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A vital part of the New York City experience is catching a Broadway show, or so they say. While these blue-chip productions are world-famous for a reason, they absolutely don’t represent the only way to enjoy a theater performance in NYC. In fact, the underground theater scene, better known as “Off-Broadway,” is far more indicative of theater trends and the culture at large.
These smaller venues (the functional definition being a capacity between 100 and 499, but that can also include slightly larger rooms) are located throughout the city but are generally found in Manhattan. You’ll find a wide array of performance types, from avant-garde productions to reimagined classics. Nearly all of the best up-and-comers are operating Off-Broadway, so you’ll undoubtedly be witnessing greatness in waiting. You might even catch Broadway’s next big hit!
These smaller venues will generally not have facilities to keep your bags and suitcases while you take in a show. The best thing to do is head to a Bounce luggage storage spot in NYC before you arrive. Then, you can pick it up after the show, the next day, or pretty much any time you want. Here’s a quick guide for exploring New York’s underground theater scene:
Abrons Arts Center (Lower East Side)
Part performing arts center, part venue, Abrons is one of the leading cultivators of theater talent in New York. Situated in the Lower East Side in the Henry Street Settlement, this place offers a little bit of everything for theater fans and students.
Abrons Arts Center’s 300-seat auditorium is one of Manhattan’s go-to playhouses. Its 100-seat black box theater is one of the more notable stages for experimental and avant-garde works. There’s even a smaller underground theater that’s regularly available to rent out for workshops, indie productions, and private events. While it might sound rinky-dink, legends like Alicia Keys, Martha Graham, Jackson Pollack, and Denzel Washington have all graced the stage here.
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Astor Place Theater (NOHO)
While the programming isn’t as notable as its peers, the actual building and theater alone are worth a visit. The stunning Greek Revival building was home to both the Vanderbilt and Astor families in centuries past, and the gorgeous 280-seat theater certainly reflects its opulent heritage.
Cherry Lane Theatre (Greenwich Village)
This Greenwich Village institution holds the distinction of being the longest continuously running Off-Broadway venue. While the facilities remain as humble as their early 20th-century origins, the Cherry Lane Theatre’s history commands the industry’s respect, so the programming certainly punches above its weight class.
Lucille Lortel Theatre (West Village)
A fixture of New York’s theater scene since 1955, Lucille Lortel Theatre is your quintessential underground theater venue. It’s delightfully shabby and situated on a storied stretch of the West Village, where you can smell the history and culture (among other things). Looking down as you walk, you’ll even notice the Playwrights’ Sidewalk stretch honoring an Off-Broadway Hall of Fame. While the legend surrounding the scene is pervasive, the living art taking place on Lucille Lortel Theatre’s stage is certainly worthy of its distinguished setting. Expect a progressive but approachable program featuring both up-and-comers and living legends revisiting their roots.
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Manhattan Theatre Club’s City Center – 55th Street
One of the largest and most renowned Off-Broadway venues, City Center doesn’t exactly look the part. This 20th-century architectural masterpiece, with its distinctive Moorish design, looks and feels like the big-time, but the Off-Broadway ethos is still intact via its association with the Manhattan Theatre Club. The programming varies widely between plays and dance performances, but you’ll have plenty to choose from with their jam-packed calendar of seemingly every form of performing art.
New York Theatre Workshop (East Village)
While it’s hardly the largest Off-Broadway venue, the New York Theatre Workshop is by far the most influential. This East Village venue is where some of the most successful Broadway productions are workshopped and launched.
Notable openings include Jonathan Larson’s Rent and Claudia Shear’s Dirty Blonde, which were perfected before becoming wildly successful on Broadway and around the world. The pillar of NYTW’s programming continues to be focused on local and emerging talent, and it’s the perfect platform for young directors, playwrights, and performers to begin their careers. Of any venue, this is where you’re most likely to see the Broadway smash hits of tomorrow.
Orpheum Theatre (East Village)
The retro neon overlooking a typically dingy East Village street is easily one of Off-Broadway’s emblematic images. This makes sense, given the Orpheum Theatre’s enduring popularity across its century-plus run of delightful NYC underground theater productions. Originally built back in the late 1800s but existing in its current state since 1904, the Orpheum has evolved with the times from humble Yiddish theater to the permanent home of smash hit Stomp. The stellar location along 2nd Avenue also allows a show at the Orpheum to be an easy stop on any East Village itinerary.
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Vineyard Theatre (Union Square)
If you’re into avant-garde theatre productions, the “Off-Off-Broadway” venues (trust us, they exist) are always there. But if you want something that pushes boundaries in an established setting and location that’s not on the outskirts of the outer boroughs, you can head to this Union Square institution.
The Vineyard Theatre focuses on highly local productions from up-and-comers. Each show tends to explore thought-provoking subjects and employ inventive and sometimes challenging production methods. Shows like Q, Three Tall Women, and Indecent have all enjoyed wildly successful runs that have furthered Vineyard Theatre’s renown amongst theater tourists.
59E59 Theaters (Upper East Side)
Most Off-Broadway theaters tend to be charming but dusty venues tucked away on numbered streets in “Village” neighborhoods. This Upper East Side venue puts that stereotype to bed with a sleek space boasting modern amenities and facilities across its three theaters. Everything about 59E59, especially the name, infers a futuristic direction for theater. It’s a breath of fresh air for theater, especially with an atypical program focusing on European productions for its 196-seat Theater A, 98-seat Theater B, and 70-seat black box Theater C.
Conclusion
Most venues, and especially New York’s Off-Broadway theaters, are enforcing strict bag policies for security purposes. This, unfortunately, bans almost all luggage from these storied venues, which might complicate your logistics if you’re trying to catch a show on a travel day. Luckily for you, the Bounce luggage storage network has hundreds of locations throughout the city, so you’ll have an easy time finding a place to store the bags while you’re enjoying the show.