After a two-year restoration, one of New York’s most iconic theatres — Cherry Lane Theatre — is reopening its doors.
The Oldest Off-Broadway Theatre
Cherry Lane Theatre is considered the oldest continuously operating Off-Broadway theatre in New York City, in operation since 1923. Over the years, it has staged works by nearly every major American playwright and hosted performances attended by the likes of Meryl Streep, Al Pacino, Sarah Jessica Parker, and other stage and screen legends.
For those unfamiliar with the terminology:
- Broadway theaters have more than 500 seats.
- Off-Broadway theaters seat between 100 and 500 people (regardless of whether they are located on Broadway).
- Off-Off-Broadway venues have fewer than 100 seats and are typically more experimental.
New Owner and A24 Mission
A few years ago, the theater was purchased by A24, the powerhouse independent film company behind Everything Everywhere All at Once, Moonlight, Lady Bird, The Florida Project, Ex Machina, Uncut Gems, as well as series like Beef, Euphoria, and Ramy. The vision: to create an intimate “clubhouse” for cultural exchange — a space where film, theater, gastronomy, and art intersect in an inviting, small-scale setting.
This move mirrors what Netflix did with the Paris Theater in New York, signaling A24’s ambitions to become a fixture in the city’s cultural landscape — not just in cinema but in live arts spaces as well.
Fun fact: Cherry Lane Theatre sits on Commerce Street, often cited as one of the most charming streets in New York.
According to city filings, A24 plans to go beyond theater programming by adding a restaurant and bar in the lobby, reportedly in collaboration with Galactus Group, the hospitality team behind celebrated NYC spots Frenchette, Le Rock, and the newly revived Le Veau D’Or.
The Opening Program
The official reopening is set for September 8, kicking off a “Red Door Reopening” week. On September 14, the venue will host Sundays with Sofia — a screening of Adrian Lyne’s Foxes presented by Sofia Coppola, followed by a block party on Commerce Street.
The first theatrical production in the new era will be WEER, running from September 20 to October 19 (premiere night: September 28). Created and performed by Natalie Palamides, WEER is a comedic one-woman show blending physical theater and absurdism. The story unfolds on New Year’s Eve 1999, as Palamides plays two sides of a turbulent romantic relationship — one half of her body playing “Mark” and the other “Christina” — against the backdrop of the millennium countdown.
Vistor Information
Tickets are already sold out through October 28, so act fast if you want to attend.
📍 Location: Cherry Lane Theatre / 38 Commerce St, New York, NY
