Vital Theatre Company is a community of artists who believe that a shared theatrical experience profoundly affects people’s lives. We create stories that challenge our audience to ask questions, make discoveries and engage in dialogue. If one adult is inspired, if one child’s imagination is awakened, if one student is empowered: Our theatre is important and vital.

Description and/or History:
Founded in 1999, Vital Theatre Company is a non profit theatre company with three levels of programming: our Original Children’s Musicals for families; our Mainstage Programming that produces both one acts and full lengths affording seasoned and emerging artists production opportunities; and our Arts in Education providing residencies in schools in New York City. We are located at the McGinn/Cazale Theatre at 2162 Broadway (at 76th Street).

Vital Children's Theatre develops and produces 3-5 original musicals each season. We also perform and tour our children’s shows to schools and camps at subsidized rates, bringing theatre to audiences who might not other wise be able to afford it.

VITAL MAINSTAGE: is a creative outlet for emerging and established professionals. Our award winning Mainstage develops and produces new plays in our 108 seat theatre. Currently we are developing our next Mainstage production, Looking for the Pony by Andrea Lepcio, which began as a one act in our Vital Signs Fesitval several years ago. The full length Mainstage production, developed from the one act, will be directed by Stephan Golux and open in January of 2009. VITAL SIGNS: New Works Festival, has been a mainstay of our programming from the inception of our company. Vital Signs develops and produces 10 to 15 short plays each season, providing opportunities for producers, playwrights, choreographers, designers and directors, as well as 30 to 50 actors each festival. Twenty-six of these one acts have gone on to publication.

Vital Voices: Arts In Education has residencies in three schools. Vital is a lead partner in Brooklyn Theatre Arts High School, a DOE and ONS sanctioned school which opened in South Shore Brooklyn in September 2007. Vital teaching artists co-teach the ELA and Social Studies classes and first-year Theatre Arts electives in an effort to jumpstart academic progress. At Fordham School for the Arts, our Vital teaching artists are working with teachers, administrators and parents to create a student-run theatre company. At New Explorers in the Bronx, we supply teaching artist teams to create and mount their Spring Production.

Vital Theatre Company is proud to have been recognized with the following honors: American Theatre Wing Award Continued Commitment to Excellence in Theatre (2007 & 2008), Five Off-Off Broadway Review (OOBR) Awards for Excellence, THEATRE COMPANY OF THE YEAR for our Mainstage Season by nytheatre.com, THEATRE COMPANY OF THE YEAR by nytheatre.com for our Children’s Theatre Company Season, and the All Stars Project Inc.’s Community Recognition Award. We have also been nominated by the New York IT Awards for Outstanding Production of a Play by the New York IT Awards, and an Audelco Award for Best Ensemble.

Contact people:

Kerry McGuire, General Manager, (212) 579-0528, (email) Linda Key, Program Director, (212) 579-0528, (email)

Address:

2162 Broadway 4th Floor New York, NY 10024 (See a map)

Directions:

Take the 1/9 or 2/3 to 72nd Street and walk up to 76th Street and Broadway. Take the C to 79 Street and walk to 76th Street or Broadway.   Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: 2,   Walk distance (in minutes): 5   Nearest Bus Stop: M100, .5 minute walk