New York City Center Inc

THE 2022-2023 SEASON HAS BEEN MOMENTOUS FOR NEW YORK CITY CENTER. FRESH OFF OUR PREVIOUS CELEBRATORY REOPENING SEASON, CITY CENTER STOOD AT A CRITICAL JUNCTURE WHERE IT WOULD NAVIGATE A SIGNIFICANT LEADERSHIP TRANSITION AND SWEEPING CHANGES TO THE BROADER THEATER INDUSTRY DISRUPTED BY A GLOBAL PANDEMIC. AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE ARE HAPPY TO REPORT THAT THE ORGANIZATION MORE THAN ROSE TO THE CHALLENGES IT FACED. THE 2022-2023 SEASON, ON THE WHOLE, WAS ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE ORGANIZATION'S NEARLY 80-YEAR HISTORY AND HAS PROVIDED AN EXCELLENT JUMPING-OFF POINT FOR FUTURE SUCCESSES

PRODUCTIONS & PROGRAMMING:CITY CENTER'S 2022-2023 DANCE SEASON OPENED WITH OUR FLAGSHIP DANCE PROGRAM, THE FALL FOR DANCE FESTIVAL, WHICH HAS OPENED OUR ANNUAL SEASON FOR 19 YEARS. AFTER OUR REOPENING OF FALL FOR DANCE IN 2021, THE 2022 SEASON WAS SIGNIFICANT FOR BEING THE FIRST TIME THAT INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES WERE ABLE TO PERFORM ON OUR MAINSTAGE SINCE 2019. FEATURING 15 UNIQUE COMPANIES ACROSS FIVE DISTINCT PROGRAMS, THE FESTIVAL RAN FROM SEPTEMBER 21 - OCTOBER 2 AND WAS ATTENDED BY 17,863 AUDIENCE MEMBERS OVER TEN PERFORMANCES. THE 2022 FESTIVAL INCLUDED PERFORMANCES BY COMPAGNIE HERV KOUBI (FRANCE), BAVARIAN STATE BALLET (GERMANY), GIBNEY COMPANY, MUSIC FROM THE SOLE, MELISSA TOOGOOD & HERMAN CORNEJO, ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER, JAMAR ROBERTS, SAN FRANCISCO BALLET, MARA MORENO, DAYTON CONTEMPORARY DANCE COMPANY, SARA MEARNS & ROBBIE FAIRCHILD, KYIV CITY BALLET (UKRAINE), NRITYAGRAM DANCE ENSEMBLE (INDIA), DUTCH NATIONAL BALLET (THE NETHERLANDS), AND MARTHA GRAHAM DANCE COMPANY.FOLLOWING THE SUCCESS OF OUR 2021 TWYLA NOW PRESENTATION, TWYLA THARP, ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST ICONIC LIVING CHOREOGRAPHERS, WAS ENTHUSIASTIC TO DEEPEN HER RELATIONSHIP WITH CITY CENTER. THIS SEASON, WE COLLABORATED AGAIN TO SHARE TWO OF HER MOST BELOVED WORKS WITH NEW YORK CITY AUDIENCES. FROM OCTOBER 19-23, CITY CENTER WELCOMED 7,912 AUDIENCE MEMBERS ACROSS FIVE PERFORMANCES TO CELEBRATE DANCERS FROM NEW YORK CITY BALLET, AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE, AND OTHER PROMINENT COMPANIES WHO PERFORMED THARP'S "IN THE UPPER ROOM AND "NINE SINATRA SONGS". ALONG WITH THE RETURN OF TWYLA THARP, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 15 YEARS, CITY CENTER WELCOMED A RETURN ENGAGEMENT FROM THE NATIONAL BALLET OF CANADA, ONE OF THE PREMIERE DANCE ENSEMBLES WORKING TODAY. THIS CO-PRESENTATION INCLUDED PERFORMANCES OF THREE DISTINCT PIECES: "ANIMA ANIMUS" BY DAVID DAWSON, "CONCERTO" BY KENNETH MACMILLAN, AND "ANGELS' ATLAS" BY CRYSTAL PITE. THE NATIONAL BALLET OF CANADA RAN FROM MARCH 30 - APRIL 1 AND WAS ATTENDED BY 5,875 AUDIENCE MEMBERS ACROSS FOUR PERFORMANCES. CLOSING OUT THE DANCE PROGRAMMING WAS THE SECOND ITERATION OF THE AATC THAT GIVES DANCERS AT THE PINNACLE OF THEIR ARTISTRY AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE AND CURATE A DANCE PERFORMANCE THAT SPEAKS TO THEIR UNIQUE AESTHETICS. THE 2023 ARTISTS AT THE CENTER PROGRAM WAS LED BY THE TAP DANCE LUMINARY AYODELE CASEL, WHO APPROACHES DANCE FROM A PERSPECTIVE THAT EMBRACES HER DIVERSE IDENTITY. THE PROGRAM'S CENTERPIECE WAS AN EXPANSION OF "WHERE WE DWELL," A CITY CENTER COMMISSIONED FOR FALL FOR DANCE IN 2021, WHICH WAS EXPANDED TO FIT ONE-HALF OF AN EVENING-LENGTH PROGRAM. THIS PREMIERE WORK RAN FROM APRIL 13 - APRIL 15, 2023, AND WAS ATTENDED BY 2,785 AUDIENCE MEMBERS ACROSS THREE PERFORMANCES. IT WAS BALANCED BY SIX OTHER WORLD PREMIERES COMMISSIONED BY CITY CENTER AND CURATED BY PAIRS OF EXPERIENCED AND EMERGING TAP DANCERS MS. CASEL PERSONALLY SELECTED. PAIRINGS INCLUDED GERSON LANZA AND BRINAE ALI, NAOMI FUNAKI AND CALEB TEICHER, TOMOE "BEASTY" CARR AND JARED ALEXANDER, AMANDA CASTRO, AND AYODELE CASEL, AND DARIO NATARELLI AND MICHELLE DORRANCE.THIS SEASON, CITY CENTER PRODUCED A REVIVAL OF THE 1998 MUSICAL "PARADE" AS ITS ANNUAL GALA PRESENTATION. EMMY, GRAMMY, AND TONY AWARD WINNER BEN PLATT (DEAR EVAN HANSEN) RETURNED TO THE NEW YORK STAGE AS LEO FRANK ALONGSIDE MICAELA DIAMOND (THE CHER SHOW) AS LUCILLE FRANK IN THIS STARRY PRESENTATION OF THE JASON ROBERT BROWN (SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD) AND ALFRED UHRY (DRIVING MISS DAISY) MUSICAL. "PARADE" RAN FROM NOVEMBER 1-6, 2022, AND WAS ATTENDED BY 15,787 AUDIENCE MEMBERS ACROSS EIGHT PERFORMANCES. THE PRODUCTION SUBSEQUENTLY TRANSFERRED TO BROADWAY IN FEBRUARY 2023 (CITY CENTER'S SECOND BROADWAY TRANSFER IN A YEAR), AND A CAST RECORDING WAS RELEASED IN MARCH 2023. "PARADE" WAS NOMINATED FOR SIX TONY AWARDS, INCLUDING BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL, BEST LEADING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL (FOR BEN PLATT), AND BEST LEADING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL (FOR MICAELA DIAMOND). THE PRODUCTION SUBSEQUENTLY WON BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL AND BEST DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL (FOR MICHAEL ARDEN). FRESH OFF THE RUNAWAY SUCCESS OF 2022'S ENCORES! REVIVAL OF "INTO THE WOODS," THE 2023 ENCORES! SEASON PROVIDED A CONTINUED EXPLORATION OF THE NEW DIRECTIONS THE SERIES CAN TAKE MOVING FORWARD. LED BY ENCORES! ARTISTIC DIRECTOR LEAR DEBESSONET AND ENCORES! PRODUCING CREATIVE DIRECTOR CLINT RAMOS, THE SERIES ALSO WELCOMED A NEW ENCORES! MUSIC DIRECTOR, MARY-MITCHELL CAMPBELL TO THE LEADERSHIP TEAM. THE SEASON BEGAN IN MARCH WITH A REVIVAL OF "DEAR WORLD," CONTINUED IN MAY WITH A REVIVAL OF "LIONEL BART'S OLIVER!, AND CONCLUDED IN JUNE WITH "THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA." OPENING THE ENCORES! SEASON WITH "DEAR WORLD," WHICH RAN FROM MARCH 15-19, AND WAS ATTENDED BY 10,823 AUDIENCE MEMBERS ACROSS SEVEN PERFORMANCES. INITIALLY WRITTEN IN 1969 WHILE "HELLO, DOLLY! AND "MAME" WERE RUNNING ON BROADWAY, "DEAR WORLD" REPRESENTS AN INTERESTING AND EXPERIMENTAL NEW DIRECTION FOR COMPOSER JERRY HERMAN. FOR THIS PRODUCTION, COUNTESS AURELIA WAS PLAYED BY THE LUMINOUS DONNA MURPHY AND WAS JOINED ON STAGE BY OTHER BROADWAY LEGENDS, INCLUDING BROOKS ASHMANSKAS, ANDREA BURNS, CHRISTOPHER FITZGERALD, AND ANN HARADA. THE ENCORES! SEASON CONTINUED WITH "LIONEL BART'S OLIVER!," WHICH RAN FROM MAY 3-14 AND WAS ATTENDED BY 24,405 AUDIENCE MEMBERS ACROSS 14 PERFORMANCES. BASED ON THE DICKENS CLASSIC, "OLIVER!" FOLLOWS THE MISADVENTURES OF A YOUNG BOY IN 19TH CENTURY LONDON WHO NAVIGATES A CRUEL AND UNFEELING WORLD WITH A HUNGER FOR JUSTICE AND OUTSTANDING MORAL FIBER. IT FEATURED A COMMUNITY YOUTH ENSEMBLE OF 20 SELECTED FROM CITY CENTER PARTNER SCHOOLS TO APPEAR ONSTAGE AND PERFORM THE SHOW'S CLASSIC ANTHEM, "CONSIDER YOURSELF," ALONGSIDE A CAST FULL OF LEADING BROADWAY PERFORMERS, INCLUDING RAUL ESPARZA, LILLI COOPER, AND MARY TESTA. THE 2023 ENCORES! SEASON CONCLUDED WITH "THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA," WHICH RAN JUNE 21-25 AND WAS ATTENDED BY 14,418 AUDIENCE MEMBERS ACROSS SEVEN PERFORMANCES. A CONTEMPORARY CLASSIC, "THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA" TELLS THE STORY OF A WOMAN AND HER YOUNG DAUGHTER WHO TAKE A VACATION TO ITALY, ONLY FOR A CHANCE ENCOUNTER WITH A HANDSOME STRANGER TO FORCE A DRAMATIC REEXAMINATION OF THEIR FAMILIAL BONDS AND THE MEANING OF LOVE. THIS PRODUCTION STARRED THE INCOMPARABLE RUTHIE ANN MILES AND WAS DIRECTED BY THE SINGAPOREAN-CHINESE DIRECTOR CHAY YEW. IT WAS CONCEIVED AND STAGED WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THE "OTHERNESS" THAT ASIAN AMERICANS EXPERIENCE IN THEIR DAY-TO-DAY EXPERIENCES.

OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE STUDIO AND OFFICE RENTAL PROGRAMS CONDUCTED AS PART OF THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE.CITY CENTER'S THREE REHEARSAL STUDIOS WERE RENTED BY HUNDREDS OF DANCERS, CHOREOGRAPHERS AND COMPANIES, MANY OF THEM TAKING ADVANTAGE OF A SUBSIDIZED RATE OF $10 PER HOUR.

STAGE I & II:MANHATTAN THEATRE CLUB PRESENTED SEVERAL SHOWS ON CITY CENTER'S STAGES I AND II, INCLUDING THE NEW YORK PREMIERES OF KING JAMES,THE BEST WE COULD,WHERE THE MOUNTAIN MEETS THE SEA.

EDUCATION:CITY CENTER'S EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS ARE AT THE CENTER OF OUR MISSION TO MAKE THE ARTS ACCESSIBLE TO THE BROADEST POSSIBLE AUDIENCE IN NEW YORK CITY. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE IN-SCHOOL WORKSHOPS AND RESIDENCIES FOR STUDENTS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDUCATORS. IN THE 2023 SEASON, CITY CENTER PROVIDED EDUCATIONAL AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR 9,213 STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, AND EMERGING PROFESSIONALS ACROSS NEW YORK CITY. OUR PRIMARY ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAM IS THE IN-SCHOOL WORKSHOPS AND RESIDENCIES WE OFFER TO SCHOOLS ACROSS NEW YORK CITY. THESE PROVIDE INSTRUCTION IN BOTH DANCE AND MUSICAL THEATER. CITY CENTER OFFERED TWO DANCE WORKSHOPS AND TWO DANCE RESIDENCIES THIS YEAR. THE FIRST WORKSHOP WAS OFFERED IN DECEMBER IN CONNECTION WITH THE ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATRE RESIDENCY AT CITY CENTER. TEACHING ARTISTS FROM AILEY II (THE COMPANY'S EARLY-CAREER ENSEMBLE) WENT INTO SCHOOLS AND LED SESSIONS FOCUSED ON THE COMPANY'S UNIQUE STYLE OF MODERN DANCE. THE SECOND WORKSHOP FOLLOWED A SIMILAR STRUCTURE BUT WITH A FOCUS ON FLAMENCO DANCE AND WAS OFFERED IN CONNECTION WITH THE ANNUAL FLAMENCO FESTIVAL. WORKSHOPS ARE TYPICALLY TWO TO THREE SESSIONS LONG. THEY ARE PAIRED WITH A LYNNE & RICHARD PASCULANO STUDENT MATINEE PERFORMANCE, WHICH SERVES AS AN ANCHOR FOR THE TYPE OF ARTISTIC TRAINING OFFERED. BY CONTRAST, RESIDENCIES TYPICALLY TAKE PLACE OVER A PERIOD OF EIGHT TO TWELVE WEEKS AND OFFER MORE THOROUGH INSTRUCTION IN THE HISTORY AND TECHNIQUE OF A PARTICULAR ART FORM. CITY CENTER OFFERED THREE RESIDENCIES AND ONE WORKSHOP IN MUSICAL THEATER THIS YEAR. THE FIRST RESIDENCY WAS OFFERED IN CONNECTION WITH OUR ANNUAL GALA PRESENTATION OF "PARADE". THIS FOUR-WEEK PROGRAM PROVIDED STUDENTS WITH AN IN-DEPTH EXAMINATION OF THE SCRIPT AND SCORE AND ITS DRAMATIC THEMES AND CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE SPECIFIC ELEMENTS AND STAGING OF THE PRODUCTION AT CITY CENTER. PARTICIPANTS IN THIS PROGRAM WERE OFFERED COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS TO THE INVITED DRESS REHEARSAL TO SEE THE MATERIAL THEY HAD STUDIED PERFORMED. A SIMILARLY STRUCTURED RESIDENCY WAS OFFERED IN CONNECTION WITH OUR ENCORES! PRODUCTION OF "OLIVER!" A TWO-SESSION WORKSHOP OPTION WAS ALSO OFFERED FOCUSED ON THE TEXT AND MUSIC OF "OLIVER!" PARTICIPANTS IN BOTH RESIDENCIES AND THE SINGLE WORKSHOP RECEIVED A "BEHIND THE CURTAIN GUIDE," WHICH INCLUDES AN OVERVIEW OF THE MUSICAL ALONGSIDE CONTENT ABOUT THEMES AND PRODUCTION ELEMENTS, INTERVIEWS WITH ARTISTS, AND CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES. OUR OTHER MAJOR MUSICAL THEATER RESIDENCY PROGRAM, "MAKING A MUSICAL," TEACHES STUDENTS THE FUNDAMENTALS OF MUSICAL THEATER WITHOUT BEING BASED AROUND THE SCRIPT OR SCORE OF ANY MUSICAL. STUDENTS STUDY EXAMPLES FROM MUSICALS IN VARIOUS DISTINCTIVE STYLES AND USE WHAT THEY HAVE LEARNED TO DEVELOP THEIR ORIGINAL PERFORMANCES. ACROSS THE ENTIRE SCHOOL YEAR, OUR IN-SCHOOL WORKSHOPS AND RESIDENCIES SERVED 4,451 STUDENTS IN GRADES K-12 AT 35 SCHOOLS ACROSS FOUR BOROUGHS. ANOTHER CRITICAL COMPONENT OF OUR ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMMING IS PROVIDING RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS TO INTEGRATE THE ARTS ACROSS MULTIPLE SUBJECT AREAS. THESE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS, WHICH TAKE PLACE AT CITY CENTER, INVOLVE OUR STAFF AND TEACHING ARTISTS WORKING WITH TEACHERS TO DEVELOP AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE ARTISTRY TAUGHT IN THE WORKSHOPS AND RESIDENCIES. THIS ALSO SERVES AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO OUTLINE HOW OUR CURRICULUM ALIGNS WITH BENCHMARKS SET BY THE CITY AND STATE DEPARTMENTS OF EDUCATION. THIS SCHOOL YEAR, WE OFFERED FOUR OF THESE SESSIONS, TWO IN DANCE AND TWO IN MUSICAL THEATER, SERVING A TOTAL OF 204 TEACHERS.