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TheMichael Schimmel Center for the Arts was the principal theatre ofPace University and is located at the University's New York City campus inLower Manhattan. FacingCity Hall near the foot of theBrooklyn Bridge and blocks from theWorld Trade Center, it provided performance and assembly facilities to the university and the general public.
Named after Michael Schimmel, a longtime benefactor of the university, the center featured a 655-seat theater, one of the largest theaters in Lower Manhattan. The center presented drama, dance, comedy, jazz, classical music and cabaret. Beginning in September 2005, the center has been home to the television showInside the Actors Studio.
In July 2023, the center closed as part of a major renovation to the One Pace Plaza building that will see the auditorium rebuilt into multiple smaller performing arts spaces.
From 2002 through 2004, theNational Actors Theatre (NAT), founded by actorTony Randall – dedicated to presenting classic works of theater and theatrical education delivered at no cost to the students or their schools, was housed at the center; the center was the site of Tony Randall's final performance, as theraisonneur Laudisi in a production of theLuigi Pirandello playRight You Are (if you think so). The Schimmel Center was a founding venue for both theTribeca Film Festival and the short-lived Tribeca Theater Festival. The center has hosted events of the River-to-River Festival,[1] theNew York International Fringe Festival (FringeNYC), and numerous other productions. In 2005 the center presented the New York premiere of theBeijing People's Art Theatre's signature workTea House. Between 2009 and 2011,Shakespeare's Globe Theatre (London) performed at the center.
Beginning in 2002, theLower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC) has held regular public meetings at the Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts to discuss the future of Lower Manhattan and theWorld Trade Center. Most notably on January 13–14, 2003, the LMDC and thePort Authority of New York and New Jersey held an unprecedented public meeting at the Schimmel Center unveiling the nine possible plans for the World Trade Center site and memorial. Televised onNY1, the meeting was linked toLong Island and allfive boroughs of the City of New York. New Yorkers had a chance to comment at any of six locations, broadcast simultaneously to each site; thousands more from around the globe participated online at the LMDC website.[2]
In September 2003, theDemocratic Party held a televised presidential candidates debate at the Schimmel Center.[3] All ten declared Democratic candidates for the presidential nomination, including the first and only debate appearance by GeneralWesley Clark, participated. Other candidates wereHoward Dean,John Edwards,Dick Gephardt,Bob Graham,John Kerry,Dennis Kucinich,Joseph Lieberman,Carol Moseley-Braun, andAl Sharpton.
In March 2005, theDemocratic Policy Committee of theUnited States Senate held the kick-off event of the National Social Security Tour at Schimmel. The town meeting style event, which was covered byC-SPAN, included senatorsHillary Clinton,Byron Dorgan,Richard Durbin,John Kerry,Frank Lautenberg,Harry Reid, andCharles Schumer.
In 2006, New York State GovernorGeorge E. Pataki and New York City MayorMichael Bloomberg announced that the LMDC would award $27.4 million in cultural enhancement grants to 63 Lower Manhattan arts organizations and projects. Pace University's Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts was awarded $500,000 for renovations to improve publicaccess for people with disabilities, enhance the lobby art gallery, and upgrade the theatre's technical and backstage facilities.[4]
During the summer months of 2006, Pace University hosted three New York state candidate debates and three town hall meetings[5] which were broadcast live by NY1.
40°42′38.79″N74°0′16.56″W / 40.7107750°N 74.0046000°W /40.7107750; -74.0046000
