Photo Source: Jacob J Goldberg
"This move to 42nd Street marks a tremendous opportunity for the Pearl and its audiences," said Sullivan. "The former home of the Signature Theatre Company is justly renowned as a great space for great plays. It is convenient, comfortable, and offers audiences an intimate relationship to an especially fine space. It will prove a perfect fit for the classics to come from the Pearl."
Since its founding in 1984, the Pearl is the only resident classical company in New York. The company has performed at New York City Center Stage II since 2009, when it left Theatre 80 on St. Mark's Place, its East Village location, which it had occupied since 1994.
Allison Cooke Kellogg, chair of The Pearl's board of trustees, said, "Our move to a permanent home marks the beginning of a new era for the Pearl Theatre Company. Our new location will enable the Pearl to expand its programming. It opens new vistas for our productions and provides the opportunity to introduce innovative learning programs, both of which will make classical theater even more relevant and compelling to contemporary audiences."
The Pearl will launch a $3 million capital campaign to fund facility renovations and new equipment and foster institutional growth and sustainability.
James Houghton, founding artistic director of Signature Theatre Company, said, "I am thrilled that the Pearl Theatre Company will be making the Peter Norton Space their new home. The intimate space beautifully suits their strong classical work and they will be a valuable addition to our vibrant theater community on 42nd Street."
The Signature Theatre Company's new home is at the Pershing Square Signature Center at 480 W. 42nd Street. The Pearl's final production at City Center will be Eugene O'Neill's "A Moon for the Misbegotten" which begins previews March 6 in advance of a March 18 opening for a limited run through April 15.
