CMU School of Drama


Thursday, September 14, 2023

First look: The Perelman Performing Arts Center opens next week near the World Trade Center

www.timeout.com/newyork: It's impossible not to hear the echoes of 9/11 at the Perelman Performing Arts Center. The sound of water rushing into the memorial pools fills the air as guests walk up the front steps to the theater in the shadow of One World Trade Center.

5 comments:

Leumas said...

I found it hopeful that a modern redevelopment plan for a place like the 9/11 memorial includes a performing arts center. In some circles, there is a belief that live performance is a dying art form to be replaced by other forms of media, but this investment in this theater shows that belief is not universal. I also find it interesting that a performing arts center is the third piece in a trio that includes a memorial and a museum.
I also think the technical aspects of this theater are interesting. Any flexible theater complex that includes moving walls must be incredibly complicated to operate. The first question that I thought of while reading this is how their control network and power distribution for lighting is set up. If your theaters are not in the same place every day, you can’t have gear devoted to a single theater. My guess would be that they have a single relay/dimming room that is distributed throughout the venue and a single network with different theaters being on either different universes or subnets, but I would love to learn more about how they have it set up.

Julia Adilman said...

I had no idea that they were still working on the World Trade Center site. I have been there to see the memorial and I think it is a wonderful installation that truly encapsulates and memorializes 9/11. I think that it is an incredible idea to put a theater there, especially since there isn’t one like it in Lower Manhattan, which, by the way, is very surprising to me. What a great idea it is to take something so painful and turn it into something so beautiful. This theater will hopefully continue to give back to the city in a beautiful and meaningful way. The theater being in the midst of the 9/11 memorial and museum brings a hopeful and positive undertone. Visitors there will hopefully be able to take a break from all of the emotional heaviness of the memorial and museum and will be able to enjoy a show, in honor of all of those lives that were lost. It’s also really exciting to hear about the way they built the theater. I think it's so cool that each performance will feature a different configuration of the theater. That is a great way to keep the audience engaged and wanting to come back.

John E said...

I heavily enjoyed this article! I remember reading about this new theatre that they were building and I was so excited by all of the different configurations and I cannot believe that it is finally hear! A new theater opening near the World Trade Center is exciting news. It's described as "dynamic and beautiful," which means it's not just a regular theater; it's a place that looks great and can host many different kinds of shows. This theater is important because it's a sign that the area is recovering and becoming lively again after facing tough times. It's like a fresh start for the neighborhood. Plus, it gives artists a chance to show off their talents, from actors to musicians. Overall, this new theater near the World Trade Center is a big deal. It makes the area more interesting, and it shows that New York City is strong and can bounce back from challenges. It's a place where people can enjoy amazing performances and feel hopeful about the future.

Ana Schroeder said...

I am very surprised that I have not heard anything about the construction of this building. It looks like a wonderful place for performing artists alike. It was nice to hear that included in the plan to revitalize the World Trade Center area, a performing arts center was valued. When I think of theatre in Manhattan, I think of individual venues and theaters, each one fully transformed for a particular show. I cannot think of a performing arts center in Manhattan off the top of my head. Their season already looks very promising, and I am very intrigued by the re-imagining of CATS in NYC Ballroom Culture. The thing that really got me was the fact that the very first performance to kick off the venue is a concert series focused on immigrants in New York. After 9/11, the spike in xenophobia was very concerning, and we are still fighting the repercussions today. So it was very heartwarming to hear that the very first concert that is being played in the performing arts center erected on the site of 9/11 is entitled "NYC Tapestry: Home as Refuge.”

willavu said...

Growing up NYC myself- my mom’s family directly affected by 9/11- it is really nice to see art rising. Unfortunately NYC- especially lower Manhattan- has been filled with Wall Street- businesses- corporations- banks,etc. For a society to have soul and humanity- there must be art. Such a sad place will now be filled with life- music- theatre- art. It is exciting and will draw people- not just tourists- but NYers to the area.