The Seeing Place Theater (an NYIT Award nominated ensemble) has been producing raw and intimate indie theater in Hell's Kitchen for the last 5 years (22 full length productions and 10+ readings.) 

We've just become eligible for artistic residency at a newly renovated theater in the up and coming NYC neighborhood of Kips Bay.

Kips Bay is an amazing community but it's hungry for an arts scene of its own. The Clarion Theater on 26th & 2nd was recently renovated by new owners but has been operating for a year without the benefit of a local theater company to bring consistent audiences to the East Side. If nothing is done, the theater will fold and local residents will lose their opportunity to see home-grown theater that is affordable for all.

This is where The Seeing Place (and YOU) come in. 

Becoming a resident company takes a lot of sweat equity, and also a lot of money. To revitalize the neighborhood, we have planned an incredible season of social conscious theater that will take this underdeveloped area and infuse it with the same kind of vitality and culture that we developed in our half decade in Hell's Kitchen - the heart of Broadway. 

To do this, we're seeking a total of $25,000, of which $5000 we're requesting from our friends via Indiegogo.

"The Laramie Project" by Moises Kaufman (TSP Season 5, 2014)

How Can You Help, You Ask?

A lot of people feel like their $25 doesn't make a difference, but that could not be further from the truth. Did you know that even the largest non-profit theaters can only count on 1-2% of their funding to come from government grants? This means that all organizations fight it out for the remaining corporation & foundation grants, and indie companies like us are left with few to no resources to make their art accessible to a general audience - and we refuse to raise the ticket prices and price our patrons out of the art they love.

That's why we're appealing to you - as someone who cares about the future of the theater - to contribute to our worthy cause. We invite you to explore the fun and unique perks and donate as much as your conscience will allow.

You're Donation Will Be Put Toward...

• Refurbishing the theater lobby and box office areas

• Re-flooring the audience risers and re-painting the theater

• Moving our central operations from our founders' apartment into a long term meeting/rehearsal space

• Revitalizing the neighborhood by engaging the local businesses and residents in community events and cultural activities

It will also go toward the production costs of our 6th season, which includes:

The Clarion Theater on 26th St at 2nd Ave - 74 Seats

What's So Different About Us?

Now in its 6th Season, The Seeing Place is an actor-driven ensemble known for its intense and intimate work. Since 2009, we've been passionate about and forcefully committed to:

THE ACTOR'S PROCESS: Through robust table work and improvisation, we focus on honoring the actor's artistry in creating a character and building a story, which extends from rehearsal into performance. It's a pro-actor philosophy, and it's rare in today's market.

ORGANIC STORYTELLING: Unlike other companies, we do not set staging (blocking) or cement our choices in advance. Instead, what audiences get to see is a group of actors "in the moment" - working off one another to tell a fresh story that is never the same night to night. It's daring, it's exciting, and yes... a little bit dangerous!

COMMUNITY VALUE: Our mission is to make theater accessible for all New Yorkers by keeping ticket prices low and affordable - just $15 per ticket.

The Impact of Our Art

We've been awed by the fervent response by critics & audiences about the unique, quality work we've done over the past 5 years:

"In these recession strapped times, it's the best deal on or off Broadway."  - Will Kenton, Cultural Capitol

"I hope that The Seeing Place Theater continues to push the boundaries of theater in the off off Broadway community by producing thought-provoking, smart, and well-acted theatre. Oh, and tickets are only $15. You really can’t beat that.” - Zak Risinger, Theatre is Easy

"How often does the opportunity arise to see one of the greatest American playwright's work produced by a company that takes their work as seriously as this one does, and delivers results that prove how effective that work is?" - Toby Ring Thelin, Theatre Knights (& Daze)

"The Seeing Place has proved to be a bold and spirited force in independent theater, producing thoughtful works that are timelessly relevant to our cultural moment...I’ve never seen a company that felt so present and so invested in their work." - Sara Zweig, Letters from the Mezzanine

Risks & Challenges

We're very passionate about this opportunity so even if we don't hit our goal we will still move forward, and your donation will be put to great use. The challenge we face if we do not hit our goal will be fundraising at the same time as we're in production on our shows. This split focus puts undue burden on the art we create and spreads our artists thin. This capital campaign will provide the seed money to create art in a stress-free environment, providing a service to a community that deserves it.

"A Lie of the Mind" by Sam Shepard (TSP Season 4, 2013)

Other Ways You Can Help

Thanks To Our Rockin' Ensemble:

Company Members Brandon Walker* (Artistic Director), Erin Cronican* (Managing Director), John D'Arcangelo (Special Projects Manager), L gan Keeler (Literary Manager), Lila Smith* (Outreach Manager), and ensemble members Mary Ruth Baggott, Esther Chen, Lex Daemon, Ian Moses Eaton*, Brisa Freitas, Virginia Gregory, Justin Hoch, Danny Perez, Lauren Ann Sagnella, Carla Torgrimson*, and Alex Witherow.     * - Member, Actor's Equity