Prelude to Off-Broadway Begins 9/30 at CUNY Grad Center

The Alliance of Resident Theatres of New York(A.R.T./New York) will present the second annual Prelude to Off-Broadway event in the Martin E. Segal Theatre Center at the CUNY Graduate Center, located at 365 Fifth Avenue, September 30-October 3. Co-sponsored by The Lucille Lortel Foundation, TheaterMania.com, and Continuing Education and Public Programs at CUNY, the weekend will celebrate the diverse and distinctive work of New York’s non-profit Off-Broadway community.

Last year’s Prelude to Off-Broadway featured readings of new plays, live rehearsals, and process workshops; this year’s event will expand to include “breakout sessions,” discussions of various topics that will be led by artistic directors and other theater professionals. The 2004 Prelude will host 27 member companies of A.R.T./New York, selected by lottery; their presentations will include works being developed for the upcoming 2004-05 season and beyond. Many of the presentations will be followed by question and answer periods in which audience members will have an opportunity to learn more about the developmental process.

All events are free but seating is limited. Tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations not required but theatergoers can purchase a guaranteed ticket for Prelude to Off-Broadway by making a $5 donation through the Graduate Center’s Office of Continuing Education and Public Programs; call 212-817-8215 or send an email to continuinged@gc.cuny.edu. For a complete schedule of events, call 212-244-6667 ext. 350 or click here.