The Alchemical, 50 W 17 St, NYC
The Alchemical is a complex of creative studios for theatre, photography, music, education and the visual arts, run by artistic directors Carlo Altomare and Gia Lisa Krahne. A true artistic laboratory where artists can engage in the research and development of new work through rehearsal, teaching, and performance.
Our three white box performance theatres and four affordable, clean rehearsal studios are uniquely inviting spaces for rehearsals, performances, classes, workshops, readings, dance, photography & video shoots, fashion, lectures, auditions, screenings, art exhibits, and more.
We are proud to run an organization which serves a great diversity of NYC and international artists – as both a safe haven to work and create in, as well as a uniquely inviting social atmosphere to find and create community and be supported as serious artists. We closely attend to the needs of everyone who works here, and strive to maintain a respectful and constructive atmosphere to support the community we happily serve.
We are an artist-run facility and understand the importance of your work. By providing affordable creative spaces to emerging artists, as well as established organizations who seek The Alchemical’s intimate environment – we strive to catalyze our dedication to research into the contemporary meaning and nature of live performance.
The Alchemical is also known as an unusually warm and exciting downtown salon for experimental theatre, music, fashion & performance. We are committed to developing the social potential of performance, and actively foster a real discourse between artists and the public. We regard the theatrical experience as a creative public assembly; the audience is an important partner in fulfilling our mission.
Our aims are to present public events that are informative, inspiring and fun, and to engender a meaningful engagement between artists and audience, and promote an atmosphere of congenial discourse and intellectual community among thoughtful artists and free spirits. Our events tend to attract other artists, affording the attending public a personal engagement rarely found in bigger, less colloquial spaces.
At this time in New York City, it is not easy to find space to produce new theatre, music, art and performance. We are pleased that we can provide affordable spaces to artists and the public in that regard. We invite you to take a look at our website and give us a call at (212) 675-1390 to discuss how your next project might work at The Alchemical.
“I have always loved the work of producing and organizing a place where artists can develop and present their projects. It’s a privilege and a creative endeavor in its vision and attention to detail. Every day I aspire toward it being a work of art in itself. I see The Alchemical Theatre Laboratory as such a place.
When I left The Living Theatre in 1979, it seemed clear to me that the theatre was primarily about the meeting of artist and public, a creative public assembly. The occurrences on stage serve as a catalyst to ignite an often surprising experience of how we see ourselves and one another, how we might better understand community, or achieve a glimpse of inspired communion. This is the intended outcome of the alchemical opus.”