Historic Theater in
NYC’s East Village
The historic Connelly Theater is a beautiful jewelbox playhouse in the heart of NYC's East Village that serves as a home for adventurous independent theater productions.
Originally built in the 1860s as the choir hall for an orphanage, the Connelly Theater is like no other in New York City. The distinctive gold proscenium, raised stage and generous wing space, and intimate, flexible seating configuration have made it a coveted venue for live performance, and an iconic location for major film and television productions.
Productions presented at the Connelly are curated by Director & General Manager Josh Luxenberg.
Mainstage Theater
Upstairs Theater
The Connelly Theater Upstairs is a 51-seat 3/4 thrust black box located on the second floor of our historic East Village space. Until August 2023, the space was home to the Metropolitan Playhouse. The opening of our upstairs theater marks the first expansion of our venue since the mid-1990s.
Productions
Past productions include Talene Monahan’s The Good John Proctor and Zuzanna Szadkowski and Deborah Knox’s Fall River Fishing (Bedlam), Kate, created by Kate Berlant and Bo Burnham, Sasha Velour’s Nightgowns: The Musical, The Crucible (Bedlam), Will Arbery’s Plano (Clubbed Thumb; Drama Desk-nominated), Mandy Patinkin in Concert: Diaries 2018 (New York Theatre Workshop), The Bengson’s The Lucky Ones (Ars Nova; Lortel and Drama Desk-nominated), Sinking Ship's A Hunger Artist (as part of The Tank's Flint & Tinder series; Drama Desk-nominated), Mac Wellman's The Offending Gesture (as part of The Tank's Flint & Tinder series), Daniel Kitson's A Show for Christmas, The Lisps’ Futurity (Soho Rep. & Ars Nova; Lortel Award), Lyspinka! The Trilogy (TWEED), Mission Drift (The TEAM), Lucy Thurber's Monstrosity (13p), Anne Washburn's Apparition, and many others, including since 2017 the SheNYC Summer Theater Festival. The space also serves as a location for film and television productions, including shows on HBO, Netflix, Amazon, FX, ABC, MTV, PBS, and many more.
“One of NYC’s best theaters.”
— Time Out New York
Best of Off-Off-Broadway
Staff
Director & General Manager
Josh Luxenberg is a playwright, director, and photographer. He is the co-artistic director of Sinking Ship Productions. His plays include Cassandra, an Agony (commissioned by the Getty Museum), The 7th Voyage of Egon Tichy (Sinking Ship/Theater in Quarantine; NY Times Critics Pick), A Hunger Artist (Connelly Theater/The Tank, nominated for two 2018 Drama Desk Awards, and winner of Summerhall's Lustrum Award for Excellence at the Edinburgh Fringe 2017), Powerhouse (New Ohio, O’Neill Playwrights Conference Finalist, NY Times Critics Pick)), Ocean (Mabou Mines Residency), Flatland (EST/Sloan Commission). Josh co-wrote The Dial an interactive narrative augmented reality installation created by NightLight Labs (premiere at Sundance Film Festival 2019). In addition to his work at the Connelly, he has worked as a producer/curator around the city, including The Tank’s Flint & Tinder series (multiple Drama Desk Award nominations) and Sinking Ship’s Puppet Playlist. Josh has also worked as an assistant director at several major regional theaters and in NYC. He worked in the writer’s office of HBO’s The Wire, and is an alum of the Baltimore School for the Arts and Oberlin College.
Theater Management Associate
Mele Sabú Borges (they/them) is the Theater Management Associate, working part-time alongside the Director & GM to keep the space running smoothly and help you with your show. Mele started work in October, 2023.
Mele is a sacred trickster, thrust from eternity onto a moment of passing time. An actor, designer, and dramaturg based in (what is now called) Brooklyn. Mele exists at the intersection of multiple identities, and they are interested in work that contributes to greater healing and visibility for their communities. An alum of NYU Tisch, Mele has since been featured in readings and workshops at Sundance Theater Institute, NYTW, Bushwick Starr, Breaking the Binary Theater Festival, the New Group, Ars Nova and more. As a designer and stylist, they have contributed to work at the Connelly Theater, the Bushwick Starr, and the Juilliard School. In addition to their work at the Connelly, Mele has worked as a teaching artist for Vibe Theater Experience and Big Green Theater.
(Photo to come)
In the heart of the East Village
220 East 4th Street
New York City
Between Avenues A & B
The Connelly Theater is part of Cornelia Connelly Center, a non-profit organization that champions under-resourced girls, empowering them to realize their full potential from middle school through college and beyond. All proceeds from theater rental go to the Center to support Connelly Middle School and the Graduate Support Program.