Jim Simpson, Artistic Director and Carol Ostrow, Producing Director of The Flea Theater have announced the groundbreaking on their future home in TriBeCa. A few years back, The Flea purchased a building at 20 Thomas Street, four blocks south of their current location, with seed money from their Board of Directors and State and City funding.  Now they have raised 95% of the funds needed to build a brand new state of the art three theater performing arts complex. A Groundbreaking Ceremony for the new building project will take place on Thurs Dec 5 featuring city officials as well as Flea artists, supporters and invited friends.

The new theater building is designed by ARO (Architecture Research Office) led by Stephen Cassell, Adam Yarinsky and Kim Yao. For The Flea, ARO has done an adaptive reuse of architectural fabric from preexisting structures on the site, a 41' x 86' lot on Thomas Street. The new Flea will feature two lobbies; a central ticket office, a lobby bar, accompanying technical as well as administrative offices for Flea staff and three performance spaces.

The largest space will be called The Sam, a state of the art flexible 99+ seat theater named for the legendary agent, Sam Cohn.  The entry level will feature the second Flea performance space which is unique to the New York theatrical community - an indoor/outdoor theater that seats 72.  This indoor white box and outdoor garden is named for frequent Flea collaborator, AR (Pete) Gurney.  

In the lower level, The Flea will house its smallest theater, a playhouse that seats 46.  It is here that The Flea will make use of the building’s original arches dating back to the 18th century for its most risky 21st century work.  The intimate scale of this theater is perfect for The Bats, late night programming and the work of new young companies. Press contact: Ron Lasko/Spin Cycle (505/1700 x11)...