 Interactive map of The York Theatre Company | |
| Address | Theatre at St. Jeans, 150 E. 76th St. New York City United States |
|---|---|
| Type | Off-Broadway |
| Capacity | 204 Seats |
| Opened | 1969 |
| Years active | 56 years |
| Website | |
| yorktheatre | |
The York Theatre Company is anOff-Broadway theatre company based on theUpper East Side ofManhattan inNew York City.[1] Established in 1969,[2] The York is the only theater inNew York City, and one of the few in the world, whose two-fold mission is to produce new musical works and rediscover musical gems from the past.[2] The York’s intimate, imaginative producing style has become its trademark.[3] Its productions have won critical acclaim,[3] a host of honors and awards,[4] and a loyal audience. Just as important, The York provides a nurturing, constructive environment for new artists to hone their craft, and for some of the masters of the musical theater’s Golden Age to take fresh looks at their classic works. A specialDrama Desk Award was presented to the company in 2006 for its "vital contributions to theater by developing and producing new musicals,"[5] as well as anOuter Critics Circle Special Achievement Award for “50 years of producing new and classic musicals."[2]
Founded by Janet Hayes Walker in 1969,[2] The York has presented more than 970 full-scale musical productions.[2] From 1997 to 2024,[6] under the guidance of former Producing Artistic Director James Morgan,[7] The York focused exclusively on musical theater: newer musicals in its mainstage Series[2] (most of them world, American or New York premieres[2]) and revivals in its popular Musicals in Mufti series of staged concert presentations.[2]
From 1993 to 2020, the company performed at St. Peter's Church in theCitigroup Center at 619Lexington Avenue at the corner ofEast 54th Street inMidtown Manhattan.[8]
The York Theatre moved toThe Theatre at St. Jeans (150 East 76th Street & Lexington Avenue) after a January 2021 water main break flooded their home at Saint Peter's Church.[9]
In October 2024, after a 50 year association with The York,James Morgan resigned as Producing Artistic Director,[7] and his longtime associate, Joseph Hayward, assumed the position of Interim Artistic Director.[10]
TheOscar Hammerstein Award named in honor of American lyricist and librettistOscar Hammerstein was created in 1988 by Janet Hayes Walker, the founding artistic director of the York Theatre Company,[11] and is presented with the endorsement of the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization and the Hammerstein family.[12] The Oscar Hammerstein Award Gala is the major annual fundraising event of the York Theatre.[12]
Past recipients include:
Stephen Sondheim,Betty Comden &Adolph Green,Harold Prince,Cy Coleman,Charles Strouse,Arthur Laurents,Jerry Herman,Stephen Schwartz,Peter Stone,David Merrick,John Kander &Fred Ebb,Terrence McNally, Cameron Mackintosh,Carol Channing,Tony Walton,Joseph Stein,George S. Irving,Jerry Bock &Sheldon Harnick,Thomas Meehan,Barbara Cook,Paul Gemignani,Alan Menken,Lynn Ahrens &Stephen Flaherty,Angela Lansbury,Joel Grey,Tom Jones &Harvey Schmidt,Susan Stroman,André De Shields,Richard Maltby, Jr. &David Shire,Leslie Uggams,Patti LuPone, andBernadette Peters.[12]
Notable mainstage productions include:[3]