www.classicstage.org | Subway: 4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R to Union Sq.) you can see excellent literary revivals—such as Chekhov’s Three Sisters or Shakespeare’s The Tempest—perhaps with a modern spin, and often with reigning theatrical stars.
Ellen Stewart, also known as La Mama, founded La MaMa E.T.C. (74A E. 4th St., between Bowery and 2nd Ave., East Village | 10003 | 212/475–7710 | lamama.org | Subway: F to 2nd Ave.; B, D, F, M to Broadway–Lafayette St.; 6 to Bleecker St.) in a small basement space in 1961. It’s grown now, and her influential Experimental Theater Club continues to support new works that cross cultures and performance disciplines.
The New York Theater Workshop (NYTW) (79 E. 4th St., between Bowery and 2nd Ave., East Village | 10003 | 212/460–5475, 212/279–4200 tickets | www.nytw.org | Subway: F, M to 2nd Ave.; B, D, F, M to Broadway–Lafayette St.; 6 to Bleecker St.) produces work by new and established playwrights. Jonathan Larson’s Rent got its pre-Broadway start here, and current works by Tony Kushner (Homebody/Kabul), Caryl Churchill, and Paul Rudnick are staged. Hit the box office for Sunday night CheapTix; those seats are $20—in cash, in advance only—as available.
Performance Space 122 (P.S. 122) (150 1st Ave., at E. 9th St., East Village | 10009 | 212/352–3101 tickets | www.ps122.org | Subway: 6 to Astor Pl.) became a launching pad for now well-recognized talent like Karen Finley, Spalding Gray, Ann Magnuson, and Eric Bogosian back in the day, and continues to offer a dazzling repertoire of performance from the fringe. Their Avant-Garde-Arama! festival has drawn crowds since the nonprofit’s founding in 1980.
The Public Theater (425 Lafayette St., south of Astor Pl., East Village | 10003 | 212/539–8500, 212/967–7555 tickets | www.publictheater.org | Subway: 6 to Astor Pl.; R to 8th St.) presents fresh theater such as the 2010 six-hour F. Scott Fitzgerald marathon, Gatz, a 2008 Stephen Sondheim debut, and the latest work of Suzan-Lori Parks. Many noted productions that began here (Hair, A Chorus Line) went on to Broadway.
Go to the Public’s box office one hour before curtain to snag limited-availability $20 rush standby tickets (two tickets max; cash only). In summer you won’t want to miss their incomparable—and free—Shakespeare in the Park performances, which are held at the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park.
TIP Because you can stand in line for hours—and still not get a ticket voucher—the easiest way to score these scarce tickets is to register online with their “virtual line” after midnight on the night before the performance you would like to attend; an email response confirms (or denies) success.
A four-theater cultural complex, Theater for the New City (155 1st Ave., between E. 9th and E. 10th Sts., East Village | 10003 | 212/254–1109 | www.theaterforthenewcity.net | Subway: 6 to Astor Pl.) stages short runs of shows by new and emerging American playwrights. Favorite longtime troupers and presenters of seriously giant puppets (upward of 12 feet is typical), the 1960s