Theatre for a New Audience Polonsky Shakespeare Center Ribbon-Cutting Fact Sheet

Theatre for a New Audience: • Founded in 1979 by Jeffrey Horowitz; has been itinerant throughout its history, performing in dozens of different theatres throughout more than three decades. • First American theatre to bring a production of Shakespeare to the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon (Cymbeline, directed by Bartlett Sher, 2001); returned to RSC in 2007 with The Merchant of Venice, directed by Darko Tresnjak and featuring F. Murray Abraham. • Theatre serves an average of 2,000 children each year through its school-based residency programs – the largest program in the NYC Public Schools to introduce Shakespeare and the classics. Since their inception, the programs have served more than 125,000 schoolchildren. The Theatre will continue to serve schools citywide, but hopes to build school partnerships and develop new educational programs in . It currently serves more schools in Brooklyn than in any other borough. • The Theatre will bring an annual audience of 30,000 – 40,000 to the Downtown Brooklyn Cultural District. • Along with its average annual audience of 30,000 – 40,000, the Theatre will relocate approximately 25 full-time jobs and another 100 part-time/seasonal jobs, including artists, to Brooklyn. • Accessible Ticket Pricing: The Theatre offers its New Deal program, which offers $20 tickets that can be purchased in advance for any performance for anyone aged 30 and under, and full-time students of any age. In addition, $20 tickets will be available from constituents and members of community-based organizations with which the Theatre will be partnering. • Administrative offices address: 154 Christopher Street, Suite 3D, New York NY 10014/212- 229-2819. The Theatre plans to relocate its offices to Brooklyn within the next three years.

The Building: • Theatre for a New Audience’s first home. • Named Polonsky Shakespeare Center in recognition of $10 Million gift from The Polonsky Foundation. • 262 Ashland Place, between Lafayette Avenue and Fulton Street. Accessible to numerous subway lines and other public transportation.

Administrative offices: 154 Christopher Street, Suite 3D New York, NY 10013 Theatre address: 262 Ashland Place, Brooklyn, NY 11217

• Designed by Hugh Hardy, H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture; Geoffrey Lynch, Partner. • First theatre in NY City built expressly for Shakespeare and classic drama since the Vivian Beaumont opened in 1965. • 27,500 square feet • 299-seat flexible Samuel H. Scripps Mainstage: 35 feet tall, trapped; flexible platform system allows for 7 different stage and seating configurations. • Mainstage can also be configured for 99 seats; Theodore C. Rogers Studio can accommodate 50. • Also includes theatrical support spaces, and amenities including a lobby café and book kiosk. • Graphics and signage are designed by Milton Glaser, the first graphic designer to be awarded the National Medal of Arts. • Green building: anticipated LEED NC Silver rating. • Arts Plaza: a separate project developed by NYC Economic Development Corporation on behalf of the City of New York. Designed by Ken Smith Landscape Architecture.

Inaugural Season

• Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, directed by with original music by Elliot Goldenthal. Features Tina Benko as Titania, David Harewood as Oberon, Max Casella as Bottom, and Kathryn Hunter as Puck. Previews began October 19; Opening Night November 2; Production runs through January 12, 2013. • Shakespeare’s , directed by Arin Arbus and featuring Michael Pennington. March 14 – May 4, 2014. • Eugène Ionesco’s The Killer in a new translation by Michael Feingold. Directed by Darko Tresnjak and featuring Michael Shannon. May 17 – June 29, 2014.

Project Team Architect: H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture Developer: Economic Development Corporation Signage and Graphics: Milton Glaser, Inc. Owner’s Representative: Jonathan Rose Companies Construction Manager: F.J. Sciame Construction Company Theatre Consultant: Theatre Projects Consultants Consultant to the Artistic Director: Jean-Guy Lecat Acoustic Consultant: Akustiks

Administrative offices: 154 Christopher Street, Suite 3D New York, NY 10013 Theatre address: 262 Ashland Place, Brooklyn, NY 11217

Structural Engineer: Robert Silman Associates Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, Fire Protection, IT, and Security: Flack+Kurtz Civil Engineer: Langan Engineering Information Technology: Marathon Consulting Architectural Lighting: Fisher Marantz Façade Consultant: Front Sustainability Consultant: Atelier Ten ADA Consultant: McGuire Associates Expediter: KM Associates

The Capital Campaign • Three-phase Capital Campaign with goal of $69.1 Million. First two phases raised $4 million in private funds for financial stabilization, creation of a Working Capital Reserve, and creation of a term endowment to expand the artistic season. Third phase Campaign goal is $65.1 Million, including $52.5 Million for the building and related costs, a $10 Million endowment for programs and facility support, and $2.6 Million in launch funds for marketing and production during the Inaugural Season. • Through all three phases, $65.5 Million raised to date (94% of the Goal). • Funding from The City of New York for the building of $34.45 Million has provided 50% of the Campaign goal, including support from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President. • $3.6 Million remains to be raised to complete the Campaign. • Campaign Leadership: Theodore C. Rogers, Campaign Chairman; Julie Taymor and Elliot Goldenthal, Honorary Campaign Co-Chairs; Monica G-S. Wambold, Chair of Major Gifts. • Support for Theatre for a New Audience’s Polonsky Shakespeare Center has been provided through a public-private partnership. Public support for this project was provided by the City of New York through the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, the New York City Council, and the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President. Leadership private and Federal support has been received from Joan and Robert Arnow, Marène Brody, the family of Elayne P. Bernstein, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Christensen III, The Educational Foundation of America, The Irving Harris Foundation, Audrey Heffernan Meyer and Danny Meyer, The National Endowment for the Humanities, The Polonsky Foundation, Theodore C. Rogers, SHS Foundation, The Starr Foundation, Michael Stranahan, and Monica Gerard-Sharp and Ali E. Wambold.

Administrative offices: 154 Christopher Street, Suite 3D New York, NY 10013 Theatre address: 262 Ashland Place, Brooklyn, NY 11217