New York City (Fodor's, 2012) - Fodor's [104]
The Skirball was built in 2003 and designed by Kevin Roche. This contemporary venue on the New York University campus provides a rare larger-scale anchor for the arts in this part of town.
WEST VILLAGE
Readings and Lectures
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center (208 W. 13th St., between 7th and 8th Aves., West Village | 10011 | 212/620–7310 | www.gaycenter.org | Subway: 1, 2, 3, A, C, E, F, M to 14th St.; L to 8th Ave.) sponsors Second Tuesdays, Center Voices, and other series of engaging and topical talks (and occasional films, dance, or theatrical events), with themes ranging from out lawyers to Elaine Stritch.
Theater
A venerable neighborhood survivor, the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher St., between Hudson and Bleecker Sts., West Village | 10014 | 212/279–4200 tickets | www.lucillelorteltheatre.com | Subway: 1 to Christopher St.) became known in the 1950s for its influential interpretations of works by Brecht and Dos Passos. Previously known as the Theatre De Lys, this 299-seater has forged on to become the home to 21st-century productions of the MCC Theater company (known for Neil LaBute’s challenging plays in the century’s first decade), the Atlantic Theater company, and free summer shows that appeal to both children and adults by Theatreworks/USA.
CHELSEA
Dance
Dance Theater Workshop (219 W. 19th St., between 7th and 8th Aves., Chelsea | 10011 | 212/691–6500 | www.dancetheaterworkshop.org | Subway: 1 to 18th St.; A, C, E, L to 14th St.–8th Ave.), an important venue for the dance world since its founding in 1965, serves as a laboratory for new choreographers; performances are often accompanied by enlightening post-show talks with the dance makers themselves. DTW is also known for its multimedia and kid-friendly Family Matters series.
In a former Art Deco movie house in Chelsea, the 472-seat Joyce Theater (175 8th Ave., at W. 19th St., Chelsea | 10011 | 212/691–9740, 212/242–0800 tickets | www.joyce.org | Subway: A, C, E to 14th St.; L to 8th Ave.) has superb sight lines and presents a full spectrum of contemporary dance. Garth Fagan Dance (garthfagandance.org), Ballet Hispanico (www.ballethispanico.org), and taut and athletic Parsons Dance (www.parsonsdance.org) are regulars on the Joyce’s always rewarding lineup.
The Joyce SoHo (155 Mercer St., between Houston and Prince Sts., SoHo | 10013 | 212/431–9233, 212/242–0800 tickets | www.joyce.org | Subway: R to Prince St.; B, D, F, M to Broadway–Lafayette St.), their satellite location, is a 74-seat theater that shows smaller-scale, experimental work. Both offer $10 tickets for some performances.
Theater
The Kitchen (512 W. 19th St., between 10th and 11th Aves., Chelsea | 10011 | 212/255–5793 | www.thekitchen.org | Subway: C, E to 23rd St.) is the place for multimedia performance art, and has been a crucible for artists on the experimental edge—think Charles Atlas, Kiki Smith, Elizabeth Streb—since 1971. Literary events are often free; most others can be seen for as little as $10–$15.
TADA! (15 W. 28th St., between Broadway and 5th Ave., Chelsea | 10001 | 212/252–1619 | www.tadatheater.com | Subway: 1, 6, R to 28th St.) presents vibrant musical theater pieces with all-kid casts.
MIDTOWN
Dance
The 299-seat Jerome Robbins Theater opened in 2010, and with it the first full season of the Baryshnikov Arts Center (BAC) (37 Arts,450 W. 37 St., between 9th and 10th Aves., Midtown | 10018 | 646/731–3200 | www.bacnyc.org | Subway: A, C, E, to 34th St./Penn Station). Mikhail Baryshnikov’s longtime vision has come to fruition in this modern venue for contemporary performance dedicated to movement, which can be as much about theater as it is about dance.
The seminal Wooster Group (www.thewoostergroup.org) is now in residence, and their productions along with those of a roster of boundary-breaking international choreographers (George Stamos, Donna Uchizono, and Emmanuèle Phuon), co-productions with