MCC Theater
MCC Theater is an Off-Broadway theater company located in New York City, founded in 1986 by artistic directors Robert LuPone and Bernard Telsey along with six graduates of the New York University drama department, including Jana Herzen, now president of Harlem-based Motema Music.
Mission
MCC Theater was founded in 1986 as Manhattan Class Company, then a collective of young actors, writers and directors eager to take a leadership role in their own artistic development. Initial peer-based “classes” led to showcases and eventually to the kinds of full-scale productions that have made MCC Theater one of New York’s leading off-Broadway theater companies.
MCC Theater carries out its mission through a four-play mainstage season, its literary development programs, and education and outreach initiatives that include the MCC Theater Youth Company, a free program for high school students, and several in-school partnerships.
Past productions include Neil LaBute's reasons to be pretty (moved to Broadway in 2009), In A Dark Dark House, Some Girl(s) and Fat Pig; Robert Askins's Hand to God; Frozen (which moved to Broadway in 2004); and Wit (winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 1999).
MCC Theater plans to move into a larger 25,000-square-foot (2,300 m2) theater space designed by architect Andrew Berman at 52nd Street and 10th Avenue in 2017.[1]
Key Players
- Robert LuPone – Artistic Director
- Bernard Telsey – Artistic Director
- William Cantler – Artistic Director
- Blake West – Executive Director
- Neil LaBute – Playwright-in-Residence
Artists
MCC has engaged a collection of notable directors and artists that have included: Lynn Redgrave, Michael Greif, Jo Bonney, Doug Hughes, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Julianna Margulies, Liev Schreiber, Jim Simpson, Benjamin Bratt, Swoosie Kurtz, Kathleen Chalfant, Allison Janney, Anna Paquin, Judith Light, Marisa Tomei, Lili Taylor, Sigourney Weaver, Jeremy Piven, Keri Russell, Calista Flockhart, Bridget Fonda, Eric McCormack, Fran Drescher, Peter Hedges, Jane Alexander, Ron Livingston, Ben Shenkman, Maura Tierney, Kyra Sedgwick, Joanna Gleason, Lisa Gay Hamilton, Gil Bellows, Polly Draper, Thomas Gibson, Michael C. Hall, Lisa Harrow,Derek Anson Jones, John Spencer, Kathleen Turner, Charles Busch, Stephin Merritt, David Greenspan, Piper Perabo, Frederick Weller, Sarah Paulson, Dominic Chianese, Hugh Dancy, Ben Whishaw, and Charles Busch.
Mainstage Productions
2014–2015
- The Money Shot by Neil LaBute
- Punk Rock by Simon Stephens
- The Nether by Jennifer Haley
- Permission by Robert Askins
2013–2014
- Small Engine Repair by John Pollono
- Hand to God by Robert Askins
- The Village Bike by Penelope Skinner
2012–2013
- Don't Go Gentle by Stephen Belber
- Really Really by Paul Downs Colaizzo
- Reasons to Be Happy by Neil LaBute
2011–2012
- The Submission by Jeff Talbott
- Wild Animals You Should Know by Thomas Higgins
- Carrie by Lawrence D. Cohen
2010–2011
- The Break of Noon book by Neil LaBute
- The Other Place by Sharr White
- Side Effects by Michael Weller
2009–2010
- Family Week book by Beth Henley
- The Pride by Alexi Kaye Campbell
- Still Life by Alexander Dinelaris
2008–2009
- Coraline book by David Greenspan, music and lyrics by Stephin Merritt
- Fifty Words by Michael Weller
- The Third Story by Charles Busch
2007–2008
- Spain by Jim Knable
- Grace by Mick Gordon and A. C. Grayling
- reasons to be pretty by Neil LaBute
2006–2007
- In A Dark Dark House by Neil LaBute
- A Very Common Procedure by Courtney Baron
- Nixon's Nixon by Russell Lees
2005–2006
- Some Girl(s) by Neil LaBute
- The Wooden Breeks by Glen Berger
- Colder Than Here by Laura Wade
2004–2005
- Last Easter by Bryony Lavery
- Fat Pig by Neil LaBute
- What of the Night based on the writings of Djuna Barnes
2003–2004
- Bright Ideas by Eric Coble
- Frozen by Bryony Lavery
- The Distance From Here by Neil LaBute
2002–2003
- Mercy Seat by Neil LaBute
- Scattergood by Anto Howard
- Intrigue With Faye by Kate Robin
2001–2002
- The Glory of Living by Rebecca Gilman
- Runt of the Litter by Bo Eason
- A Letter From Ethel Kennedy by Christopher Gorman
2000–2001
- A Place At the Table by Simon Block
- High Dive by Leslie Ayvazian
- The Dead Eye Boy by Angus MacLachlan
1999–2000
- Trudy Blue by Marsha Norman
- Sueño by Jose Rivera
- Yard Gal by Rebecca Prichard
1998–1999
- Wit by Margaret Edson
- The English Teachers by Ed Napier
- Angelique by Lorena Gale
1997–1998
- Anadarko by Tim Blake Nelson
1996–1997
- The Gravity of Means by John Kolvenbach
- Good As New by Peter Hedges
1995–1996
- Nixon's Nixon by Russell Lees
- The Grey Zone by Tim Blake Nelson
- Three in the Back, Two in the Head by Jason Sherman
1994–1995
- Girl Gone by Jacquelyn Reingold
1993–1994
- The Able Bodied Seaman by Alan Bowne
- Liar, Liar by Dael Orlandersmith
1992–1993
- Five Women Wearing the Same Dress by Alan Ball
- D Train by James Bosley and Fay Simpson
1991–1992
- A Snake in the Vein by Alan Bowne
1987–1988
- Beirut by Alan Bowne
Fifty Words by Michael Weller
- Drama Desk Awards
- Nomination – Outstanding Play
- Nomination – Outstanding Actress in a Play – Elizabeth Marvel
- Nomination – Outstanding Set Design of a Play – Neil Patel
- Drama League Awards
- Nomination-Distinguished Performance- Elizabeth Marvel
reasons to be pretty by Neil LaBute
- 2008 Tony Awards
- Nomination – Best Play
- Nomination – Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play – Thomas Sadoski
- Nomination – Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play – Marin Ireland
- Drama Desk Awards
- Winner – Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play – Pablo Schreiber
- Nomination – Outstanding Play
- Nomination – Outstanding Actor in a Play – Thomas Sadoski
- Nomination – Outstanding Director of a Play – Terry Kinney
- Drama League Awards
- Nomination – Distinguished Production of a Play
- Nomination – Distinguished Performance- Marin Ireland & Thomas Sadoski
- Outer Critics Circle Awards
- Nomination – Outstanding New Broadway Play
- Nomination – Outstanding Actor in a Play – Thomas Sadoski
- Theater World Awards
- Winner – Marin Ireland
Grace by Mick Gordan and AC Grayling
- Lucille Lortel Award – Nomination – Outstanding Lead Actress – Lynn Redgrave
Spain by Jim Knable
- Drama Desk Award – Nomination – Outstanding Set Design – Beowulf Borritt
- Obie Award – Sustained Excellence of Performance – Veanne Cox
The Wooden Breeks by Neil LaBute
- Lucille Lortel Award – Nomination – Anita Yavich
- Outer Critics Circle Awards—Winner – Outstanding Off-Broadway Play
- 2005 Theatre World Award—Winner – Outstanding Off-Broadway Debut: Ashlie Atkinson
- Drama Desk Award – Nomination – Outstanding Actor in a play: Jeremy Piven
- Lucille Lortel Award – Nomination – Outstanding Lead Actress: Ashlie Atkinson and Outstanding Director: Jo Bonney
- Broadway.com Audience Award – Nomination – Favorite New Off-Broadway Play: Fat Pig
Last Easter by Bryony Lavery
- 2005 Drama Desk Awards Nomination – Outstanding Actress in a Play: Veanne Cox
The Distance From Here by Neil LaBute
- 2003–2004 Drama Desk Award Winner – Outstanding Ensemble Performance
- Lucille Lortel Award Nomination – Outstanding Featured Actor – Logan Marshall-Green
- 2004 Tony Awards
- Winner – Best Featured Actor in a Play: Brian F. O'Byrne
- Tony Nomination – Best Actress (Play): Swoosie Kurtz
- Tony Nomination – Best Director (Play): Doug Hughes
- Tony Nomination – Best Play: Frozen
- Lucille Lortel Awards
- Nomination – Outstanding Director: Doug Hughes
- Nomination – Outstanding Lead Actor: Brian F. O'Byrne
- Nomination – Outstanding Lead Actress: Swoosie Kurtz
- Nomination – Outstanding Lead Actress: Lynn Redgrave
- Nomination – Outstanding Featured Actress: Laila Robins
- Nomination – Lighting Design: Clifton Taylor
- OBIE Award – Featured Actor in a Play – Brian F. O'Byrne
- Drama League Awards – Distinguished Production of a Play
The Glory of Living by Rebecca Gilman
- Drama Desk Award Best Actress Nomination: Anna Paquin
- Theatre World Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway debut
- Finalist Pulitzer Prize for Drama
The Dead Eye Boy by Angus MacLachlan
- Drama Desk Awards
- Nomination – Best Actress: Lili Taylor
- Nomination – Best Featured Actor: Aaron Himelstein
- 1999 Pulitzer Prize
- New York Drama Critics Circle Award
- OBIE Award
- 2 Drama Desk Awards
- 3 Outer Critics Circle Awards
- 4 Lucille Lortel Awards
- 2 Drama League Awards
- The Jull-Warriner Playwriting Award
Good as New by Peter Hedges, Directed by Brian Mertes
Nixon's Nixon by Russell Lees, directed by Jim Simpson
- OBIE Award
- Outer Critics Circle Award Nomination
- John Gassner Award Nomination
The Grey Zone by Tim Blake Nelson
- 4 OBIE Awards
- Lucille Lortel Award
- Drama Desk Award Nomination
- Encore Award
Girl Gone by Jacquelyn Reingold
- Oscar Ruebhausen Award
Beirut by Alan Bowne
- 6 Dramalogue Awards