Ensemble Studio Theatre to do Complete Renovation

7/28/2016 11:40am


Ensemble Studio Theatre (EST) (William Carden, Artistic Dir, Paul A. Slee, Executive Dir) has announced that their current home at 545-549 West 52nd St will undergo major renovations for the first time in nearly 50 years. The renovations are made possible through generous funding awarded to EST from the New York City Council, as well as the Office of the Mayor of New York City, including the Department of Cultural Affairs. This major capital funding from the City will be increased by a substantial, private funding commitment from the Radio Drama Network, the private foundation created by the late radio drama pioneer Himan Brown. The nearly $3 million in City funding will allow EST to completely renovate their current facilities, located on the building’s second floor, to house offices and rehearsal space, as well as overhaul their current performance space, the Curt Dempster . Once renovations are complete, the Curt Dempster Theatre will serve as EST’s 60-seat studio theater space. The renovation will include the addition of a new 99-seat mainstage theater for EST, as well as a lobby, dressing rooms and restrooms, all located on the ground floor of the building. The improvements to the EST building will be made in partnership with the nonprofit Clinton Housing Development Company, which leases the building from the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development as part of the new Clinton/Hell’s Kitchen Studios project. For more information, please visit www.estnyc.org. Press contact: Matt Ross Public Relations (212/756-1248)...