Didn’t you feel a shiver as you approached this unassuming building? This is the Classic Stage Company. It is a place where classic stories are reimagined.
Classic Stage Company was founded in 1967. It is one of Off-Broadway’s oldest theater companies. The Classic Stage Company started in a small theater. It only had 100 seats. The theater was located at Rutgers Presbyterian Church. This was on West 73rd Street. The company needed a bigger space as it grew. In 1973, the Classic Stage Company found a permanent home. It moved to its current location on 13th Street. The space was once a carriage house in the East Village. It now houses the Lynn F. Angelson Theater. This theater has 199 seats.
Classic Stage Company, or CSC, presents plays from the past. These plays speak to today’s issues. The Classic Stage Company keeps an eye on the future. It focuses on the next generation of artists and audiences. CSC’s artists include established and emerging theater practitioners.
Many prominent artists have worked at the Classic Stage Company. These include F. Murray Abraham and Alan Cumming. Peter Dinklage and Maggie Gyllenhaal have also graced its stage. Ethan Hawke and Mandy Patinkin are among the many talents. Jim Parsons and Liev Schreiber are also associated with the theater.
CSC productions have received major Off-Broadway theater awards. These include the Obie Award and the Drama Desk Award. The Classic Stage Company won the Lucille Lortel Award. It was awarded for Outstanding Body of Work in 1999.
The Classic Stage Company has had several artistic directors. Christopher Martin founded the company. He led it from 1967 to 1984. Jill Rafson is the current Producing Artistic Director. She took the position in 2022. John Doyle served as Artistic Director from 2016 to 2022.
Recent Classic Stage Company productions include “Wine in the Wilderness”. It was directed by Tony Award winner LaChanze. “The Merchant of Venice” was directed by Igor Golyak. In 2023-2024, CSC presented “I Can Get It For You Wholesale”. Fiasco Theater’s “Pericles” was also performed.
The Classic Stage Company continues to challenge perceptions of classic work. It explores great stories. It illuminates our common humanity. The Classic Stage Company fosters shared empathy and understanding. This is done by reaching across cultural divides. So step inside and experience the magic of the Classic Stage Company.