Atlantic Theater Company

The Atlantic Theater Company is an Off-Broadway non-profit theater company based in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. Founded in 1985 by playwright David Mamet, actor William H. Macy, and a group of acting students, the company is dedicated to producing innovative works by emerging and established playwrights. Atlantic emphasizes a distinctive acting technique known as Practical Aesthetics and operates both a professional theater and an affiliated acting school. There is the 199-seat mainstage Linda Gross Theater, which is located at 336 West 20th Street between Eighth and Ninth Avenues, in the parish hall of St. Peter's Episcopal Church, built in 1854 and renovated in 2012. Additionally, the 99-seat black-box theater, Stage 2, is located at 330 West 16th Street, also between Eighth and Ninth Avenues, in the former Port Authority building. Stage 2, which opened in June 2006, is the home of Atlantic’s development program for new plays, which encompasses the commissioning of new works, readings, workshops, and fully staged productions.

Impact on the Theater Industry

Since its founding in 1985, the Atlantic Theater Company has played a significant role in shaping contemporary American theater. Its commitment to producing bold, original works has influenced Off-Broadway and regional theater movements. By emphasizing ensemble-driven productions and fostering new playwrights, Atlantic has helped launch the careers of numerous actors, directors, and writers, strengthening the pipeline between experimental theater and mainstream success.

Productions

Since its inception, Atlantic has produced more than 200 plays, including the Tony Award winning productions of '' Spring Awakening'', ''The Band's Visit'' and '' Kimberly Akimbo'', David Mamet’s adaptation of '' The Voysey Inheritance'' by Harley Granville Barker, Mamet’s ''Romance'', Joe Penhall’s '' Blue/Orange'', '' Dublin Carol'' by Conor McPherson, Woody Allen’s ''Writer’s Block'', the revival of '' Hobson's Choice'', the revivals of Mamet's '' American Buffalo'', '' The Woods'', and ''Edmond'', '' Dangerous Corner'' by J. B. Priestley, ''The Cider House Rules'', adapted by Peter Parnell, ''Celebration'', ''The Room'' and ''The Hothouse'' by Harold Pinter, ''Mojo'' by Jez Butterworth, the New York premieres of Howard Korder’s ''Boys’ Life'' and ''The Lights'' at Lincoln Center Theater, Kevin Heelan’s ''Distant Fires'', Quincy Long’s ''The Joy of Going Somewhere Definite'' and ''Shaker Heights'', Tom Donaghy’s ''Minutes From The Blue Route'', Edwin Sánchez’ ''Trafficking in Broken Hearts'', and ''Missing Persons'' by Craig Lucas.

Atlantic has also had a notable collaboration with the Irish playwright Martin McDonagh, having premiered four of his plays in New York: '' Hangmen'' (2018), '' The Cripple of Inishmaan'' (2008), '' The Lieutenant of Inishmore'' (2006) and '' The Beauty Queen of Leenane'' (1998). The latter two transferred to Broadway.

Critical reception

Atlantic Theater Company has produced more than 200 plays and musicals, premiering both new works and revivals. The company's productions have often been met with critical acclaim. Shows such as ''Spring Awakening'' (2006) and ''The Band's Visit'' (2016) originated at the Atlantic before transferring to Broadway, where they won multiple Tony Awards. Notable productions include:

* ''Spring Awakening'' (2006), which went on to win eight Tony Awards.
* ''The Band’s Visit'' (2016), which won 10 Tony Awards following its Broadway transfer.
* ''The Beauty Queen of Leenane'' by Martin McDonagh (1998), which garnered significant critical acclaim.

Atlantic often develops new plays through workshops before full production.

Other Mamet productions by Atlantic include his adaptation of Chekhov's ''Three Sisters'', and his own plays ''The Blue Hour'', ''Yes, But So What?'', ''Revenge of the Space Pandas'', ''The Poet and the Rent'', ''Vermont Sketches'', ''Reunion'', ''Sexual Perversity in Chicago'', ''The Duck Variations'', ''The Water Engine'', ''Home'', ''School'', and ''Keep Your Pantheon''. In February 2017, Mamet's play '' The Penitent'' started its previews leading to its premiere at the end of February.

In other recent productions, Atlantic has produced '' On the Shore of the Wide World'' by Simon Stephens, ''Describe the Night'' by Rajiv Joseph, ''The Homecoming Queen'' by Ngozi Anyanwu, ''The Great Leap'' by Lauren Yee, and ''This Ain't No Disco'' with music and lyrics by Stephen Trask and Peter Yanowitz.

Acting school

The Atlantic Acting School offers a two-and-a-half-year conservatory program and a New York University undergraduate program. The school focuses on the Practical Aesthetics, a philosophy and acting technique that grew out of a series of NYU summer workshops in Vermont in 1983 and 1984 with playwright David Mamet and actor William H. Macy.

A number of theater companies have been formed by former students of Atlantic Acting School, including Pipeline Theatre Company, Bluebird Theatre Company, The Joust Theatre Company, Harvard Sailing Team, Crashbox Theatre Company, Cake Productions, 3rd Kulture Kids, Acorn Pictures, Aggrocrag, Lesser America, Foolish Gentlemen Films, and The Plinth.

Educational Initiatives

Atlantic's educational arm, the Atlantic Acting School, is highly respected for its emphasis on the Practical Aesthetics acting technique, developed by company founders David Mamet and William H. Macy. The school offers full-time conservatory programs, part-time classes, and youth programs, providing rigorous actor training that emphasizes script analysis, emotional honesty, and disciplined performance skills. Graduates are known for their grounded and versatile performances, often bringing a distinctive Atlantic sensibility to stages and screens worldwide.

Notable alumni

Several prominent actors and theater artists have trained or worked with the Atlantic Theater Company. Notable alumni include:

* Felicity Huffman (Academy Award-nominated actress)
* Clark Gregg (actor and director, ''The Avengers'' series)
* Rose Byrne (Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated actress)
* Jason Ritter (Emmy-nominated actor)
* Gillian Jacobs (star of ''Community'' and ''Love'')

2025 labor dispute

The stagehands of the Atlantic went on strike on January 12, 2025 with IATSE and Actor's Equity Association's support. IATSE contends that the company failed to negotiate in good faith after employees vote to join the union in February 2024, employing stalling techniques. The dispute was settled on March 25, 2025.

See also

* Culture of New York City
* List of Manhattan neighborhoods

References

External links

Official website

Atlantic Acting School at NYU TischLinda Gross Theater
at the Internet Off-Broadway Database
*
How the Atlantic Theater Makes a Hit
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Performing groups established in 1985
Drama schools in the United States
Education in New York City
Theatre companies in New York City
Non-profit organizations based in New York City
Chelsea, Manhattan
Off-Broadway theaters
1985 establishments in New York City